The Gilded Serpent presents...
Roxanne Shelaby
Roxanne Shelaby performs throughout Southern California bringing her unique dance style combining her Lebanese heritage and Egyptian soul.
Roxanne is fortunate to have grown up surrounded by Middle Eastern Arts. Her love of Middle Eastern music and dance flourished as a child, growing up at the family owned The Fez and Cascades nightclubs.
She began performing at the age of 16 at the request of Farida Fahmy (lead dancer of the national dance troupe of Egypt) to represent The Reda Troupe. Roxanne has studied extensively with master teacher and choreographer Sahra as well as with Farida Fahmy, Zahra Zuhair, Vivianne and Feiruz Aram.
Roxanne performs with and is Assistant Director of Sahra’s “Ya Amar! Middle Eastern Dance Company”. She apperead with the group in many Southern California performances including “The Nations of San Diego International Dance Festival”, “The Second International Conference on Middle Eastern Dance” at Orange Coast College - CA, “Sahra and Ya Amar! present Al Dumia” live in concert in Brea and Hollywood - CA and “RA - the Eclipse of the Sun”. Roxanne also accompanied Ya Amar! to Tokyo, Japan in 1999 performing a featured solo in two sold out theater performances.
Roxanne also produces “Hypzotica”, a weekly Middle Eastern Dance show and club night.
Roxanne teaches ongoing classes and workshops locally and internationally in Egyptian style Belly Dancing as well as Lebanese Dabke.
Roxxanne Shelaby is currently researching and producing a documentary about The Fez-the first Restaurant and Nightclub dedicated to the Arab culture on the West Coast. Opened in 1959 in Hollywood, The legendary Fez not only became a center for the Arabic community in Southern California, but a catatyst for Arab music and dance going on to inspire generations of musicians and dancers in Los Angeles and beyond. If you are interested in contributing, please click here.
Web site: www.roxxanne.com
Articles on Gilded Serpent by or about Roxanne Shelaby
- 9-8-13 The Fez All-star Fundaraising Show, Supporting Roxxanne's Documentary
Located on Sunset Boulevard in legendary Hollywood, The Fez was the first Arabic night club in Los Angeles. During its heyday, The Fez was a popular haunt of celebrities. Jayne Mansfield, Richard Boone, Danny Thomas were just a few who enjoyed the exotic ambience, and most of all, the beautiful belly dancers accompanied by Arabic music. - 2-18-07 Its Not Your Grandmamma's Zar
Luckily at some point we hear the distinct rhythm for a Zar and follow the drumming right to the front door of an apartment house. - 4-23-11 Sahra gives us a reports on her friends in Cairo since the Jan 25 revolution.
Sahra Kent with the help of Roxanne Shelby reports on what she has heard from her friends in Cairo since the protests began less than a month before this interview on February 20, 2011. It was conducted at the Belly Dancer of the Universe Competition in Long Beach, California
