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Lee Ali is a thought-provoking show woman with a passion for rhythm, ritual, and research in dance. She’s
a master teacher of Trance and Middle Eastern dance, with a specialty in Moroccan folklore. She began as
a child performer with her Moroccan mom and Turkish-Armenian dad. “Dance, music and singing were my
pacifiers as a child.” says Ali. “My mother danced, my dad drummed and Grandma was musical director of
Ararat Armenian Dance Ensemble. Performing was part of my everyday life.” Her bellydance style is
“strictly Turkish!” says Ali, “I appreciate Egytian style, but it’s too feminine for me. I’m all about the earthy,”
Ali says with a smile. Lee sings “a little bit in a lot of languages” including Turkish, Greek, French, and
Arabic. A multi-instrumentalist musician, Lee’s favorite drum is a T’bal named “Big Boy” (double-sided
drum traditionally played by men). On stage, Ali has delivered more than 2,000 dance and drum
performances in theater, festivals, cabaret, and film...and still counting.
Lee Ali studies her craft. She defines herself as an Arabist and an Orientalist. “If you’re brave, there is
great opportunity to take on social issues in Middle Eastern dance. In America, nothing is shocking
anymore in the arts. The tension and mystery that exist in older, conservative cultures don’t apply to
American dancers. The Middle East, on the other hand, is a land of superstitions and contradictions
regarding women, magic and the belief that certain things are forbidden. I work with concepts of the
forbidden, especially in my trance work. I’m comfortable pushing boundaries . Because I was raised in the
culture, I have practiced defending against conservative thinking. I have a dual citizenship in dance. I
speak languages of both the American and the Middle Eastern dancer.” Lee has studied dance in
Morocco, Turkey, Greece and Egypt.
Don’t miss the rare opportunity to study with her!
a master teacher of Trance and Middle Eastern dance, with a specialty in Moroccan folklore. She began as
a child performer with her Moroccan mom and Turkish-Armenian dad. “Dance, music and singing were my
pacifiers as a child.” says Ali. “My mother danced, my dad drummed and Grandma was musical director of
Ararat Armenian Dance Ensemble. Performing was part of my everyday life.” Her bellydance style is
“strictly Turkish!” says Ali, “I appreciate Egytian style, but it’s too feminine for me. I’m all about the earthy,”
Ali says with a smile. Lee sings “a little bit in a lot of languages” including Turkish, Greek, French, and
Arabic. A multi-instrumentalist musician, Lee’s favorite drum is a T’bal named “Big Boy” (double-sided
drum traditionally played by men). On stage, Ali has delivered more than 2,000 dance and drum
performances in theater, festivals, cabaret, and film...and still counting.
Lee Ali studies her craft. She defines herself as an Arabist and an Orientalist. “If you’re brave, there is
great opportunity to take on social issues in Middle Eastern dance. In America, nothing is shocking
anymore in the arts. The tension and mystery that exist in older, conservative cultures don’t apply to
American dancers. The Middle East, on the other hand, is a land of superstitions and contradictions
regarding women, magic and the belief that certain things are forbidden. I work with concepts of the
forbidden, especially in my trance work. I’m comfortable pushing boundaries . Because I was raised in the
culture, I have practiced defending against conservative thinking. I have a dual citizenship in dance. I
speak languages of both the American and the Middle Eastern dancer.” Lee has studied dance in
Morocco, Turkey, Greece and Egypt.
Don’t miss the rare opportunity to study with her!
"God is alive...woman is rolling in the ashes." I use this expression when I teach trance, says Lee. It's a translation of a Berber chant referring to women who dance round an open fire till they literally drop into the ashes to roll and quiver in a state of trance... --Lee Ali |
WORKSHOP with LEE ALI Dancing to 6/8 Rhythms Moroccan, Egyptian, Persian Sunday, June 7 at DanceGarden Click here |
CLIP: Lee Ali
SHOW: THE SPINSTER'S BALL (a Malice Dreaming Production) Lee Ali will play Maud Adams, in portrayal of Salome. July 24th and 25th LOCATION: Studio A Dance, 2306 Hyperion Ave Los Angeles, CA 90027 |