Danya's lyrical and magnetic style of Egyptian oriental dance is the product of years of training in Raqs Sharqi. She has performed extensively on the East and West Coast as well as in Hawaii, France and Italy.
She has been fortunate to study with some of the finest dancers and teachers: Fatima Chekkor and Zaza Hassan in Paris and Yousry Sharif in New York. She has also received instruction from acclaimed professionals such as Raqia Hassan, Aida Nour, Momo Kadous, Jillina, Jamilla Al Wahid and many others.
Danya graduated from Princeton University with B.A. in French and Creative Writing. At Princeton she was Performance Coordinator of Raks Odalisque, Princeton's Middle Eastern Dance Troupe. Upon graduation, she received a scholarship from the Italian government to study Italian in Rome.
Danya has danced in numerous clubs and restaurants in the San Francisco Bay Area including Pasha Restaurant, Hozkhouneh Restaurant, Tropi-Gala Club, Pena Pacha Mama, Al Fanous Restaurant, Club Fusetti, Piyassa, Kan Zeman and Marrakech Moroccan restaurant. She is honored to have worked with many fine musicians including Susu Pampanin, Fouad Marzouk, Souhail Kaspar and the Georges Lammam Ensemble. She has also appeared on television, on the KMTV Mountain View program "Art So Bizarre" and on the San Francisco public access show "Off-Kilter."
Danya has also studied Spanish and tango in Argentina. She is currently studying naturopathic medicine in Arizona.
