"Dance is emotion in motion" describes accurately the quality of Aszmara’s dance. Performing and teaching workshops regulary in the USA and Europe, she is one of New York’s best interpreters of the ethnic dance.
She impresses through her expressive stage presence and interprets the music with her own blend of modern and ethnic Arab and Turkish dance.The New York Times describes her dance as "intense".
Throughout her over three decade career as a teacher and performer, Aszmara's performances range from pure cabaret entertainment to full concert stage creating themed concert events as well as innovative dances. Her choreography has graced many New Rochelle Opera Companies productions (currently working on Turandot) as well as many New York city dancers. As a master teacher she teaches master and beginner’s classes with the same enthusiasm. Her deep love of the dance and teaching shines out to all in her classes bringing out the expressive passion in her students. A wonderfully clear, down-to-earth, funny, good-natured teacher she transports you to new levels of intensity and focus. Her workshops, thus, are highly appreciated both by professional dancers as well as by beginners. Proudly, she is an Adjunct Professor since 2002 at the College of New Rochelle as well as the Advisor for their Step Team, Black Ice. Aszmara's instructional DVD, Belly Dance... The Secret Desire won high praise from Habibi magazine for it's educational value.
In 1988, Aszmara with Roberta Koch co-founded SaZ Dance Theatre, a groundbreaking Multi-cultural dance company. Classical Indian, Spanish, Afro-Haitian, Cuban and Middle Eastern techniques were blended with modern movements to create an exciting and eclectic dance form. NYC productions were at The Knitting Factory, The Moving Company, Movements Afoot, Evolving Arts Theatre at Dance Space, SounDance Repertory, and in 1993 and 1996 had two weeklong runs at SoHo's Ohio Theatre where Jack Anderson of The New York Times wrote their production of "Out of Time" was "explicitly dramatic" and "a fascinating assortment of brief pieces.”
Oriental Images was formed in the mid 1980's along with Carmen Evan and Majda Mudell Fisher with the idea to educate and entertain audiences with the rich culture of the Middle East. For 15 years they produced yearly events which were highly regarded in the Middle Eastern Dance community with workshops and concerts presenting folkloric and classic Oriental dance for the theater stage. In 1997, Oriental Images received the AAMED Hall of Fame award.
Since 1989, she has toured yearly in Switzerland with the ethnic/jazz fusion music group, Transition with Master Musicians, Haig Manoukian, Souren Baronian and Cornelia Kraft, who blend traditional music from Armenia & the Middle East with Jazz. Aszmara has been teaching Weeklong Dance Workshops in Switzerland once a year since 1991 as well as Weeklong Dance & Drumming Workshops along with drumming instructor Cornelia Kraft since 1999.
Aszmara embodies theatrical passion. Her performances delve deeply into the soul of the music and demand the audience's attention. Her passionate connection to the music and her informed teaching are truly unforgettable with an electric excitement of music and dance created in the space between choreography and improvisation.
Dance is Emotion in Motion, visit http://www.aszmara.com
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