Biography:

Born in Algeria, Amel Tafsout (meaning ‘Hopes of Spring’) is a first source international dance artist and one of the finest exponents of North African traditional and contemporary Maghreb Dance. Since childhood, Amel has been fascinated by traditional dancers and musicians of her culture. Her curiosity is still prominent today as she is always expanding her knowledge. She is also a sociolinguist and dance anthropologist, a university language professor, frame drummer, singer, poet and an energy worker. With a research degree in dance anthropology and a long training in various healing practices, Tafsout’s knowledge of her culture and her experience make her unique. She is very proud of her heritage and is committed in preserving her dance tradition while incorporating her own dance experience and spiritual development.

Inanna Iraqi Dance Festival in June 2018 in Estonia gave Amel an Award of acknowledgment and appreciation for her contribution in Arabic dance and its heritage for many years. Tafsout has dedicated her life to raise awareness and knowledge about her dance culture and to facilitate a dialogue between Arab-North African and Western women. She is fluent in five languages. 

While living in Germany she founded the dance company Banat As Sahra and after moving to the U.K, The Tafsoutettes. She has performed with a wide range of orchestras from Latin Jazz to North African. She was also an active member of the Latin Jazz band ‘Chakchouka’, the North African music ensemble ‘Mambo Duniya’, the Arab-Turkish band ‘Noor Shimaal’ and later the North African music ensemble ‘Saladin’s Orchestra’ with the world master drummer, Salah-Dawson Miller and the world guitarist, Justin Adams.

Tafsout has lectured, danced, taught, sung and conducted anthropological research in many countries. She has been featured in various TV programs in Europe and North Africa. She has also published many articles related to dance and Maghreb women in academic and popular magazines. 

While living in the United States, Tafsout is an in-demand dance artist, musician and educator. She became a member of the Arabic choir “Aswat" based in San Francisco. Recently she joined the Arab choir of the "Arabic Music Ensemble" at Cal Poly in San Luis Obispo, California. 

Tafsout is also an excellent cultural animator in dance, storytelling and the wider cultural context. She is an experienced, intuitive and skilled practitioner who is well able to gauge the measure of where she is working and enable participants in her sessions to achieve and learn whilst enjoying themselves. She delivers high standard work with awareness of appropriate education levels and content and is totally professional.

Tafsout has traveled worldwide to lecture, teach and perform. People are always taken aback by the knowledge and the experience she brings to the table. With continuous and extensive research, she is a scholar in her fields. She has mesmerized audiences and classrooms worldwide. Anywhere she goes, Amel creates a comfortable space for her students to learn, dance and heal. The knowledge, wisdom and care she shares is something that people from all over the world gravitate towards. When learning from Amel or watching her perform not only does she take you on a cultural journey, but many say she takes you on a spiritual journey as well. 

Visit her at ameltafsout.com