ANASMA’S BIO :
Anasma is Performance Arts Dancer, Teacher, and Choreographer currently based in New York City. Anasma uses dance as an outlet to share her deepest emotions. Drawing from her crossed-training in Bellydance (Egyptian Raqs Sharki, Tribal Fusion, Folkloric ) and other forms (Hip Hop, Theater, Gymnastics, Salsa, Wushu, Flamenco, Modern Jazz, ...), Anasma focuses on story telling and creating characters through movement.
ORIGINS AND UPBRINGING
Anasma was brought up in Paris- France by her Vietnamese father and her Tunisian mother. She went to an international School (EABJM) for eleven years where she was exposed to foreign languages and cultures at a young age.
Her multi-cultural upbringing and heritage have always influenced on how Anasma dances, feels the music, and teaches the art form. With such a diverse background, Anasma was always attracted to ethnic dances and to fusing cultures and dance styles to express who she is.
A LONG TERM PASSION FOR DANCING
Anasma loved dancing since she was a child. Her first experience in dance was at the age of five, with ballet. During her childhood, Anasma trained in other dance styles and art forms : Modern Jazz, Gymnastics, Theater. At age ten, she would dance wildly in the living room after school, imitating her idol Michael Jackson. As a teen, Anasma gained confidence on stage and grew a lot as a performer thanks to her great Theater teacher: Chimel Cohen.
THE DISCOVERY OF BELLYDANCE
At age 14, Anasma discovered Bellydance and fell in love with it during the wedding of her Tunisian cousin. She was inspired by one of the graceful guests who spontaneously stood up and danced for half an hour mesmerizing the audience. The atmosphere of the wedding , the live music, the beaury of the Arabic songs made Anasma curious to learn about this art form. On top of this event, Anasma was also looking to get closer to her Arabic roots and origins.
ANASMA’S FIRST BELLYDANCE TEACHER
Anasma started Bellydance in 1997 with Sylvie Abdel Khalek. Very soon, Sylvie became Anasma's mentor and invited her to join the Turquoise Dance Company, alongside other wonderful young artists, Sarah Abdel Khalek, Hella Vuong, Betty Lacouture, Betsy Levy, Benedicte Diot ... Together, they created a variety theater show of Egyptian Bellydance. Their style was very etheral, uplifting. Thanks to the dancers' modern jazz and jazz background, their staging was innovative. Later on, the Turquoise Dance Company collaborated with Hip Hop dancers -such as the talented Joyce- to put together a new form of harmonious cultural encounter. The group was praised for the piece "H2O" (Hip Hop Oriental) presented in various Hip Hop festivals. This was the first opportunity for Anasma to study Hip Hop.
For seven years, Anasma grew tremendously with the Turquoise Dance Company as she performed in many weddings, restaurants, castles, theaters shows, national entertainment events, TV shows, hip hop festivals. In 2001, the company was flown for 5 days to Yaounde, Cameroun, to perform for the Cameronese president's wife. In 2002, the Turquoise Company appeared on national television. In 2003, they performed at the Grand Rex during the opening of the 'Night of the Ad Eaters' in Paris and Lille. The Turquoise Dance Company separated in 2004 and Anasma will thank Sylvie Abdel Khalek eternally for all that Sylvie gave to her.
OTHER TRAINING AND STUDIES IN FRANCE
Since then, Anasma trained with other teachers in Paris : the theatrical Leila Hassan, the technical Mayodi, and the wonderful , sensory, inspiring Souraya Baghdadi.
In 2005, Anasma and her beloved and gifted sister, Hella Vuong, trained a group of eleven dancers to perform at the Palais des Congres for more than 3000 spectators.
Anasma kept training in other dance forms. She joined the group “Salsa Connection”, a salsa company founded by Alain Felicite. In 2001, she performed at the Zenith de Paris in front of 6000 spectators for the Tribute Concert to the legendary Tito Tuente.
Anasma studied Business Management at the EDHEC Business School in Lille. She specialized in Entrepreneurship. She did her internships as a Administrative assistant at Kiria – a health store in Paris- and as a Marketing Assistant at Unilever Food Solutions. She finishing her Masters Degree in Business Management at the Indian Institute of Management of Ahmedabad, India.
A DREAM COME TRUE: BECOMING A PROFESSIONAL DANCER
As she was finishing her business studies, Anasma decided to persue her dream from childhood of becoming a professional dancer. In the fall 2004, Anasma was inspired by the professionalism, high quality technique and staging of the Bellydance Superstars at the Folies Bergeres. This is where she saw Bellyqueen perform for the first time. In April 2006 Anasma auditioned for Bellyqueen in New York City in 2006. Anasma was selected and invited to join the group and come settle down in the Big Apple!
Anasma found a good match with the Bellyqueen philosophy : striving for high quality, a hard-working spirit, a process oriented type of work, an interest in mixing Egyptian Bellydance with other dance styles, a very international profile, an eternal desire to grow as artists, a willingness to share experience with audiences and with each other.
PROFESSIONAL DANCER, TEACHER, CHOREOGRAPHER IN NEW YORK CITY
Anasma has now settled in New York. She keeps growing a lot as an artist and has developed and defined her own style through performing and teaching. She specializes in a Hip Hop Bellydance blend and in theatricality of dance.
In 2006, Anasma started teaching internationally (Europe, America, Asia…)
Anasma's solo dances are featured in the "Bellydance Experience" DVD and the "Fantasy Bellydance" DVD.
In 2007, she sings alongside Pete List in the album "Songs for Kassar".
In 2009, she records her first instructional DVD "Bellydance Hip Hop Liquid Fusion".
anasma@anasmadance.com
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