Claire Naffah
Claire Naffah is a master performer and teacher of classical Middle Eastern dance regarded as perhaps Australia’s best exponent of many oriental dance forms originating in the Orient. Claire captivates her audiences with improvisations that are legendary for their beauty, imagination, and elegance.
Claire’s performances display vitality and excitement, as well as great technical qualities. Her presentation of the forms, gestures and movements reflect her high level of skill and knowledge, as well as cultural depth and understanding, achieved through a considerable dance performance and teaching career.
Claire Naffah is a feature of KULTOUR 2002 national touring network (OZCO initiative), performing with Fouad Harraka’s Middle Eastern Knights. Having already performed at His Majesty’s Theatre in Perth, presented by Kulcha, Claire will perform in late September at the Queensland Performing Arts Centre, in Brisbane, presented by BEMAC, and in October for Carnivale, Sydney.
Claire produces and directs her own theatre and dance shows as well as has assisted other producers and choreographers in their productions in the past. Claire trained ballerinas from Opera Australia (Sydney) in classical Middle Eastern dance for the production Italians in Algiers. Claire conceived and co-produced the idea of a multicultural work In The Same Place using the Middle East as a metaphorical bridge between India and Africa.
A graduate in Movement & Dance, from the University of Melbourne, Claire Naffah is currently studying Drama at the VCA. In 2002, Claire most recently featured in the one-woman theatre performance WOMAN AT POINT ZERO, written by Nawal El Saadawi, directed by Don Mamouney, performed at the Bangarra Performance Theatre, in Sydney.