My journey with art began when I was very young. I come from roots connected to Upper Egypt and Nubia, and these roots have always been an important part of my identity and my art. They have given me a deep connection to Egyptian culture, music, and movement.
From the very beginning, I have always believed that dance is not simply about movement or a profession; it is a message. Through dance, I want to share the beauty and spirit of Egyptian art with the entire world.
My journey began when I studied ballet at Diana Kalanty School, where I participated in numerous performances at the Egyptian Opera House.
I later moved into Egyptian folk dance and joined the National Folkloric Dance Troupe, where I trained for many years with some of the most renowned and respected teachers and choreographers in the field. I performed with the troupe in many stage productions, and this became one of the most enjoyable and meaningful periods of my artistic journey. It gave me the opportunity to learn, perform, and train in many different forms of Egyptian folkloric dance.
Through this experience, I discovered the incredible diversity of dances, traditions, and movements that distinguish the different regions of Egypt. I experienced Egyptian folklore in all its details, both on stage and throughout my years of professional work.
At the same time, I had the opportunity to work with some of the leading choreographers in the Egyptian entertainment industry. These experiences gave me extensive knowledge of stage performance, the art of working on stage, and a deeper understanding of the dancer’s body and movement.
The Beginning of My Journey with Egyptian Oriental Dance
In 2003, at the age of twenty, I decided to begin my true journey with Egyptian Oriental Dance.
At that time, I was working at one of Egypt’s leading five-star hotels, and many people would tell me that I resembled the famous dancer Mona Said. I became curious about her, searched for her, and eventually met her. That meeting became a major turning point in my life.
I learned from her how to become a professional Oriental dancer, how to develop and use technique, and how to transition from my background in ballet and Egyptian folkloric dance into Oriental Dance.
She also taught me a great deal about the stage, costumes, makeup, stage presence, and how to present myself as a complete artist.
Since 2003, my years of working as an Oriental dancer have been a true school for me. The stage became my classroom, and every experience, every performance, and every piece of music taught me something new.
Along the way, I discovered another passion within me: teaching.
I began teaching that same year, and I have continued to travel around the world ever since, sharing my knowledge and experience with dancers everywhere.
I love passing my experience on to other dancers, and I truly enjoy teaching technique and watching a student grow, develop, and discover herself through dance. I also have a great passion for choreography and creating movement inspired by music.
For me, music is like a story or a novel, and I am the one who writes its chapters through movement.
Because my passion for art goes beyond dance, I also studied sewing and costume design at Cairo Designer Academy. I began designing and creating my own costumes for the stage.
And from there, my own brand, Sagat, was born.
For me, dance costumes are not simply about looking beautiful. They are an essential part of a dancer’s personality, presence, and energy.
I created Sagat to bring together beautiful design, the elegance of the body, freedom of movement, and that special feeling that makes a dancer feel magical and confident when she steps onto the stage.
This is my journey: from my roots in Upper Egypt and Nubia, to ballet, Egyptian folkloric dance, and the beginning of my journey with Egyptian Oriental Dance in 2003; from the stage to teaching and choreography, and from costume design to creating Sagat.
And I still believe that I have a greater message ahead of me: to carry authentic Egyptian art to the world and to make everyone who dances with me feel the beauty of this culture and its spirit.
Because art, to me, is not simply a profession…
Art is my life, and dance is my message to the world.
