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| Yasmina, sometimes known as 'The English Rose of Cairo', has over
twenty-five years of experience in the field of Egyptian oriental dance as a
performer, teacher and choreographer. Originally from the UK she spent many
years travelling and dancing her way around the Middle East before settling in
Cairo in 1995. Here she performed for many years with her orchestra, becoming
one of the city's best-loved dancers. Cairo is still Yasmina's home, where she
hosts dancers and dance groups from around the world and provides services
ranging from accommodation, choreography, training and coaching in oriental
dance, to publicity photography and music production. |
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Biography |
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Yasmina, sometimes known as 'The English Rose of Cairo', has over
twenty-five years of experience in the field of Egyptian oriental dance as a
performer, teacher and choreographer. Originally from the UK she spent many
years travelling and dancing her way around the Middle East before settling in
Cairo in 1995. Here she performed with her orchestra for eight consecutive
years, building a reputation as one of the city's best-loved dancers, and
appearing at major Cairo venues such as Meridien Heliopolis, Safir, Pyramisa
and the Semiramis Intercontinental hotels, the Nile Maxime, Tivoli Heliopolis,
as well as hundreds of weddings and parties in Cairo and around Egypt. A
long-time student of Raqia Hassan, as well as other Egyptian master teachers,
Yasmina has spent the past decade teaching and performing at sell-out workshops
and festivals worldwide, and developing her own unique style.
Yasmina is a founder member and star of 'The Farha Tour', bringing live music
and the best of oriental and folkloric dancers to foreign audiences. They have
been twice around the UK and as far afield as Australia, as well as regularly
holding 'Farha Festivals' with emphasis on teaching with live music, in the UK
and Luxor. Yasmina is also the producer of 'Journey of Desire', a full-length
feature film exploring the relationship between Cairo and foreign dancers. Her
music CD's, Layali Yasmina, Heya di Yasmina, Aheb Masr! and El Warda, are among
dancers' favourites around the world.
In 2002 she gave birth to her son, Azzedine, and widened her cultural
understanding of Egypt by coming full-circle and incorporating her original
training into her life; she has worked extensively as a photo-journalist in
Cairo and writes regularly for several Egyptian and foreign publications. In
addition she is in demand as a publicity photographer helping other performers
look glamorous. Yasmina's knowledge and immersion into the local oriental dance
culture has also enabled her to introduce visiting dancers from around the
world to the delights of the Cairo dance scene. Based at her home beside the
Giza pyramids she is the coordinator and co-host for several international
belly dance tours each year, and provides back-up to both groups and
individuals in their adventures in Egypt.
Yasmina says:
"The day I was swept away by the sounds of Egyptian music and took my
first steps down the road of oriental dance, I could never have imagined where
that road would lead. To me, this dance has brought much joy, fulfillment, and
depth of self-expression, as I believe it has and will do for countless others.
No matter how small or great a part it plays in your life, it is always
life-enhancing and ultimately good for the soul."
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