Photo by Sekmeth Ahmes
Member of the Internacional Dance Council - CID - UNESCO
I am a dance artist in love by fusion. Finding the elements that are common to different cultures and understanding how all cultures are related is something that always fascinated me as an interdisciplinary behavioral researcher, and that moves me as a dancer. I also feel compelled to explore different aspects of myself as a person through dance, creating new dancing selves constantly, finding new styles of music, costuming, stories and concepts to use in my performances.
This predisposition for experimenting is reflected on my work as a solo artist, and also in my willingness to collaborate with very different artists and projects. Before I decided to dedicate myself to dance I worked as a researcher in psychological science, and I apply a lot from this background in my work as a dancer and dance teacher. I love to teach and believe in working hard while having fun simultaneously, including group interaction and improvisation in my classes, as well as precise muscular and breathing awareness cues. I am kind of a geek, I am curious and enjoy learning new things constantly. I use glasses since I was a child, and I am very fond of books, cinema and sci-fi.
Poetry was my first artistic vehicle. I love walking in nature, and I am addicted to daydreaming. That's when most of my creative work is done! I am passionate for Blues n' Rock music, and have a crush on old Jazz music (Jazz Era to the 60's mainly). I have a fetish for everything Art Nouveau and the roaring twenties, and also a big crush on vintage fashion from the 20's up to 70's. I also have a thing for post-punk and dark wave, and have a huge collection of black clothes in my wardrobe. My favorite dish is pizza, and my favorite dessert is chocolate, preferably melting, ahahaha. I adore to meet new people and new places, so I am grateful for all the travelling that being a dancer and teacher entails.
Hope to meet you on my next travels! Welcome to my dance world!
PT
Com uma licenciatura em Psicologia Clínica, um doutoramento em Psicologia e experiência profissional na área da formação em desenvolvimento pessoal, Vera Mahsati é actualmente bailarina, coreógrafa e professora dedicada à Dança Oriental e Fusão.
Actua regularmente em diversos eventos e espectáculos nacionais e internacionais, e dedica-se ao ensino através de aulas regulares e workshops. Desde 2006 que estuda diversos estilos de Dança Oriental (incluindo Raqs Sharqi, Folclore do Norte de África e Médio-Oriente, Fusão Tribal) e outros estilos de danças do mundo, tendo concluído o Foundation Course da Drumzy School of Music and Dance (Hossam e Serena Ramzy, UK/Egypt) em 2013.
Tem vindo a especializar-se na área da fusão, viajando regularmente para actualizar a sua formação com as grandes referências nesta área. Em 2017 frequentou o curso Integrated Dance Part.I de Ashley López, tendo passado a aplicar esta abordagem nas suas aulas e prática pessoal como bailarina. Destaca ainda a importância que o estudo de Danças Romani do Leste de Europa e da Rússia com Mónica Roncon teve no seu percurso como bailarina e professora de dança.
Participa em diversos projectos e produz os seus próprios espectáculos a solo e em colaboração com outros artistas. Colaborou na produção do único showcase regular de Danças e Músicas do Mundo em Lisboa, Hafla Tarab (2017-2019), e em 2016 lançou o projecto ¡Bellydance Rocks!, que junta a Dança Oriental de Fusão ao universo musical dos Blues, do Rock e do Jazz.
Conhecida internacionalmente por um trabalho vanguardista onde uma estética vintage e a elegância da era do jazz se misturam com a irreverência do rock'n' roll, Vera Mahsati é uma performer eclética que não deixa ninguém indiferente e tem um trabalho único no panorama da Dança Oriental de Fusão, usando uma abordagem inspirada no cabaret e vaudeville e diversas influências estéticas, literárias e musicais para criar momentos inesquecíveis. Diz-se que conta estórias quando dança e leva os espectadores numa viagem intemporal.
Tem vindo a explorar outros vocabulários de dança, sendo membro da companhia Terpsichore Dance dirigida por Sara Toscano, dedicada à Dança Grega Antiga desde 2016. Integrou ainda o corpo de baile do espectáculo Svrsvm Corda em 2017, uma colaboração Agape & Dorahoag (música e dança do mediterrâneo, com inspiração na Antiga Roma).
