Suhaila Salimpour

Some journeys come full circle.

I am honored to share that I have accepted the role of Co-Executive Director of Education and Operations at Shawl-Anderson Dance Center.

This appointment feels deeply personal. Long before I ever imagined serving in a leadership role, Shawl-Anderson was part of my life. My mother, Jamila Salimpour, knew founders Frank Shawl and Victor Anderson as fellow pillars of the Bay Area dance and arts community. They were artists, visionaries, and builders who helped shape the cultural landscape that so many of us continue to benefit from today.

As a child, I studied at Shawl-Anderson. Years later, my daughter Isabella also danced within these walls. Over the decades, SADC has remained a home for artists, students, dreamers, and community members seeking connection through movement.

To now help steward this organization feels both humbling and meaningful. I carry with me a profound respect for its history, a deep commitment to its future, and a belief in the power of dance to transform lives and build community.

I am especially grateful to be stepping into this role alongside my fellow Co-Executive Director, Jill Randall. I look forward to learning from one another, building on the remarkable legacy of Shawl-Anderson, and supporting this community together.

Thank you for all the love and encouragement you have shown me. I am excited for this next chapter and all that we will build together.

Sometimes the paths we walk as children become the places we are called to serve as adults.

Our quarterly series at Dance Mission Theater continues this May 31st with a focus on Dabke Foundations & Staging.

This workshop introduces Dabke, a communal line dance whose name comes from the Arabic word meaning “to stomp,” practiced across parts of Southwest Asia and North Africa. Dancers will learn foundational foot patterns commonly used across many SWANA regions, along with staging structures that emphasize grounding, unity, and collective rhythm.

All are welcome to join this space of collective movement.

Details: 🗓️ Sunday, May 31 | 11:30 am - 1:30 pm 📍 Dance Mission Theater

🔗 Link in Bio for registration and more information.

Elinore Edge performs the Salimpour Level 4 Gauntlet Recital, Saturday, May 16th, 6PM PST!

Elinore hopes to see you at her once in a lifetime show this Saturday at Vitalidad Movement Arts Center, located at 2648 E Burnside, Portland, OR, United States, 97214!

https://www.facebook.com/share/1BFVn3Hb3S/


After 32 years of dance influence and mentorship by Suhaila Salimpour, Elinore Edge presents her level 4 gauntlet performance, demonstrating dance technique, finger cymbals, history, music, culture, and improvisation, featuring five of Suhaila Salimpour’s choreographies in one non-stop show.

If you can't make it in person, there will be a live stream available at:

https://www.elinorebellydance.com/copy-of-classes-events

$10 Suggested Donation. Hope you can join!

Belly dance is a living lineage.

From community roots
to stage and cinema
to global practice and codified technique

Learn the movement and its context at
suhailaonline.com

We are beyond proud to announce that Suhaila Salimpour has been honored with the Embodied Excellence in Dance Award from the MFA Dance Program at Saint Mary's College of California. ✨

This prestigious award from the class of 2026 recognizes Suhaila's dedication to commitment and the 'embodiment of somatic applications for health, education, and social justice.

It’s a validation of her lifelong mission: integrating artistic rigor with the deep cultural and somatic roots of SWANA tradition.

Please join us in celebrating this remarkable achievement !

Finishing our Teacher Appreciation Week, we continue to celebrate the mentorship and artistic excellence of our Salimpour Licensed Instructors. Thank you so much for your hard work commitment, time, energy and love.

We are so proud to have you in our family:

com_san_diego



gorchakova







Thank you for your tireless work, your passion, and for keeping the heartbeat of this school stronger than ever.

Join us in showing them some love today!

A teacher takes a hand, opens a mind, and touches a heart. 💓

Continuing our Teacher Appreciation Week, we celebrate the mentorship and artistic excellence of our Salimpour Licensed Instructors. They are not just teachers; they are the guardians of a vocabulary that empowers dancers to find their own voice through structure and technique.

We are so proud to have you in our family:









paykubi


Thank you for your tireless work, your passion, and for keeping the heartbeat of this school stronger than ever.

Join us in showing them some love today! And keep an Eye on the next post 👌