The Artists
WENDY BUONAVENTURA (Sirocco Director)
Wendy has worked internationally as dancer, choreographer and writer to critical acclaim, and was the subject of the TV documentary Making Mimi. Her book Serpent of the Nile has become the classic history of Middle Eastern dance, and is reissued this year in a new, updated edition. Her performance work and writing explore cultural myths and stereotypes of women. Her latest book, Midnight Rose, is based on the life of the notorious Edwardian dancer Maud Allan. www.buonaventura.com
Clips of Wendy's performance work on YouTube - Testament of Salome | Wendy Buonaventura
BEATRICE GROGNARD
Based in Brussels, Beatrice is director of Tarab Dance Company and an ex-archeologist. She has won a dedicated UK following for her elegant, expressive raqs sharqi which, whilst preserving its essential nature, is infused with a spirit of modernity. Much praised for her warm, generous teaching style at last year’s event she returns to Sirocco by popular request. www.tarabofegypt.com
VENUS SALEH
Born and raised in Iran, Venus began dancing at a very young age and has a compelling stage presence impossible to ignore. Working regularly with the Iran Heritage Foundation, she has become an ambassador for classical Persian culture. She brings a rich knowledge of Persian dance and a playful humour to both her teaching and stage work.
KARINE BUTCHART
‘Dance your passion’ has been the theme of Karine’s work over many years’ teaching and performing in the UK. Working over many years with varieties of Middle Eastern dance, her recent studies in flamenco have added a new dimension to her work. She is interested in exploring the boundaries of dance to express deeper meaning, bringing out her students’ creativity and encouraging well-being through dance. www.arabicsouldance.com
LUCIA ZAHARA
Lucia Zahara, from Sicily, learnt her native tarantella at weddings and other social events, and she will be bringing to Sirocco the Pizzica, a women’s trance dance of Southern Italy. She teaches Arabic, gypsy and taranta dance and drumming and holds workshops on the healing power of dance through self-expression and awareness of energy. Her theatre work seeks to present the dynamism and mystery of these dance forms. http://www.luciazahara.blogspot.com
HAZEL KAYES
Dancer, actress, chef and bon viveur, Hazel brings warmth and exuberance to her teaching and performing. She has taken dance groups to the Sinai desert, travelling and camping with the Bedouin, and has appeared in Textiles In Performance with the Studio 7 group of textile artists.
CAROLINE AFIFI
CAROLINE AFIFI co-founded the Liverpool Arabic Arts festival. A highly creative theatre performer, her past shows include Forbidden Fruit, Café Medina and Sabine. She is regularly in Egypt, investigating the dance scene and its political ramifications for women there today.
NAWARRA
Nawarra (meaning ‘flower’ in Arabic) grew up learning from the finest traditional dancers and musicians of her native Morocco. Now based in Yorkshire, she heads the performance group Banat Eshorouk. Nawarra has an infectious joy of dancing, and transmits a powerful energy through her teaching and performing. At Sirocco she will be teaching and performing traditional dance styles of North Africa. www.nawarra.co.uk
VALERIE ROMANIN
Valerie Romanin is the creator of Flamenco Descalzo® (Barefoot Flamenco), an elegant fusion revealing the roots of flamenco, pointing up its Moorish and Romany influences. Based in London, she is known for her energy and the clarity of her teaching. www.flamencodescalzo.com
MIRA BETZ
American dancer Mira Betz has been described as ‘a well-kept secret which is now out.’ Active in theatre dance for 20 years, she is much sought-after by today’s performers, especially in the dance fusion scene. With her passionate desire for continual growth and her multi-faceted dance background (including contemporary, salsa, jazz, flamenco and ritual forms) she has proved an inspiring teacher for dancers at all levels. www.miramania.com
Links
www.habibadance.com
For all questions, enquiries and bookings please email or telephone (+44) 0117 927 3099 or email: info@siroccofestival.org.uk
Sirocco Arts, P. O. Box 1071, Bristol BS99 1HE.copyright Wendy Buonaventura
website design by Anthony Davis