PAOLA ZILIOTTO BOUDRESS

Paola approached the world of oriental dance after lengthy study and research in the field of cultural anthropology.

Graduating with a thesis on the therapyof subsaharian African dance she subsequently worked as special correspondent for Marie Claire and contributor for several science magazines. Paola also took part in t.v documentarys broadcasted by RAI and directed by Mino Damato.

Click here to see some pictures from the "Senegal n'dop"
The photos are taken by Paola Ziliotto Boudress in Yoff, Dakar.

Study in the field of bioenergetics, Gestalt and yoga therapy drove her to constantly deepen the link between mind and movement,the latter intended as an instument of harmonic expansion.

With a natural disposition to travel and discover Paola set out to accomplish the field of oriental dance directly in Egypt with the best local teachers.  

Paola was mostly influenced by Ibrahim Akef, the famous choreographer for Egyptian stars of the time,(Naima Akef, Tahia Karioka, Samia Gamal) and present day star Dina.

Mona el Said takes full merit for having taught Paola the importance of only dancing "what one loves".

In 1990 Paola appointed and assumed the post of artistic manager of "The Flying Carpet" in Turin,the first cultural association in Italy with the aim to diffuse oriental music,dance and culture, affiliated with ARCI.

Since 1990 a degree in Pedagogy and Paola's passion for teaching(also to the blind) have determined the persistence of a Didactic methodology which combines both tradition and innovation, considering the personality of each student in order to develop individual artistic potential.

In 2000, on the tenth anniversary of the association Paola was invited by the publisher L'Harmattan Italia to write the preface for the Italian edition of "La danza del mondo arabo"edited by J.H Chebra and C. Pochè.



IL TAPPETO VOLANTE

Already at the beginning of the 90's the association organized international seminars held by local teachers in Istanbul and Cairo.

Among some of these teachers to be acknowledged are Amoura (Vienna), Hamed Demirbag (Turkey), Nadia Hamdi (Egypt), Raqia Hassan (Egypt), Semi Yildiz (Turkey) and Nezrine Topkapi (Turkey) Thanks to these seminars for the opportunity to introduce and esteem abroad names like Raqia Hassan and Nadia Hamdi. Regarding the "stage" (courses) held in Italy names such as Zaza Hassan and Zoubida Belbachir from Paris come to mind.

A desire to update prompted the artistic management to invite Diana Mahiou, master teacher and ex assistant to Raqia Hassan to Turin to organize "stage" at il Cairo, held at the hotel Marriot, with prof. Hassan Khalil and the Egyptian dancer Sawsan Hafez.

The turning point which brought about innovation concerning the diffusion of Egyptian dance was acquired by the organization of "stage" (Tannoura dance courses) held by Hsine Hadaoui in november 2003, at il Cairo. (Tannoura is an antique dance originating from the Dervish.)

The novelty contributing to oriental dance was exalted by "The Comic Belly Dance" and from the artistic contribution made by the "Sorelle Suburbe" Luisella and Tiziana who held seminars of theatre comedy for students of "Tappeto Volante."

Indietro