Dance
Zahra Hashemian is a dancer, actor, and vocalist living in New York City. She had the privilege to perform at Lincoln Center as the lead solo dancer for the Metropolitan Opera production of Thaïs, staring Renee Fleming, during the 2008–09 season. She works regularly with the Desert Sin Dance company. Zahra has performed at such venues as the Merce Cunningham Theater, Webster Hall, club Element, The Knitting Factory, Club Sol, FIT Theater, The Zipper Factory Theater, Producer’s Club, Shanghai Mermaid’s Red Lotus Room, Theatre de Menilmontant (Paris, France), and the 2008 Whitney Biennial, to name a few. Her dance training includes Bellydance (emphasis on Tribal Fusion style), Swing dance, Modern, Jazz, Tango and some Flamenco.  

Thaïs at Metropolitan Opera
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TQ4gDJZJ9Yc&feature=youtu.be

Zahra perform with Desert Sin Dance Company
Bellyfusion Festival Paris, France
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9IqyXDJsS28&feature=youtu.be

Reviews for Thaïs

The Wall Street Journal by Heidi Waleson
(http://www.wsj.com/articles/SB123180368557475323)

"Michael Schade gave the wealthy Nicias, who can afford Thas's company for only a few days, a hint of pathos; Leah Partridge sang a beautifully sinuous vocalise to accompany the exotic dancing of Zahra Hashemian; and violinist David Chan gave a persuasive account of the solo "Meditation" in Act II."
QOnStage.com by Bruce-Michael Gelbert

"Outside, Nicias oversees a divertissement-abbreviated by a few dances-involving Crobyle, Myrtale, "and "La Charmeuse" (the charmer), an assignment gracefully shared by exotic dancer Zahra Hashemian and, as a fluent coloratura flapper, singer Leah Partridge, who exchange a kiss on the lips.”

International Press Association by Ellen Gilmer

"And, both Leah Partridge (La Charmeuse) and Zahra Hashemian (the Solo Dancer) give memorable performances."

PlaybillArts
http://www.playbillarts.com/features/article/7864.html

A scene from Act II, with Zahra Hashemian (center) as the solo dancer
All photos by Ken Howard for the Metropolitan Opera










The New York Times
 http://www.nytimes.com/2008/12/10/arts/music/10thai.html