This fiery Macedonian immigrated to the U.S. as a young child. Passionate about their native Balkan folklore, her family trained Paola and her two sisters extensively in Balkan dance forms, including the kolo circle dances and chochek, the Roma-inspired dance featuring hips, swirly hands, and feisty rhythms with heavy Ottoman influence. As a college sophomore in Chicago, she took her first MED class from Jasmine Jahal, Chicago’s pioneer belly dance performer and teacher. That was the beginning of a lifetime love affair with Raqs Sharqi, or Middle Eastern Dance.

Paola then spent eight years in Sao Paulo, Brazil, where she taught high school Humanities at the American School. During the Brazil years, she not only picked up Samba and Pagode rhythms from the vibrant Brazilian culture, but discovered a remarkably thriving MED scene which was destined to turn her into a professional dancer.

She was then turned loose upon the world as a dancer and instructor, now based in Kuala Lumpur, but traveling consistently to international locations to teach and learn topics in Dance and Theater. As a roving Dance Scholar, her myriad experiences are weaving into a rich tapestry of expressive modes bearing the mark of a true Modern Nomad - sensitive to inspiration in its full prismatic display. Paola considers herself a Humanist With a Destiny in Dance, and believes fully that Dance is a key way to transform the human body, soul, and experience.

While Paola has studied with current MED greats such as Morocco, Keti Sharif, Jasmine Jahal, Dr. Hassan Khalil, Raqia Hassan, Kaeshi, Suhaila Salimpour, and too many others to list, one of the most profound influences on her dance comes from a teacher she's never met in the flesh - Isadora Duncan.

Three summers immersed in Duncan Dance have imparted a Universal quality to Paola's MED dance, infusing it with the intelligence and emotional intent that Duncan so passionately expounded. The world is taking note. Paola has been invited to share her unique approach by dancers like Morocco, Keti Sharif, Kaeshi Chai and Yonisha - at festivals and workshops around the globe.

The path continues to unfold before her - with inspired vision and joy. Paola's sincere wish for the Dance and its exponents is that it may raise our consciousness and deepen our connection to the rhythms that unite us all as fellow travelers in the Human Venture.

Paola's CV (last updated Aug '07)

International Performance Experience Highlights:

• Juliana Middle Eastern Dinner Theater, Chicago
• Tizzi Melloul, Chicago
• El Khayyam, Chicago
• Ya Hala, Chicago
• the Sphinx Cafe, Chicago
• ’03 Lollapalooza Alternative Music Festival Side Stage, Chicago
• “The Thunderbird” at Lake Tahoe , California
• Relax Bay Resort, Koh Lanta , Thailand
• Floatation Beachfront Bar, Koh Lanta , Thailand
• Atcha Hut Beachfront Resort, Koh Lanta , Thailand
• The Opium Club, Koh Lanta , Thailand
• Le Tajine D’Or, Nice, France
• Soiree Oriental de L’Avenue Park Hotel, Nice , France
• Little Lebanon Restaurant, Kuching, Sarawak Borneo
• Habibi Cafe, Hong Kong
• Langkawi International Maritime and Aeronautics Convention at Sangria Private Resort on Langkawi Island, Malaysia
• The Wedding of Princess Huda of Brunei

• Five years intensive training in São Paulo, Brazil, with top teachers and workshop leaders from the famous Luxor and Khan El Khalili Schools, including Semiramis, Marica Dib, Nadia and others
• Suhaila Salimpour, San Francisco , July 2003
• Jasmine Jahal, Chicago , August 2003
• Tamalyn Dallal, Kuala Lumpur , April 2004 and February 2005
• Raqia Hassan, Singapore, April 2004
• Sandra Souffir, July 2004, Nice, France
• Tara Harper’s Gypsy Dance – KL November 2004
• Flamenco with Kaye Maxie KL
• Flamenco and Andaluz workshop with Clara Ramona August 2004
• Keti Sharif , Singapore – January 2005, May 2004, May 2005, April 2006
• Flamenco with Antonio Vargas, KL March 2005 and December 2005
• Keti Sharif WDA Instructor Training, El Gouna, Egypt, May 2005
• The Delphic Games, Isadora Duncan Modern Dance Institute, Delphi, Greece, June 2005
• Kaeshi Chai of the Bellydance Superstars, Singapore, August 2005
• Rose Ottaviano, Singapore, August 2005
• Eva Cass, Singapore, August 2005
• Tribal Style with Zebulana, Singapore, August 2005
• Kamellia, hosted by Yalla Bina, Kuala Lumpur, October 2005
• Farida Fahmey, the Nile Group Festival Cairo, April 2006
• Dr. Hassan Khalil, The Nile Group Festival Cairo, April 2006
• WAMED Festival, Perth, Australia, June 2006 - too many instructors to list
• Isadora Duncan Ten-Day Intensive, New York, June 2006
• Yousry Sharif, Singapore, August 2006
• Rose Ottaviano, hosted by Yalla Bina, KL, February 2007
• Morocco, hosted by Yalla Bina , KL, May 2007
• WAMED Festival, Perth, Australia, June 2007, too many instructors to list
• Isadora Duncan Ten-Day Intensive, New York, June 2007
• Independent Exchange Project with Malesh-Roma Musicans and Dancers - Berovo, Macedonia, July 2007

Videos:

• World Dance Aerobics with Keti Sharif in El Gouna, Egypt, May 2005. Video Available at www.ketisharif.com
• A-Z Combinations for Groups, with Keti Sharif in Perth, Australia, December 2005, release TBA
• A-Z Advanced Combinations for Groups, Cairo, Egypt, April 2006

Special Events Organized:

