Shadia Dahlal (Maggie Garcia Mills) has been a professional performer for more than 25 years. She started her acting career at Cal-State Fullerton where she appeared in various productions. She also appeared in productions at the Downey Community theater. In 1974, she received an acting scholarship to the South Coast Repertory acting conservatory. She received her B.A. in theater and teaching credential in 1976.

Since the time she was a child, she had her heart set on an acting career; but fate intervened. Instead she took a teaching job with the city of Santa Ana, and it was during this time that she got hooked on Middle Eastern dance. Her first teacher was Marina Fisher. She later went on to study with Feiruz Aram, Samar, Tonya Chianis, Angelika Nemeth, and Shareen El Safy. After her first year of study she was hired for her first restaurant job and went on to work at several nightclubs and restaurants in the Orange County and Los Angeles area.

She also had the privilege of working with such distinguished musicians as John Bilezikjian, George Elias and the Aboud Abdel Al orchestra. Shadia was a member of the Arabesque Dance troupe in the mid 80’s along with Latifa, the troupe leader and Kamala and Sahra.

In 1992, she relocated to Tulsa, Oklahoma where she eventually returned to her first love: the theater. After teaching for Tulsa Public Schools for one year, she returned to school at Oklahoma State University and received an M.A. in theater in 1996. Part of her creative component for the M.A was a one-act play written by her and her husband, Russell. The play is entitled "Frida," and is based on the life of Mexican painter Frida Kahlo. The play has been performed in Tulsa at various theaters. Shadia also performed the play at "The Day of the Dead" festival at the Tulsa Artist’s Coalition Gallery, the Gilcrease Museum (as part of the teacher training program for Harwelden), and SummerArts at Holland Hall.

Her second play, also cowritten with Russell, was "Blessed Be The Flame: The Hannah Szenes Story." It was produced by the Tulsa Community Jewish Center and directed by Shadia. She is also a professional make-up artist and has applied her talent in television and stage work.

In 1992, Shadia began teaching Middle Eastern in Tulsa, Oklahoma. She currently teaches weekly classes at her own studio, 4622 E. 31st Street in Tulsa (just west of 31st and Yale) in Tulsa. Her dance company, "The Purple Roses of Cairo," was created in spring of 1996. From their humble beginnings as a Middle Eastern dance troupe, they have blossomed into a full-fledged performance company, and have staged full-blown productions at the Tulsa Performing Arts Center. They remain in high demand at Renaissance Faires and other venues, such as Oktoberfest and Mayfest. Shadia and the Purple Roses set the standard for professionalism and artistic integrity in the Midwest.