Trained in both classical and traditional music and dance, Sadira has focused on Middle Eastern dance since 1976. She has studied dance extensively in Cairo, Egypt with world-renowned choreographer Mahmoud Reda and premier dancer Nadia Hamdi, as well as in Amman, Jordan with the Palestinian folklore troupe, Jafra. She has studied Middle Eastern rhythm and technique with master Lebanese percussionist, Michel Merhej Baklouk, Iraqi master drummer Hamid Alwan and Glen Valez. Sadira has also studied Arab music theory and played in ensembles directed by Simon Shaheen and Ali Jihad Racy.  Sadira has performed in Cairo, Egypt at weddings and for Women's Club of Cairo, the Cultural area of Arab World Fest in Milwaukee, the National Conference of Less Commonly Taught Languages (NCOTL), the Wisconsin Alliance for Arts Education, the Madison Area Dance Festival, University of Wisconsin-Madison's "Hot Jazz" series, the Nutcracker, the opening ceremonies of the Badger State Games, as well as many performances for universities and civic associations. Recognizing the importance of art as a cultural bridge, Sadira has worked to promote Middle Eastern culture by serving as co-chair of the cultural area of Milwaukee's Arab World Fest, coordinator and performance chair of "Cultures of the Arab World" at UW-Madison and producing the Madison Middle Eastern Festival that has brought renowned Middle Eastern artists, Simon Shaheen, Mahmoud Reda, Nadia Hamdi and Faruk Tekbilek to Madison. Sadira directs the Riad Dance Company and teaches Middle Eastern Dance for the UW-Division of Continuing Studies and at Kanopy Dance in Madison. 

Sadira joined Call for Peace Drum & Dance Company in 1989, performing the “raks sharki,” a solo woman's dance of the Middle East originally developed by women for their own entertainment. Raks sharki is an improvisational dance style, though it requires a specific movement and technical vocabulary. The technique focuses on the dancer's ability to isolate and move different parts of the body independently.