Ranya began her career as a young theater actress, and has been performing for more than 25 years. She has been active in Middle Eastern dance since 1990, and has been professionally based in New York City since 1993. Ranya is known for her supple, sensual style, her precise hipwork and traditional flair, her sense of drama and ability to mesmerize audiences. She is respected by her peers as one of New York City's most prominent Arabic dance artists and teachers. Ranya's new instructional DVDs (Egyptian Style Baladi and Modern Egyptian) are available at most Belly Dance Vendors and Amazon.com.
Ranya teaches Middle Eastern dance in New York City and in workshops internationally, with an orientation towards Egyptian-style dance. Her teaching method focuses on healthy posture, breathing and Pilates-influenced muscular technique, melodic and rhythmic interpretation, and creative performance skills. She offers regular classes, as well as coaching some of New York’s top professionals as well as ambitious beginners just starting out. As a teacher, she encourages students to reach their highest potential in both physicality and artistic expression.
Ranya performs and teaches internationally, with past engagements in Japan, Taiwan, Canada, France, Italy, Honduras, Israel and Tunisia. In New York City and around North America, she has danced at museums and cultural festivals as well as in large stage shows. She has been featured twice at the Lincoln Center Out of Doors Festval with virtuoso Simon Shaheen's Near East Music Ensemble. The Tunisian cultural minister for dance commissioned her solo danse orientale performance early in her professional career, accompanied by the Tunisian Troupe Nationale orchestra, for a large gala event in Tunis. Ranya has also performed dance presentations at Central Park Summerstage, the United Nations, the American Museum of Natural History, the Brooklyn Museum, various universities, and Arabic clubs and cultural functions, including weddings.

Egyptian Oriental Dance Technique and Combos:
The morning half of the workshop Ranya will be teaching some of her favorite combinations, and focus on the technique of "movement linking" to create a smooth flow between distinct movements, as well as applying breathwork to the combinations for a more relaxed look and feel. Ranya will then use the techniques and combos from the morning half and teach them in an original choreography.