Biography
Alia Shams
Alia Shams danced when she was a child, though she started as a dramatic actress, qualified by the Spanish Conservatory, she worked for national and international advance groups. Trained in classical ballet, contemporary, flamenco and other forms of dance.
She met the magic of oriental dance through Adnan Sharman, a Sufi master from Iraq.
The egyptians bautizied her with the artistic name of Sahar Samara,
that she used from her beginnings till year 1994 when she changed to Alia Shams
In Egypt she started to investigate the dance that was practiced in Pharaonic times.
Based on this and on her method developed for her belly dance teachings, she’s written "Elemental" and "Anuar al Andalus" that were presented and given a prix together with her group of Arabic musicians and dancers.
She’s danced in different countries and places in hotels like El Minzah" (Tangier), restaurants: Damasco, Aladino, Pharaon, Jan el Jalili, etc. In Arab clubs like Sijilmassa (Casablanca), discotheques, etc.
Also she dances for congresses or popular gatherings on open air stages like in The Jaimas of Caños de Meca,or in palaces.
Her ritual dances with candle on her head have been required by expositions and cultural celebrations like in the pharaonic exposition (Casino de Expositions, Seville).
Alia is unique in creating powerful shows. She bases her dance on classical and traditional Egyptian technique, oriental dance, vibrating with canoon, table solos, nail solos etc and in conquering audiences with their participation on folk songs danced with cymbals or with the stick.
She was a pionere many years ago to dance to "andalusi" music during her work in Hotel Minzah Tanger. and when back in Spain she brought it back , after hundreds of years, to European culture through her performances with Orquestra Andalusi of Tanger and started to teach her dance interpretation of this music.
