YA S M I N A R A M Z Y
Director | Choreographer | Producer | Master Instructor | Curator
1-416-953-7769 | yasminaramzy@gmail.com
Active contributor to the Canadian cultural sector via mentorship, community workshops and festivals in the capacity of director, producer, author, board member, juror and adjudicator
Visionary professional with a deep commitment to diversity, equity, social justice, inclusion, community building and mental health advocate for sexual trauma victims
Creator of over 200 ensemble choreographies for 25 dance companies across North America
P r o f e s s i o n a l E x p e r i e n c e
Yasmina Ramzy Arts (formerly Arabesque Canada), Toronto, ON 1992 – Present
- Directed and produced ten large-scale six-day productions at Fleck Dance Theatre, Harbourfront Centre, Toronto, Canada with as many as 45 dancers and musicians in a production.
- Directed three films screened at international film festivals and received award nominations 2020-2022.
- Ensure support for company’s innovative artistic vision via grants from the Canada Council for the Arts, Ontario Arts Council, Toronto Arts Council and The Laidlaw Foundation.
- Company tours to Beirut, Amman, Damascus, Athens, Los Angeles, New York City, Smith College, Montreal, Vancouver, Ottawa, Calgary, Winnipeg, Victoria, Windsor, Whitehorse and more.
- Company highlights include collaboration with Cirque du Soleil creating choreography for the Pan American Games at Rogers Stadium, performing at Sony Centre for the Arts (Toronto) and Madison Square Garden (New York City).
- Commissioned to create ensemble choreography for and perform with legendary artists including The Rolling Stones, Ben Harper, Alabina, Bijan Mortazavi, Amr Diab and Rageb Alema.
- Produced seven music CDs, seven instructional DVDs and eight performance DVDs.
Master Instructor, Globally 1987 - Present
Master instructor in 70 cities in Canada, USA, Europe, Central America and Asia.
Created three-day teambuilding workshops for dancers, teachers, choreographers and directors; delivered events across North America to facilitate exploration of personal growth and creativity.
Lead 12 intensive educational two-week dance and music tours to Egypt.
Created and led 18 two-week professional dance courses with 194 graduates from 20 counties
Teach online classes, workshops and lectures 2018-Present.
Mentor and coach professional dance artists globally. 2006-Present.
Choreographer, Dance Artist 1982 – present
Performed over 10,000 times, often for royalty and heads of state, in England, Austria, Hungary, Spain, Germany, Greece, Scotland, Jordan, Syria, Egypt, Lebanon, Croatia, China, Mexico, USA, Canada and extensively with the Muwashahaat musicians of Syria in Aleppo and Damascus
Generated rave reviews in national, international and Middle Eastern mainstream media for groundbreaking choreography.
Commissioned to create over 200 choreographies for dance companies across Canada and USA including Miles Copeland’s Bellydance Super Stars
Bellydance Blossom Festival, Toronto, ON 2016-2018
- Created, produced and directed three festivals featuring panel discussions and lectures on the artistic process and socio-political issues in Middle Eastern dance. Facilitated artists working across international borders and dance genres to create ground-breaking work with 600 artists.
International Bellydance Conference of Canada, Toronto, ON 2008-2012
- Created, produced and directed four conferences each comprised of 150 international performing artists, 15 international master instructors and 400 international participants incorporating lectures, panel discussions, films, theatre performances and dance workshops.
CARAVAN Festival, Toronto, ON 1992 - 2005
- Created, produced and directed four multi-cultural festivals featuring live music, dance, food, crafts from countries around the world featuring music jams between different culture specific bands with dance parties attracting over 800 attendees.
Dancenet, Toronto, ON 1994 – 2000
Created, produced and curated a monthly two-hour dance performance presenting ten different styles of dance and movement with a wide variety of solo artists and ensembles. Attendance averaged 175 people per month over a six-year period. Dancenet was known as a launch pad for many Canadian dance artists’ careers.
