Sofia iSABELA MAHDAVI

Sofia Mahdavi is a multifacted Iranian-Mexican artist. She holds a BFA from NYU Tisch School of the Arts in Theatre, a Minor in Producing, and was selected for the Tisch Dance Residency. Sofia works profesionally as an actress, dancer/choreographer, singer, and international rhythmic gymnastics coach. She has also directed and produced many short films and music videos around the world. She is the founder of MENA Artists Initiative and is known for her niche style of bringing traditional dance styles from the Middle East to the commercial dance scene. As a child of the diaspora, her choreography often also fuses diasporic styles of latin and afro dance, among others, with hiphop, jazz funk, and even contemporary. She has directed, choreographed, and danced for major artists in the diaspora. A passionate activist, all of Sofia's work is driven by calls for reform and social justice. Additionally, after 10 years of competing internationally in rhythmic gymnastics, Sofia began traveling the globe to coach master classes and national teams. 

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Recent credits include:

Kendrick Lamar, Felukah, Nadine El Roubi, Diljit Dosanjh, DJ Habibeats, Mansour, ZEEMUFFIN, Dania, Kyro, No Nazar, Laylit, Kennedy Center Performance of  Kimia and the Whsipers of the Mountains (Storyteller/Afsaneh), In the Stillness of Night (Mahboubeh), Amrika (Watfa), Vanity (Dance Captain, Ensemble), How to Make Friends and Then Kill Them (Ada)

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"Instead of waiting for change and opportunity, I create the spaces I want to work in where they do not exist. I am founder and director of MENA Artists Initiative, a global arts network dedicated to the representation, support, and collaboration of underrepresented groups of Middle Eastern and North African artists. I produce performances, workshops, and events around the world year-round  and, have established partnering global sites in Abu Dhabi, Dubai, Beirut, and Paris all within 2 years, collaborating with NYU Abu Dhabi, NYU Paris, and the Lebanese American University of Beirut.  Many of our partners are trailblazers in their respective industries and are Grammy, Sundance, Pulitzer, Emmy, and Tony award winners. By creating networks between up and coming artists and those already making an impact around the world, I hope to see greater MENA representation in the arts on a global scale."

Most recently, MENA Artists Initiative partnered with various pioneers from rhe breakdancing community in NYC to host Get Down For Gaza, a breakdancing battle that raised $5k for the children of Camps Breakerz Crew in the Gaza Strip. Dozens of organizations in The Netherlands, Finland, Chicago, Seattle, Egypt, Ireland, etc have followed suit since with their own fundraising 

 

Sofia has spearheaded initiatives like Dancers Without Borders and created international documentaries influencing homelessness and immigration issues. 

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She is also the founder and executive director of the nonprofit organization Hello Self Project where she empowers those struggling with eating disorders towards body positivity through artistic projects and a community platform (since 2017).