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KAT SKRABA has been studying and performing ethnic dance for over 15 years, both solo and in collaboration with Occidental College Folk and Historical Dance Troupe, Mesmera’s Esmerani Ensemble, and Kárpátok Hungarian Ensemble. Skraba has given hundreds of performances throughout California and beyond most notably at Cal Plaza’s Grand Performances, California Traditional Music Society’s Annual Solstice Folk Festival at SOKA University, College of the Canyons Dance Festival, the 25th Annual Sunset Junction Street Fair, Middle Eastern Culture and Dance Association’s Festival of Dancing Colors, the Encino Folk Festival, City of Ventura Art Walk and has perfomed with musicians Nabil Azzam, John Bilezikjian, Souhail Kaspar, Jeremiah Soto, David Martinelli, Antoine Harb, Faisal Zedan, Craig Collins, Malek Vossough, Donovan Lerman, Emin Bozkurt, Vernon Lewis, Jim Sullivan.
Sprung from an early interest in cultural arts, international travel and formal university training in visual, performance art, and dance, Kat holds both B.F.A. & M.F.A. She has both worked for over a decade as a visual artist, dancer, designer costumer, curator, art and dance educator, and event and exhibition producer.
Skraba’s signature exciting and energetic dance style is infused with sensibilities of the Romani (Gypsy) traditions of Turkey, Rajasthan, Russia, Eastern Europe, North Africa and Carnivale the world round.
Skraba has studied Cabaret Belly Dance with Mesmera, Fahtiem, & Shahira; Ethnic/Folk Dance with former members of AMAN Folk Ensemble: Russian, Hungarian, Romanian, & Arabic with Steve Theodore, Balkan & Greek with Mady Taylor; Hungarian Dance with Kovács István Szabó; Algerian, Morrocan, Rai, Tunisian, & Berber Dances of North Africa with Amel Tafsout; Sagat Rhythm & Dance with Karim Nagy; Turkish Roman dance with Ahmet Ogren, Jessaiah & Elizabeth Strong; Lebanese Debke with Hassan Harfouch & Samira Tamer; Armenian folk dance with Tom Bozigian; Turkish Folk Dance with Ahmet Luleci & Neil Seigel; Romanian Dance with Theodor & Lia Vasilescu; Balkan with John Filcich: Flamenco at LA City College; Ethnic, Asian, & Indian Dance at Indiana University of Pennsylvania; Afro-Haitian dance with Dr. Elizabeth Chin; Persian and Tajik Dance with Dr. Robyn Friend; International Folk with Dr. Elizabeth Barber; Folkloric Belly Dance with Krisha & Zahreen; Tribal & Bedouin with Subee Djinn; Workshops in Tango, Brazilian, Samba, West African; Polynesian (Tahitian, Hawaiian, Samoan, & Maori) with Meile & Manea; Arabic Singing with Georges Lammam; Moroccan Singing with Rachid Hailhal; Frame Drum with Rowan Storm; Roma singing with members of the Voice of Roma.
Kat is currently a professional ethnic dancer performing dances of the Middle East, Europe, Polynesia & beyond, a house dancer at the beautiful Moroccan Palace - Dar Maghreb in Hollywood, and teaches Ethnic & Belly Dance and Visual & Folk Art professionally as an artist in residence in schools and cultural programs in Los Angeles and Orange counties. Kat continues travel and research of ethnic dance, folk & Roma singing, & folk art, costume and symbology.
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