About Faten

Faten began dancing at 11 years of age when she was selected to attend the first-ever national folk troupe of Egypt dance school for
children. The school's purpose was to train future dancers for the troupe. Faten's parents initially didn't like the idea and were worried
her French religious training at the Dame de la Delivrande would suffer. Eventually, they agreed to her attendance with the stipulation
that if her grades suffered, no more dancing.

Faten kept her promise to her parents and worked diligently each morning at school and in the evening at the dance center. The training
conducted with the assistance of Russian teachers included classical ballet, orientale, and character dance (Russian style of dance). The
classes were intense and required extreme dedication of a very young Faten. After five years of training, the graduation ceremony took
place with a distinguished audience that included Mahomoud Reda, Kamal Naim, the Russian instructors, National and Reda troupe
members, and the students' families. The class had a recital which also served as a final exam. The head guest was Dr, Sawat Okasha of
the Ministry of Culture. Faten was very nervous about performing in front of all these important personages of the Egyptian dance
world, but after several tense minutes awaiting the announcement of those selected for the troupe, her name was the first one called.
This meant that she was the number one student among the sixteen girls. Faten says, "I started to cry, couldn't believe it. The only thing
that I missed this day was the absence of my father who had just passed away a few months before."

As a group dancer for audiences of over 5,000, Faten started her dream career as a member of the Egyptian National Folk Troupe. She
was very proud but still committed to keeping her promise to her father to continue her education. After graduating from the French
school, she continued on at Ein Shams University and earned a Bachelor of Science Degree in French Literature. In the meantime she
traveled with the troupe, entertaining heads of state, ambassadors, and royalty across the globe.

At 22 Faten married Shawki Naim, the top soloist in Egypt and the National Troupe choreographer. Their marriage was one of talents,
and they combined them to form their own troupe, which received an invitation from the Egyptian Embassy in Washington, DC. The trip
ultimately turned into a tour that included stops in Pennsylvania, Texas, Nevada, and California. During the stop in Philadelphia, the
troupe conducted its first workshop with Nagwa Said, Jamila Salimpour, and Shaherezad Wameda. Faten also conducted workshops for
Dietlinde Kartulki of Studio Arabeska in Frankfurt, Germany and Denise Enan of Canada. Carol Peko sponsored most of Faten's American
workshops and Faten says, "She is my great support. I'll never forget how helpful and great she was for me. I was kind of afraid
because I'm not an American, but thanks to her I'm here now living in the Washington, D.C. area and have the opportunity to become a
citizen of a great country."

Faten has relocated and is now living in northern Virginia, and holds weekly classes and workshops in Manassas and Washington, D.C.
Faten says, "Our Egyptian folklore is full of dances and Inshallah, as we say in Egypt. I will have the opportunity to travel all over the
U.S. teaching our Egyptian folklore and oriental style of dance."

Faten's classical Egyptian style captures the essence of all we admire in the Egyptian Danse Orientale. In the tradition of our own
grandparents and ancestors, she captures the rich treasures of the old world to enrich the culture of her new American home. Her dance
is vibrant with deep, soulful emotion and the precision rhythm that are at the heart of this art form. Faten adds to this her very own
quintessential feminine grace and passionate love and joy of the dance, making her performances and teachings a very special
experience you won't want to miss.

Original article by Bonita Oteri of Springfield, VA who is a professional dancer and teacher who programs in and around the Washington,
D.C. area.

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Faten Salama Press

ARTICLE

For more information on training with this artist in New York CIty, please contact Nourhan Sharif at: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it