Summary | Biography | Pictures | Testimonials | Videos
About Nesma
Conocida artísticamente como Nesma, Julia Salmerón (Madrid, 22 de abril de 1968) es una bailarina y coreógrafa española de danza oriental, folklore egipcio y danza neoandalusí que goza de un gran prestigio internacional.
Beginnings
She began training with Shokry Mohamed, an Egyptian maestro living in Madrid, who had a studio in Las Pirámides (1991). During the following two years she travelled frequently to Paris to take classes with the maestro Zaza Hassan. In his ‘Ramses’ company she began to perform in France and the Middle East.
Cairo
From 1993 to 1998 Nesma performed as a soloist with her 30-strong orchestra, doing three or four shows a day. She performed on practically all the stages in Cairo, from the mythical night clubs of the time, such as Sunset, Tivoli, Cave des Rois, etc. the prestigious El Balón theatre and the five star hotels like the el Sheraton Gezira, Sheratón Cairo, Marriot, Semiramis, Mina House, Safir, Nile Hilton, Sonesta, Movenvik, Novotel, etc.
The famous “Sunset” night club signed up Nesma as their new, star dancer and she performed there for five years in a row. She shared billing with great artists such as the famous singers Ahmed Adawiya, Hakim, Ali Haghar, Mohamed Fouad, etc. before the decline of these famous Cairo venues at the end of the 90s.
During her first years in Cairo, Nesma had daily lessons from great teachers such as Rakia Hassan (1993-1996) and Ibrahim Aakeef, (1995-1997); maestros steeped in the panorama of dance at that time. Each with their own style, they taught her the techniques and styles of the Egyptian soloists as well as other important matters to help her develop her work.
Reda National Folk Ballet
In 1998, having completely ceased her work as a solo dancer, she starter to work with Mahmoud Reda in his private dance company, the “Mahmoud Reda Troup”. She performed on Egyptian television and on different stages, such as in the Giza pyramids.
In 1998 she was contracted by the Egyptian Ministry of Culture as a dancer in the Reda National Folk Ballet, of which she was he only non-Egyptian member. Nesma worked with the Reda company for almost a year, participating for months in the preparation and performance of the ballet “Alb Fie Robabekia”, directed and choreographed by Mahmoud Reda, which was on the bill at El Balón National Theatre for months. She later took part in various performances with the company.
Since then, she has become one of Mahmoud Reda’s closest students and collaborators, making a meticulous study of his technique and helping in his workshops, both in Cairo and on international tours. In 2009 the Library of Alexandria contracted her and her company to put on a performance of Mahmoud Reda’s emblematic dances to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the creation of the Reda Company. In 2014 the Egyptian Embassy in Spain contracted her to put on the same show at the Templo de Debod in Madrid.
Internationally renowned teacher
In Spain she has developed professional teaching, the AATEC programme, and given intensive seminars that are internationally renowned.
The Al-Andalus Dance Company
In 1996 Nesma decided to dedicate herself to thorough study of Egyptian folklore and Arabic music, with the goal of researching and developing her big project: recreating Andalusí dance.
When, in the time of Al-Andalus, the moors were expelled from the Iberian Peninsula, they took with them their music and their dances. Crossing the North of Africa, they arrived in the Middle East, where their influence began to be felt.
Founded in 1998, the Al-Andalus Dance Company, directed by the choreographer and dancer Nesma, came about with the aim of spreading the dances and folklore of Arabic countries as well as Hispano-Arabic music and dances which are in the original foundations of Spanish folklore.
The importance of this Company has been in the choreography this musical art in an era when haste and superficiality prevail in many artistic productions. Through study of the musical rhythms of the period, Nesma recreates the splendour of those times with choreographies full of creativity and a rich wardrobe designed specifically for her.
The Company is made up of dancers and musicians from various regions of Spain and other countries.
The have presented shows in prestigious venues in Europe and Egypt, including the Cairo Opera, the Opera of Alexandria and the Library of Alexandria.
Their principal shows are:
· Memories of the Nile (2002)
· From the Nile to the Guadalquivir (2003) – with the collaboration of the Instituto del Mediterráneo
· A Life for Dance (Madrid 2005, Library of Alexandria 2007/2008)
· Dreams of Al-Andalus (2008) – Tour of Egypt with the Instituto Cervantes
· Egyptian Dances of Mahmoud Reda (2009) – commissioned by the Library of Alexandria, Egypt for the 50th anniversary of the Reda Company
· Egyptian Dances in the Templo de Debod, Madrid – commissioned by the Egyptian Embassy in Spain (2014)
· Enta Omri (2015) – commissioned by the Arabesques festival, France
· Muwashahat (2016) – commissioned by the Arabesques festival, France
In 2003 she worked with José Monleon in the show “El Clavel y la Espalda”.
Among the project in development, an important one is the creation of a dance company in Japan under the artistic direction of Nesma to undertake tours there. This project had its premiere in October 2017 with the show Enta Omri.
Pioneer of Neo-Andalusí dance
She has also developed the “Arabic Flamenco” fusion in collaboration with artists such as the flamenco dance from Málaga Rafael Jiménez El Olae and the Egyptian musician Ali Khattab (El Toro y la Luna, Sin País, A…dios).
Her early interest in the creation of shows inspired by the artistic legacy of Al-Andalus has established her as the pioneer of neo-Andalusí dance.
Nesma Music
Today her label is known all over the world as a mark of quality. Alongside the dance productions, Nesma Music has produced other artists and developed groups such as the guitarist or the group Alkobry.
Director of Festivals and Events
In 2005 Nesma created the international festival of Arabic music and dance Raks Madrid which has become an international model for the teaching and dissemination of Arabic music and dance.
In additional to these festivals, her production company Nesma Events develops and organises events for organisations and prestigious clients such as the Egyptian Embassy in Spain (for the 75th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Spain and Egypt, Templo de Debod, Madrid 2014) or Casa Arabe (Tour of the Arabic Music Orchestra of the Cairo Opera, in homage to Umm Kulthum in 2015)
Clothes designer
Known for her elegant and innovative style. Nesma designs her own dresses and those of her dance company.
In 2003 the shop SAMAI opened with her own line of clothes and accessories for Oriental dance.
Since 2015 she makes unique dresses for dancers under the Nesma Fashion label.
Testimonials
It is not only her skills, education and dance that make her extraordinary but also her perception of beauty and the reflection of her elegance and inner warmth in her dance.
We all know that she is an exceptional dancer, but as a teacher she is even more exceptional, she has the vocation, the wisdom and the love towards her creation and her creatures.
Nesma is a great teacher and professional of the dance field. She teaches in a didactic way. She is very respectful and at the same time she is very generous when sharing her wide knowledge.
Nesma is exigeant and carefull at the time. She is not afraid to deliver her “secrets” and to share her experience to accompany us on the path of the dancer, sometimes tortuous.
Nesma is a wonderful artist and teacher. She is very thoughtful and generous, her teaching is exceptional, inspiring and professional.
With Nesma I have learned a different way of seeing dance and interpreting music. It is a delight to watch her dance because she enjoys it and knows how to connect with the audience and transmit it well.
Nesma is simply fantastic! She’s a very good teacher with an excellent technique and an undeniable experience.