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Sonsuza
 Sonsuza’a dance experience started out like most little girls, beginning ballet at the age of 4 until 7, when
piano lessons took over for a time. Ballet was taken up again at the age of 12, along with tap. In between times,
Sonsuza flirted with bellydance during the summer’s when the Sinbad movies hit the silver screen and the
mysteriously exotic Middle Eastern Dancer appeared. Sonsuza was performing her version of bellydance in her backyard
shows, using the sheer curtains from her room as costumes. Then pirate movies came out and the dancer gave way to
defending the ship with swords…which she eventually incorporated into her dance in later life.
For some time, Sonsuza’s dance experience was limited to an occasional Friday or Saturday night, but the love of
dance never died. Thoughts of bellydance were piqued, when a date night included dinner at a Greek restaurant and
featured the “bellydancers” and live music. “The dancer was mesmerizing! She was covered by her veil for most of
the dance, but it was the most sensual performance I had ever seen. The dancer went from entrancing movements with
soft, light music to a vibrant celebration of being with more robust music! It was incredible to watch the
transitions of the music through the dance” … Shortly afterwards, Sonsuza took her first Middle Eastern Dance
lesson with Mahal in Houston, Texas. However, after only 3 months, life happened, and Sonsuza put away her desire
to dance. Ten years later, and a year of tap and jazz classes under her belt, Sonsuza found Middle Eastern Dance
again; this time with the Sirrom School of Dance. Sonsuza was given an impromptu chance to “debut” her new dance
skills when she was invited with other students to dance on stage at the Cedars of Lebanon Restaurant by her
teacher, and had the privilege to see Ibrahim Farrah, the premier male dancer of Oriental Dance perform. But, once
again the demands of “real life” called, and the desire to dance put on hold.
Several years passed, during which time Sonsuza took classes in ballroom, country/western and swing dance in Texas,
Colorado and Alaska. Eventually, her desire for more creative and expressive dance took over and she signed up for
Middle Eastern Dance classes with Zara Noor, founder of Tundra Caravan, in Fairbanks, Alaska in 1999, and has been
dancing ever since. Sonsuza is a co-founder of the troupe Tundra Caravan. In addition to Middle Eastern Dance,
performing with Tundra Caravan at numerous venues throughout the city of Fairbanks and in Anchorage, Alaska,
Sonsuza, performed with the Fairbanks Goldenheart Dancers for 5 years and Judy Kreith’s Latin and African dance
ensembles for the University of Fairbanks Summer Arts Festivals. As well as teaching Middle Eastern Dance, Sonsuza
has taught, and co-taught, numerous classes in West Coast and East Coast swing, Night Club, ballroom and Salsa.
Sonsuza continues her MED “education” by attending workshops with internationally known dancers: Hadia, Morocco,
Suzanna Del Vecchio, Amaya, Margo Abdo O’Dell, Aziza, Delilah and Sema Yildiz. Recently, Sonsuza had the opportunity
to dance in impromptu performances at the Gypsy Music Festival in Istanbul and the Uyum Hotel in Pamukkale, Turkey.
It was in Turkey that Sonsuza found her name, offered by another Ibrahim….your desire to dance is “soulfully
eternal“… Sonsuza says, “I will dance as long as I am able…..I may give new meaning to the cane dance.”
Currently, Sonsuza volunteers her off hours teaching Middle Eastern Dance, Swing, Line and County/Western dance at
the MWR in Tallil, Iraq.
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