• Belly Tribe - Produced and directed the first ever show of its kind - featuring Kamellia, Yalla Bina, and Samra el Said from Singapore - at Zouk Night Club, Kuala Lumpur on October 2, 2005. See "Kakiseni Loves Yalla Bina" for rave review!
• Choreographer and Co-Director of Mary Zimmerman's "Arabian Nights" at the International School of Kuala Lumpur, October 2005
• Yalla Bina's First Belly Dance Recital - Produced and directed the very first theater show to feature all participants in Yalla Bina's programs.
• Euphoric Percussion - Percussion Exchange bringing Bhangra, African, and Middle Eastern beats together for pure sonic mayhem - October 2006 and December 2006
• Godmother of the Dance - Theater concert with Morocco, May 2007

• September ’97 to May ’02 – Greek, Gypsy, and Balkan dances for children and teens, Escola Graduada, São Paulo , Brazil
• September ’02 – May ’03 - Bellydance for teenagers, Escola Graduada, São Paulo , Brazil
• September ’01 – May ’03 – Bellydance mixed women’s group, Escola Graduada, São Paulo , Brazil
• July ’03 – October ’03 – Beginner's Bellydance, Powerhouse Gym, Elgin , IL USA
• February 2004 to present – The Dance Space, Kuala Lumpur, now a partner.
• International School of Kuala Lumpur, KL
• August 2004 to present Philip Wain Academy World Dance Aerobics KL
• L’ecole de la Danse Oriental Sandra, July 2004, Nice, France
• Choreographer and Co-Director of Mary Zimmerman's "Arabian Nights" at the International School of Kuala Lumpur, October 2005
• A-Z and Teacher Training - ongoing program (please check website listings)

• “Moving the Middle” – Two - day workshop for teenagers and adults, combining yoga and bellydance, February 2004, Manila, the Philippines
• “Strength Training Techniques for Bellydancers” – February 2004, Kuala Lumpur
• “Bellydance Basics” Two-week course, January 2004, Relax Bay, Koh Lanta , Thailand
• “Bellydance Basics”, July 2004, Centre International de Valbonne, Sophia Antipolis, France
• “Belly Yoga” – August 14, 2004 , at The Dance Space
• “Physical Imagery and Narrative Dance” – three day Theater workshop for teenagers at Jakarta International School October 2004
• “Image Theater and Movement Exploration” – three day workshop for teenagers at International School of Kuala Lumpur, November 2004
• “Interactive Dance and Improvisational Technique”- January 22, 2005 , The Dance Space
• In Search of Beauty through Middle Eastern Dance - May 29, 2005, the Dance Space
• World Dance Aerobics with Keti Sharif at the Nile Group Festival, Cairo, April 2006
• "A to Z Choreographies" - Jasmine Jahal School of Dance, Chicago, June 2006
• "A to Z Choreographies" - hosted by Iara Kendrick, Mt Airy, North Carolina, July 2006
• "A to Z Choreographies:, Paola's Original Drum Solo, Sha Belly Studio, Sungei Petani Malaysia
• "Mediterranean Goddess", "Balkan Belly Dance Circle", "Water Movement" and "Arabo-Flamenco" at the WAMED Festival in Perth, Australia, June 2007
• "Water Movement" - PURE New York, June 2007
• "Arabo-Flamenco" and "A to Z Choreographies" - International Belly Dance Week, Winnipeg Manitoba, with Yonisha Productions

• Her Majesty Tuanku Fauziah binti Al-Marhum Tengku Abdul Rashid, the Queen of Malaysia
• Datin Seri Endon Mahmood, the First Lady of Malaysia
• Datin Seri Rosmah Mansor Najib
• The Sultan of Pahang
• The Sultan of Selangor
• The Royal Family of Brunei

• Sony Annual Dinner at the Palace of the Golden Horses Resort
• Shell Convention at Hyatt Hotel, Kuantan
• Sarah Brightman Tour Opening Party at Mutiara Hotel
• Souk Bazaar at Times Square Shopping Center
• Cancer Awareness Month Benefit at Bangsar Shopping Center
• Malaysian Women’s Entrepreneurial Association Cultural Event at Great Eastern Mall
• Malaysian Women’s Entrepreneurial Association at Sunway Convention Center
• ISKL Mother’s Day Cultural Event at Marriott
• BMW Promotion Night at BMW Bukit Bintang
• Dato Shake Show at Espanda
• Malaysian Press Club at Wisma Ekran
• Malaysian Airlines, Bar Savanh
• Bharat Indian Society
• Unilever Company Annual Dinner
• HCL Industries Melaka
• The Jollylads Annual Dinner
• The French Society Beaujolais Ball
• Titus Blues Avenue
• Hennessy Cognac Egyptian Evening at Le Macau
• Avenue K Grand Opening
• NTV-7
• Panasonic Annual Dinner
• Little Lebanon Restaurant, Kuching, Sarawak
• The Soroptimist Society
• Am Assurance
• Sangria Private Resort, Langkawi
• The Four Seasons, Langkawi
• and many, many more

• Malay Mail Feature Article, Saturday November 20th, 2004
• March 2005 Feature Star Newspaper
• March 2005 Feature New Straits Times
• March 2005 Feature “Nona” Magazine
• March 2005 Feature “KL Lifestyle”
• March 2005 Feature "The Borneo Post"
• March 2005 Feature "Sarawak Tribune"
• April 2005 Feature “Traverama”
• April 2005 Star Newspaper Online interactive lesson
• May 2005 TV1
• Kakiseni, October 2005
• "Tips" TV1, April 2006
• Astro Travel and Culture, April 2006
• The Star, April 2006
• The Finder, October 2006
• Seventeen, February 2007
• Zero Degrees Magazine, July 2007
• Winnipeg Sun, August 2007