Salena is a professional belly dancer performing and studying in the San Francisco bay area. A dynamic entertainer and award winning dancer, Salena most recently received the People’s Choice Dance Competition Excellence in Dance Award.

Highlights for 2007 include Salena's travels to Cairo, Egypt, where she danced at the internationally acclaimed Ahlan Wa Sahlan dance festival. The event, hosted at the historic Mena House Oberoi Hotel in Giza, brings together dancers and musicians from around the world. During her time in Egypt, Salena studied with the best teachers of oriental dance technique, including Raqia Hassan, Randa Kamel, Dr. Mo Geddawi, Sorraya, and Zahra Zuhair.

This year Salena also completed the Ansuya Comprehensive Program, receiving her certification, and performing at Club Mighty in San Francisco for the final Bay Area Ansuya showcase.

Salena’s style is energetic, feminine, and fun, expressing a warm, welcoming and upbeat energy throughout her performances. In her dance you’ll see a blend of middle eastern dance art forms, primarily American Cabaret as well as Egyptian Oriental and Folkloric influences. Watch closely and you may even see hints of Greek or Turkish dances.

Salena is no stranger to theatrical performances; East Bay residents may recognize her as a singer and actress who was a member of the Contra Costa Musical Theater and Diablo Light Opera Company performing arts groups. Audiences watched Salena perform lead roles in many musical theater productions, including Diana in A Chorus Line, Sally Bowles in Cabaret, Gypsy Rose Lee in Gypsy, and she was presented with a Shelley Award for her portrayal of Anita in West Side Story.

Salena began taking belly dance classes as a hobby, to return to the creative dance process, and to learn something new. What started as a past time quickly became a dance passion. She began and continues her dance studies with Leea Aziz at the acclaimed Belly Dance! Studio in Walnut Creek. Salena also enjoys taking periodic workshops with some of her favorite and most admired dance artists, including Nourhan Sharif, Zahra Zuhair, Judeen, Alexandra King, and Ansuya to name a few. She is continually inspired to learn more about this unique and ancient art form, created by women for women; she believes to dance is to feel lifted and empowered!

Salena performs regularly at restaurants, private or corporate parties, weddings, middle eastern dance festivals and competitions. (see performances) Catch Salena’s next performance or better yet, gather a group of friends and hire Salena for your next party or event, and experience a live performance of this beautiful and exciting dance art!

You can contact Salena at SalenaRaks@comcast.net with any questions about Belly Dancing.