About Sohaila

Sohaila is a seasoned professional belly dancer who has performed in major entertainment outlets across the United States, Europe, the Middle East and Latin America. She has been featured as a solo dancer in different venues from cruise ships to dignitary events.

Sohaila received instructions and training from diverse outlets of world famous dancers both in the US and Egypt. Not only mastering the art of belly dance but personalizing the dance with fluidity, class, grace and style. Her performance of classical Egyptian dance flawlessly leaves her audience in varying states of rapture and awe. Her profound passion for dancing shines in every hip drop and controlled shimmy, leaving a lasting impression. Among the key achievements of Sohaila’s professional career, she was the first pioneer for introducing the art of belly dancing to culturally diverse Mexico.

Time Magazine recently interviewed Sohaila for a belly dance article. An exerpt from the magazine follows:

Belly dance may have an even bigger appeal for women who are not die-hard workout aficionados. It's one of the few dance or exercise disciplines in which a few extra pounds around the middle aren't a problem. The traditional belly dancer has ample hips and a voluptuous shape, and many students like the fact that the teachers, while fit, look more womanly than the typical hard-body fitness instructor. "Many fuller-figured women are afraid to go to aerobics classes because they're getting laughed at," says Sohaila, a teacher in San Diego whose real name is JoEllen Handelsman. "Even if students were considerably overweight, it wouldn't impede them from doing the same moves I do." In fact, one of her students, Debbie Freeman, weighed 300 lbs. when she started belly dancing about eight years ago. After one year, Freeman had dropped 90 lbs. What she likes is that you can belly dance anytime, anywhere--no trip to the gym required. "You can practice shimmies doing dishes," Freeman says. Though tradition has it that certain belly-dance moves evolved from female fertility rituals, the workout version has even begun to attract some men. Tomas Villalobos, a substitute teacher from Escondido, Calif., who suffers from chronic back pain, decided to join his wife's class after noticing that belly dancers had strong, flexible backs. Now a regular, Villalobos says, "Not only has my pain decreased, but my flexibility and muscle strength have increased greatly." (Tomas is one of Sohaila's Students in Escondido).

Sohaila owns her own dance studio in San Diego county where she focuses in building her school of dance, researching, reading and writing books pertaining to belly dancing. Her main focus as a world class instructor is teaching students the art of dancing and building a network of the next generation of belly dancers. Sohaila is committed to pass on her knowledge, expertise, and passion to her hundreds of students through means of transparency and elegancy. Sohaila also introduces her students to the authentic costumes and accessories to the dance enthusiast.

Sohaila currently resides in San Diego county in her country style home where she relaxes in her spare time. She enjoys spending quality time with her family. She likes fine dining, shopping and traveling. For a list of Sohaila's personal appearances click here.