Shelley Fahrenthold is a professional belly dance choreographer, performer, and certified Yoga instructor. She is a former resident of Austin and has a musical and sports background along with many years of dance experience in Ballroom, C&W, and Swing before she moved to Houston.
On a whim about ten years ago, Silke began studying belly dance at the Spring Branch ISD dance center. She so enjoyed this form of dance with its rhythmic movements and costuming that she continued studying soon after at the Zahirah Noor Studios.
At Zahirah Noor’s, Silke was an original member/troupe captain and choreographer with Noore Kavir while also performing with the Sabah Noor and Nuriyah troupes. A few years later she continued her instruction at the Sirrom School of Dance and performed with the Sirrom Caravan while further developing her skills as a solo dancer and choreographer.
In 2006, Silke joined the Qantara Dance Company as a founding member and principal dancer specializing in Folkloric and Oriental style belly dancing. She has appeared with Qantara and her sister dancers at many local venues such as the Mediterranean Festival, Austin Choreography Project, Commerce Street Arts Foundation, Dance Houston’s Home Grown Motion at Discovery Green, and Deathtrap Poetry Showcase to mention a few.
Silke has performed as a solo belly dancer at private dinner parties, weddings, restaurants, clubs, Texas RenFest, numerous HAFLAs, and at the famous Sultana's Restaurant in Istanbul.
Silke has a special place in her heart for Greek Folk dancing and was mentored and trained by George Garifallos. For several years she performed with St. Basil's Great Greek Folk Dance group locally at their festival and as a guest performer at Alexander the Great Greek and other local Greek venues.
She has kept up with her art by taking classes and special workshops with instructors from the US, Europe, and the Middle East such as Morocco, Angelica Nemeth, Helena, Beata and Horacio, Momo Koudous, Mahmoud Reda, Farida Famy, Magdy El Leisy, Aida Nour, and Astryd Farah deMichele among others.
Silke is on the Board of Directors for the non-profit group Dance from the Heart and has served on the Board for the Houston Area Belly Dance Association (HABDA) in several positions.
She currently teaches belly dancing at the Harris County Spring Branch Community Center and conducts Yoga classes at Memorial Village Townhomes.
