Suhaila Salimpour Super Star Gala
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World-Renowned Belly Dance Pioneer Suhaila Salimpour Returns to San Diego for a Weekend of Dance, Culture, and Celebration
San Diego, CA — Suhaila Salimpour, visionary artist and one of the most influential figures in the world of belly dance, will headline a weekend of dance and performance in San Diego, featuring a 6-hour belly dance intensive and the dazzling Suhaila Super Star Gala.
A trailblazer in Middle Eastern dance, Suhaila brings her signature fusion of deep cultural knowledge, precise technique, and dynamic performance to this unique event designed to inspire dancers of all levels and uplift the local arts community.
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Featuring: Live performance by Fadi Islambouli and Suhaila Salimpour
With special guest performers from across Southern California!
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About Suhaila Salimpour
Suhaila Salimpour is a first-generation Kurdish-American of Sicilian-Greek descent and a second-generation belly dancer, continuing the legacy of her mother, Jamila Salimpour. She is the creator of the first structured certification program and pedagogical system in belly dance, transforming how the dance is studied, taught, and preserved globally.
Suhaila has toured internationally, performed in top venues across the Middle East and beyond, choreographed three full-length theatrical productions, and recorded over 23 albums with renowned Arabic musicians. Her contributions have earned prestigious accolades, including the 2024 Gerbode Foundation Special Award for Dance and Movement, and the 2023/24 Isadora Duncan Special Award for Outstanding Production.
She currently serves on the boards of Shawl-Anderson Dance Center, World Arts West, and the Mahea Uchiyama Center for International Dance, while co-producing the YALLAH Arts Festival in the Bay Area. She is also pursuing her MFA in Dance at Saint Mary’s College of California.
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A Celebration of Culture and Community
Rooted in the traditions of the SWANA (Southwest Asian and North African) region, this weekend of programming is more than just dance—it's a powerful gathering of community, heritage, and cultural expression.
In support of children and families in the Middle East, $1 from every Gala ticket will be donated to the Middle East Children’s Alliance (MECA). Attendees are also encouraged to make additional contributions online: Click here to donate directly