Performance Experience

As a dance artist, Katia's continuing performance career is extensive. From Middle Eastern Restaurants and clubs, hafla and theater settings, to weddings and private parties in the Boston, Rhode Island and New York areas, Katia shines as a stellar performer!

Katia directs a professional performing group, Stars of the East with members Amera, Katia and Sumaiya. They have a repertoire of folkloric dances from the Near East and North Africa as well as classical Oriental dance.

Ibrahim Farrah on Katia's performance

"In the original ethnic clubs in America, some audience members of the East used to shout a Turkish expression 'aman aman,' which means 'What a woman!' For me Katia exudes those affects today that provoked such a rise of inspiration yesterday. She is a dancer who would have been at ease performing in the original native clubs."

Theatre credits include:

New England Life Hall, Boston
Tsai Performance Center, Boston
Zeiterion Theater, New Bedford
Fashion Institute Theater, NYC
University of Montreal Theatre, Montreal, P.O.
Harbor Theater Complex, Toronto, P.O.
Grand Theater, MA
Arts Complex Theater, Buffalo
DeCapro Opera Theater, NYC
New Dance Group Theater, NYC
The Regent Theater, Arlington, MA
Kresge Little Theater, Cambridge, MA

Other performances outside the U.S. include London, U.K., Tangiers and Casablanca, Morocco, Cairo, and Luxor, Egypt, Cruise of the Greek Islands, Montreal and Toronto, Canada, Performed throughout the U.S. including San Juan, Puerto Rico, New York, Chicago, Houston, Los Angeles, Chicago, New Orleans and Washington, D.C. These performances included nightclubs, weddings, private parties and theaters.

In 1984, co-founded the Near East Dance Theatre, a Boston-based performing arts group for Oriental Dance. Directed, taught, and choreographed for the stage as Artistic Director for twelve years. Acts as Artistic Advisor for theater/concert productions of Middle Eastern Dance and continues to Direct, perform and choreograph for Stars of the East.

Nightclub credits include:

Massachusetts	Rhode Island	New York City
Continental Restaurant Middle East Restaurant Riviera Averof Sultan's Tent El Morocco Athenian Corner Sahara Club Wadi Sheherazade	Pegasus Mile and 1/4 Gerados The Palace The Tent Twin Rivers	Darvish Nightclub Cleopatra Ibis Cafe 44 Cedars of Lebanon Demarara Restaurant The Lafayette Grill

Katia's Philosophy on Performance

Katia on performance: "For me as an artist, there is nothing that compares with the excitement of great communication on stage between the musician, performer and the audience. A dancer must communicate the feeling of the music to the audience through her own technique, style, and charisma. The art of the communication is achieved through a combination of classroom study and performing experience."

"The more the dancer understands the music and the more ability she has to convey through technique and charisma, the richer the performance and message or vision the audience can experience."

"Don't just show your audience what you can do, show them who you are as an artist. In so doing, you have the ability to make people feel the passion of the music of the East."

"I love the classical Oriental dance for its elegance where one can be a queen or a goddess on stage, and for its dynamic range of Middle Eastern movements. I love the folkloric dance (regional dance) as one can tell stories through this style and reach the people with its earthy movements." "I love and respect both styles of the dance, the ethereal and the earthy."

Dance Education
Related Education
Experience in the Middle East
Teaching Experience
Journalism Experience
Lecturing Experience
CDs, Videos and Awards
Folkloric Costume Collection

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Web Site Maintenance: Katia
Web Site Design: Mary Anna Brown
Copyright 2001
Last Updated: 04/28/08