Leyla Jouvana & Roland
Article: Gilded Serpent Article
Leyla & Roland's web site: www.leyla-jouvana.de
Leyla
Jouvana began dancing at a young age, but Belly Dance wasn't her first love.
After entering the dance world studying Yugoslavian folkloric and jazz, Leyla
discovered her true calling in Oriental Dance. After nineteen years of study in
Belly Dance, she opened her own studio which boasts approximately 300 regular
students from beginners up to master class. Nearly every weekend she is active
as a guest dancer and choreographer at home in Germany and abroad.
In performance and workshop with her husband Roland, a professional drummer, she has created intricate and dynamic choreographies. Her repertoire of knowledge is vast with expertise in teaching and presenting Saidi dance; veils (from two to seven veils!); Bollywood-style Indo-Arabic; Tango Oriental; Rumba Oriental; Melaya Leff; Turkish Belly Dance; Spanish-Arabic Fusion; Afro-Oriental; Zills; and of course, classical Egyptian Raqs Sharki.
The Giza-Academy awarded her Best Soloist and Best Drum Solo Dancer." In Germany she received the very popular HALIMA Award for "Shimmy Queen," "Best and Most Famous Dancer in Europe," "Biggest and Most Successful Oriental Bellydance School in Europe."
They have also produced with IAMED's Suzy Evans the "21 Shimmy and 1001 Variations" DVD which is a best seller.
Leyla and Roland established the “International Oriental Dance Festival” in their hometown of Duisburg/Clauberghalle, Germany where they showcase not only their talents, but those of their proteges as well. Occurring annually on the first Sunday of Advent, this show has attracted audiences of up to 3,000!
Roland is a professional drummer. He provides Leyla with artistic support in the form of live rhythm, and ranks as one of the best and most popular drummers on the Oriental dance scene. Beyond that, he and Leyla have developed an interactive drummer-dancer presentation that makes the drumming as instrumental as the dancing, and the dancing as powerful as the drumming. He also presents at workshops and not only plays the traditional Oriental percussion instruments (the Darbukka, Def, Doumbek), but is a master at congas, frame drum, and cymbals.
Their performances are dynamic, but so are their classes. Roland accompanies Leyla in all workshops, providing the enlivening aspect of live drums!
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