4 days until #DanceWeekend21! Meet Yasmina Ramzy. She’s been performing, teaching and creating choreography for Middle Eastern dance since 1981. In addition to performing and directing, she has taught in over 70 cities globally and created choreographies for 20 dance companies in Canada & the US. What does dance mean to her? “Dance is the most complete way to express the wonders of the universe.” Join @yasminaramzyarts workshop on Sun May 2 where she will be offering an intro to a few different styles of Egyptian dance.

Get your ticket to DanceWeekend’21 today! https://www.eventbrite.ca/e/danceweekend21-tickets-149965399547?aff=

#ComeDanceWithUs And visit her website yasminaramzyarts.com for more info on weekly online classes as well as her upcoming film release ‘Al Qamar’ (The Moon) this July 2021.

Can you tell us a little bit about yourself/company/collective/school?

I have been performing, teaching and creating choreographyfor Middle Eastern dance since1981. I performed in several Middle Eastern countriesoff and on for 15 years and currentlydirect 4 dance companies in Toronto, two of whichare online with international members. I havetaught in over 70 cities globally, created choreographiesfor 20 dance companies in Canada andthe USA.

What will you be sharing at DanceWeekend’21?

I will be offering an introduction to a few styles of Egyptian dance with insight into how it differsfrom most other forms of dance. Also, I will be explaining the cultural context of each dance.

How has the pandemic shifted your work as a professionaldance artist?

All company rehearsals and performance have been onlinesince March 2020. My prerecordedonline classes began in 2018 and then in March 2020all my in studio classes moved onto Zoom.My main company’s last production was to be presentedin a theatre in June 2020 and is nowbeing presented as a film.

Please share what you are most looking forward toat Dance Ontario’s first virtual DanceWeekend?

I am looking forward to my favourite weekend of theyear to reconnect with other dance artistsin different genres and discover new artists and newways of expression.

Do you have any up-coming performances/workshops/eventsyou would like to share?

I have ongoing weekly online classes as well as occasional specialty workshops. Yasmina RamzyArts will release its film called “Al Qamar” (TheMoon) this July 2021.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    In 1 or 2 sentences, what does dance mean to you?                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                               Dance is the most complete way to express the wonders of the universe.