Curriculum Vitae

Name: Chirine Al Ansary

Address: 27, Hoda Sha’rawi street, apt. 3
Cairo, Egypt
Tel: 00-202-3959096 E-mail: chirine1001@globalnet.com.eg
Date of birth: 28th of April 1971 Place of birth: Cairo, Egypt
Nationality: Egyptian
Languages: French, Arabic, And English,
Working knowledge of Spanish
Profession: Storyteller

Education and training

1974-1984 Schooling in France
1984-1985 Collège du Sacre Coeur, Egypt
1985-1989 Lycée Français Du Caire, Maadi, Egypt
1989-1992 American University in Cairo, Egypt. Bachelor of Arts in Theatre, Acting
1991 “Movements For Actors”, a four-month workshop led by Victoria Gutierrez Mexican Actress and Dancer,

Cairo Opera House

1992-1993 A grant from the French Embassy to study at “L’Ecole Internationale de Théâtre Jacques Lecoq”, Paris. Also was part of “Le Laboratoire D’Etude Du Mouvement” L.E.M. Jacques Lecoq, Paris
1993-1994 Danse Contemporaine-Martha Graham, Centre de Danse du Marais, Paris
1994-1996 Intensive classical dance training with Egypt’s 70’s Prima Ballerina, Sonya SarkisSince 1995 Practicing Yoga
Since 1996 Workshops and classes in Cairo and in Paris in

Contemporary dance, African dance, Tai Chi, Yoga

Professional Acting Experience

March 1992 Played “The Gypsy Girl” in the BBC film production “The clothes In the wardrobe”, starring Jeanne Moreau
June-Sept 1994 Acted “Alice” in an Arabic version of Caryll Churchill’s “Vinegar Tom”, directed by Caroleen Khalil.
Took part in Cairo Experimental Theatre Festival 1994.
Sept-Oct 1994 Narrator in “Gix Und Gax”: children touring theatre from Zurich, Pro-Helvetia. Toured: Alexandria, Tanta, Suez, Ismailia, Luxor, Aswan and Kalabsha Village.
April 1996 Acted in “Vienna”, a play directed by Sarah Ennani, that took part in The “Ayam Aman” theatre festival.
June 1996 Acted “Ann” in an Arabic version of Harold Pinter's “Old Times”,Hanager Arts Center in Cairo, Directed by M. Abou El Seoud.

Teaching professional experience

Since Summer 1999 is giving storytelling and performing workshops at the Cairo American College During the Summer Enrichment Programs. Gives regular workshops to the graduates of the Theatre Academy in Damascus

Story performing

1993-1994 Started research and work on the Arabian Nights Feb 1995 Created “Moon Story”, a stage fantasy for children. Performed “Moon Story” in Cairo, Sinai and The Western desert
Sept 1996 Received a grant from the Cultural Fond of the Royal Netherlands Embassy to work on storytelling from the Arabian Nights.
Since 1996 Entirely dedicated to story performing. Developed a repertoire of
About 20 stories from the Arabian Nights, including: Aziz & Aziza, The Fisherman & The Jinni, The Young Man from Bagdad, Aly Shar & Zummurrud…Stories for adults that can be

Performed in either Arabic, English, or French

The stories are performed on many occasions and in various Locations: Ramadan Festival, St Katherine’s protectorate, private Parties, Cairo American Research Center, Cultural Centers, Old Islamic Houses: Wekalat Al Ghoury, Beit Al Harrawi, Beit Zeinab Khatoun, Beit AlSennari.
Mar. 1999 Performed in the Egyptian Arts Academy in Rome -Villa Borghese-Italy
Feb. 2000 Performed 3 times a month for 6 months for the Egyptian Ministry of Culture.
Jan. 2000 Egyptian Arts Academy in Rome -Villa Borghese-Italy.
Nov. 2000 performed an adaptation of Italo Calvino’s Invisible Cities in the Arts Festival “It’s Happening In The Garage” Alexandria. Also performed Stories from the Arabian Nights during the same event.
End 2000 Spent one month in Tunisia on an artist’s residency to work with A Tunisian musician and to perform for adults and children.
Feb. 2001 Participated in the Second International Festival For Monodrama And Storytelling in Lebanon. On this occasion performed in Beyrouth, Alley, Nabatieh, Damascus.
May 2001 Participated in 2 arts and story telling festivals, A Breeze of Air and Dunya, Rotterdam, Holland.
Sep. 2001 Performed in Syria and gave a story telling workshop to the Students of the Theatre Academy in Damascus

Mar.2002 Performed in Paris, Maison des Cultures du Monde, Festival de l’Imaginaire.
May 2002 Performances in Taza, Children Theater Festival.
May 2002 Dunya International Festival, Rotterdam
July 2002 Performances and workshops in Damascus, Performances in Zanzibar and Nairobi
Aug.2002 Invited to take part in Asilah festival, Morroco
Sept.2002 Festival des Theatres Francophones, Limoges
Nov.2002 Performances in Djibouti
Dec.2002 Seminar on storytelling in Johannesburg, South Africa
Dec.2002 Storytelling Festival in Ultrecht, Holland
Feb.2003 Storytelling Festival, Lebanon
May2003 Storytelling Festival, Tunis
May2003 Grande Fete de La Francophonie, Linz, Austria
Sept.2003 Strit Festival, Napoli, Italy
Dec.2003 Performances in Yemen
Feb.2004 Workshops in National Museum, Bahrain
Mar.2004 Performance in Kuwait National House for Islamic Antiquities
Jul.2004 Beyond The Borders, storytelling festival in Wales
July 2004 Barbican, The Pit, London
June 2005 Barbican Arts Centre, The Pit, London
July 2005 Beyond the Borders, International Storytelling Festival, Wales
July 2005 Festival du Conte des Alpes Maritimes

Other information

Nov. 1997 Took part in a round table discussion on the cultural heritage of Egypt, With Queen Beatrix of the Netherlands, on the occasion Of her state visit to Egypt.
Sum.1998 Was introduced to traditional Rajasthani storytellers during a 30 days trip To India.
May 1999 Is the featured artist in the issue 1001 of the Frankfurter Allgemeine Magazin. Photographed by French photographer, Serge Cohen 2001 Featured in 2 Documentaries about Egypt filmed by the German

Television

June 2001 Made a first recording of some stories in English, With Cyber Buster Recording Company, in New York City.
May 2004 Three Weeks trip to Benin and Ghana to research new performance, (Funded by the Young Arab Theatre Fund, international organization based in Brussels)