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Johara

Johara, which means Jewel in Arabic, is a passionate and innovative dancer, choreographer and instructor in the Boston area. She has performed professionally in Istanbul Turkey, Baiia Brazil, New York City, and throughout New England. Besides club and restaurant shows, she has performed at numerous university cultural events and at festivals including the Cambridge River Festival, the opening for the Boston Revels 2005 and 2006, and a 2-Day International Folk Dance Festival in Inegol, Turkey before an audience of 5000. She has been featured on “Fernando’s Hide-away” (WBNN) a television program highlighting Boston’s top entertainment, interviewed on several Turkish Television stations and written about in the Boston Globe.

As the director, producer, and choreographer of Snakedance Theater Company, she has produced four large-scale shows for Boston stages: Celestial Bodies:2001 Belly Dance Odyssey; East Meets West: Arabia American Style(2003); Gypsy in Cairio(2005); and Fools For the Dance(2007). Her dance troupe has also performed at numerous Universities, Belly Dance events, and fundraisers. Some highlights include Visions of the Eas, Choreographed by Katia Nordgren at Cresgee Theater MIT, the Stuart Street Theater in Boston, and Fernando’s Hide-away, live Boston television show.

Johara has also organized the Boston Annual Belly Dance Awards which she began in 2004 as well as numerous dance events including her Serpentine Nights series, a gala show with dancer/choreographer AmirThaleb from Argentina and workshop with famed dancer Clara Ramona of Spain. Her 2006 Awards featured both Amar Gamal (Bellydance Superstars) and workshop and show with Virginia Mendez of Miami. In addition, her events always feature local talent from the Boston area.

In 2006 Johara joined the Mavi International Dance Company which has further expanded her dance knowledge. Mavi has a diverse repertoire combining folk movements from Turkish (Black Sea, chiftitelli, Rom/Gyspy), Georgian, Russian, to name some along with elements of ballet, modern, and jazz. Johara has been featured as a soloist and troupe member in many prestigious events: International dance festival in Inegol Turkey; Turkish festival at the Daily Center in Chicago; Turkish festival in Patterson New Jersey; and at a political event at the Hyatt Regency in New York City. In Boston Johara and Mavi performed to the music of Turkish composer Mehmet Sanliko at the prestigious Jordan Hall of New England Conservatory, and Cresgee Hall of MIT.

Johara's diverse background in dance includes 15 years of study in Middle Eastern dance (Egyptian and Turkish) along with five of study in West African and several years of Afro-Caribbean and Latin dance styles. Beyond folk dance, she has taken courses in Modern, Jazz, Hip-Hop, Ballroom, and Pilates. Johara also has a background in music. She studied Jazz vocals at Berklee College of Music and holds an Associates degree in jazz and Contemporary Music from the University of Maine at Augusta. World percussion extensively influenced her studies as she recorded and performed (congas/doumbek) with bands: Cosmos Factor, Ibrahima’s World Beat, and Casablanca band. This diverse knowledge of music and dance has enriched Johara in presenting exciting shows and choreographies.

Johara is a compassionate and committed dance instructor and workshop leader with over 11 years teaching experience. Johara holds a Masters degree in Teaching English as a second language. In 2007, she became a certified Yoga instructor in both Vinyasa flow and Hatha styles. As a dance instructor, she has trained some of Boston's top bellydancers and two of her students passed auditions to join the Bellydance Superstars International performing company produced by Miles Copeland. Many of her students have performed in her professional theater productions, Serpentine Nights events, and recitals. Her students were winners in the 2004 and 2005 Boston Bellydance Awards. She is a full-time instructor in the greater Boston area.

For more information email Johara at johara@joharasnakedamce.com or call 617.780.8890.

 

 
     
 
 
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