Female

34

This is a bit long.

I began my studies of dance over 26 years ago (gag, I feel old - that's 1/4 of a century!) in southern Manitoba, Canada. There I studied ballet, tap, contemporary, jazz, European folkloric dance and martial arts.

After dancing for 5 years professionally with Troyanda and touring with the troop across Canada, I retired to pursue my advanced studies in Fine Arts & Foreign Languages in Camrose, Alberta. I earned myself a place working in Germany to expand my language and cultural skills, and later teaching at 2 major Universities in South Korea.

During my tenure in Asia I took on the opportunity to study indiginous fine arts, martial arts and dance.

While in Asia I met & married Evan Butler (& the army), and moved to Alabama in 2003. There, I immersed myself in advanced studies in fine arts, graphic design, German language & Middle Eastern Dance. My art has been exhibited across the southern & eastern states, as well as in Canada.

I studied, choreographed and performed fusion, cabaret, gypsy and folkloric styles of Mid-Eastern dance with The Beledi Club and Mahasin before moving to El Paso.

There I took on the stage name of Zahira SuJong (Kristina doesn’t sound very Mid-Eastern) Zahira is Arabic for “shining, radiant, blossoming”, and SuJong is Korean for “Crystal”.

I moved to El Paso, TX with my husband in the summer of 2006 where I continue to perform as a soloist and teach now at New Horizons Dance Academy on Lee Blvd. in East El Paso.