A w a r d s
Nominated Best Director for “Al Qamar” in the Alternative Film Festival, 2021
Nominated Best Experimental film for “Al Qamar” in the Alternative Film Festival, 2021
Nominated K.M Hunter Award (Ontario Arts Council) 2010, 2011
Nominated Best Egyptian-style dancer, International Middle Eastern Dance Awards, 2003
Received Arab Heritage Award, Nile Association of Ontario 2001
A r t s L e a d e r s h i p
Board of Directors and Juror for the Int’l Raqs Film Festival (Los Angeles, USA) 2021
Present Founder/Chairperson of the D.O. Justice, Equity, Diversity & Inclusion Committee 2020 - Present
Present Board of Directors of Dance Ontario, Canada 1997 – Present
Adjudicator for Dora Awards, Canada 2011
Ontario Arts Council Juror, Canada 2009
Judge, Dance Manitoba Festival, Canada 2008
Member of the Canadian Alliance of Dance Artists 2005 – 2008
Invited to represent Canada at the Int’l Conference on M.E. Dance (L.A., USA) 2001
City of Toronto Commissioning Council re: Buddies in Bad Times Theatre 1998
D a n c e T r a i n i n g & P r o f e s s i o n a l D e v e l o p m e n t
Middle Eastern Dance with Mahmoud Reda, Dina Talaat, Aida Nour, Mohamed Khalil, Tito Seif, Randa Kamel, Ibrahim Farrah, Khairiyya Mazen, Mohamed Salah, Camelia Masreya, Badia Star
Ballet at National Ballet School of Canada
Sufi Dance & Drumming with Hany Morgan
Abhinaya with Gunusaleen
Persian Dance with Sashar Zarif
Capoeira with Bola
Film Study with Matt Phillips, Manuel Garcia
Productions (director / choreograper) – theatre & film:
(in Toronto, Ontario unless otherwise noted)
The 4th Pyramid Oct & Nov 2022 - 1 show each - Centerstage, MI, USA 25 dancers - 40m
AnaMasr Jul - Aug 2022 - Short film – 3 min - 7 dance artists
Al Qamar Jan - Sep 2021 - 37 minute film - 8 dance artists, 1 musician
Leilit Hob Aug - Set 2020 - Short film - 4 min - 8 dance artists, 8 musicians
Bellydance Blossom Festival 3 May 2018 - 3 days - 170 int’l dance artists, performances, workshops
Bellydance Blossom Festival 2 May 2017 - 3 days - 150 int’l dance artists, performances, workshops
Bellydance Blossom Festival 1 Apr 2016 - 3 days - 120 int’l dance artists, performances, workshops
Sawah Apr 2014 - 6 shows - 45 dancers, musicians, Fleck Dance Theatre - 90m
Int’l Bellydance Conference 4 May 2012 - 5 days - 400 int’l dance artists, performances, workshops
Jamra Feb 2012 – 6 shows - 22 dancers, musicians, Fleck Dance Theatre - 90m
Best of Arabesque Sep 2011 - 1 show - 50 dancers, 8 musicians, Fleck Dance Theatre - 120m
Noor Mar 2011 - 4 shows - 27 dancers, musicians, Fleck Dance Theatre - 90m
Int’l Bellydance Conference 3 Apr 2010 - 5 days - 400 int’l dance artists, performances, workshops
Oum on Tour Mar 2010 - 1 show each city - Vancouver, Whitehorse - 90m
Oum Feb 2010 - 6 shows - 20 dancers, musicians, Fleck Dance Theatre - 90m
Egypt Mar 2009 - 6 shows - 25 dancers, musicians, Fleck Dance Theatre - 90m
Int’l Bellydance Conference 2 Apr 2008 - 5 days - 350 int’l dance artists, performances, workshops
Cdn Arab Federation 40th June 2007 - 1 day - 20 dance artists & musicians - 45m
Bravo TV Documentary Feb - Apr 2007 - 22 min TV film about Yasmina Ramzy’s choreography
Int’l Bellydance Conference 1 May 2007 - 5 days - 300 int’l dance artists, performances, workshops
Asala Nov 2006 - 6 shows - 20 dancers, musicians, Fleck Dance Theatre - 120m
TDF Gala Performance Aug 2006 - 1 show – 17 dancers, musicians, The Distillery - 30m
Oyoun on Tour Mar 2004 - Smith College Auditorium, MA, USA - 90m
Oyoun on Tour May 2003 - Ottawa, Windsor, Sudbury, Kingston, St. Catharines
Isis Mar 2002 - 5 shows - 22 artists Premiere Dance Theatre - 110m
Discover Dance A&E TV, USA Jul 2001 - 20 min film in Betty Oliphant Theatre - 20 artists
Int’l Conf. on M.E. Dance May 2001 - 1 show - Los Angeles, CA, USA - 7 dance artists - 20m
United Nations Peace Summit Sep 2000 - 1 show - Madison Sq. Gardens, 12 dancers, musicians - 20m
In Search of the Almeh Apr 2000 - 5 shows - 19 dancers, musicians, Studio Theatre - 120m
Ishtar & Oyoun Tour Oct 1999 - 1 show each city - Calgary, Vancouver - 19 artists - 110m
Alabina & Bijan Mortazavi Aug 1998 - 1 show - 19 dancers, musicians, Sony Centre for Arts - 60m
Descent of Ishtar & Oyoun Apr 1996 - 5 shows - 19 dancers, musicians Studio Theatre - 100m
Nedaa el Nil Nov 1995 - 3 shows - 11 dancers, musicians, Studio Theatre - 90m