Amel Tafsout

Amel Tafsout was born and raised in Algeria, where she learned traditional movement through weddings, celebrations and community life rather than through a Western dance studio. She later expanded her education into international dance forms, music, anthropology and healing practices. As a professional artist she became one of the most respected international specialists in traditional and contemporary dances of the Maghreb. Her teaching covers Algerian and broader North African movement while consistently emphasising the cultural, linguistic and social meanings behind the dances. Amel is also a singer and frame drummer, allowing her to approach dance through rhythm and music as well as movement. Her work is particularly significant because it gives international Oriental dance communities direct access to North African traditions that are often inaccurately collapsed into generic “belly dance.”