Interessa-se também pela investigação da história das danças do Médio-oriente e Norte de África, e a sua percepção e interpretação no contexto Ocidental. Em 2016 apresentou a comunicação Dança Oriental, feminismo(s) e 'o feminino' no Centro de Estudos Sociais da Universidade de Coimbra acompanhada de um workshop de Introdução à Dança Oriental, inseridos no VI Ciclo do Gender Worskshop.
Em 2019 apresentou a comunicação: "Cântico da carne exaltada" ou "Exibição Imoral"? A originalidade e vanguardismo de Eça de Queiroz na sua interpretação das danças do Médio-Oriente no fin de siècle no Congresso Eça de Queiroz nos 150 anos do canal do Suez, Faculdade de Letras da Universidade de Lisboa, Portugal, que dará lugar a um artigo na revista Nova Águia em 2020.
Vera Mahsati é ainda membro do Conselho Internacional de Dança da UNESCO - CID, que reconhece as instituições e profissionais de renome em várias áreas da dança pelo mundo fora.
EN
With a Ph.D in Psychology and professional experience in research and personal development training (including relaxation and mindfulness), Vera Mahsati is dedicated professionally to Oriental Dance and Oriental Dance Fusion styles since 2014. She has been studying several Oriental Dance styles since 2006 (starting with Egyptian Raqs Sharqi and Folklore and moving towards Fusion styles) and also other dance styles (such as Romani Dances and Authentic Solo Jazz), in which she finds inspiration to develop her own path as a Fusion Dance Artist. From 2015 onwards she has been developing a personal project entitled ¡Bellydance Rocks! with the aim of joining Oriental Dance/Belly Dance with Blues, Jazz and Rock music, which developed into a class format with the same name. She has also created other dance training formats such as Bellydance Workout and Romani Oriental Fusion. She produces her own shows and collaborates with other artists and projects, such as Terpsichore Dance dedicated to Ancient Greek Dance (directed by Sara Toscano). In 2017 she joined the production team of Hafla Tarab, the first regular showcase of world dances and music in Lisbon, launched by Anokha in 2016.
As a performer she is known internationally for an avant-garde work in which a vintage aesthetics and the elegance of the Jazz Era are mixed with a rock n' roll attitude, being an eclectic performer which has a unique work in the Fusion Belly Dance scene. With an approach influenced by Cabaret and Vaudeville, in which several artistic influences converge, she creates unforgettable moments that show an unexpected an unusual side of Belly Dance. She tells stories through movement and takes her audience in a timeless voyage.
Vera Mahsati is also passionate for dance research, and is making her own contribution to study the history and cultural impact of Raqs Sharqi or Oriental Dance. She has presented already two communications in the academic context in 2016 and 2019. The last one will be published in 2021.
Mahsati, V. (2016) Dança Oriental, Feminismo(s) e o Feminino, Gender Studies, Centre for Social Studies, University of Coimbra, Portugal.
Mahsati, V. ( 2019) "Cântico da carne exaltada" ou "Exibição Imoral"? A originalidade e vanguardismo de Eça de Queiroz na sua interpretação das danças do Médio-Oriente no fin de siècle, Congresso Eça de Queiroz nos 150 anos do canal do Suez, Faculdade de Letras da Universidade de Lisboa, Portugal.
Vera Mahsati is a member of UNESCO's International Dance Council - CID, who recognizes renowned international institutions and professionals in the field of dance.
Her love and passion for Egyptian Raqs Sharqi is the base of her work in dance, being graduated by the Drumzy School of Music and Dance (Hossam and Serena Ramzy, 2013). She is also passionate about exploring the arab roots of portuguese culture (before being Portugal we were part of the Al-Andalus), which are still present in our traditions, food, language, culture, music, poetry, way of living and experiencing reality.
Press:
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https://www.facebook.com/veramahsatibellydance/
https://www.facebook.com/bellydancerocksproject/
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