Katrina Robinson

Katrina is a co-founder, senior teacher and co-manager of the Raqs Sharqi Society  (1997-) and graduate of the former Hilal School (1993). She has taught in community and professional contexts and written about Egyptian dance and culture since 1990 and is a member of Oxford Dance Forum.

Katrina’s lifelong interest in dance has taken two directions. First, continuing study of Egyptian and other dance forms includes Sociedad Baile Espagnol Spanish Dance/Flamenco, a return to classical ballet in 2004 and recent experience of contact improvisation. T’ai Chi and Pilates also inform her personal practice and teaching.

“I gain many insights from different forms of dance and movement. For me they are about movement coming from inside and can help us make the dances of Egypt feel really part of us. This is important when working with a movement language and music completely different from our own. The aim is authenticity - natural, joyful, individual expression that comes from inside, with grounded ease and confidence.”

Her teaching emphasises awareness of the body and individual creative potential in a supportive environment as a foundation for developing sound technique, musical interpretation and the basic principles of making dance.

Two placements in particular have furthered Katrina’s interests in the cross-cultural aspects of dance and in making personal connections with movement. An observer placement with Shobana Jeyasingh Education Department in 1997-8 looked at integrating western contemporary and classical Indian elements in a performance context. In 2007 she observed choreographer Gill Clarke creating a contemporary work commissioned for Oxford Dance Festival in which movement had layered meaning for its performers.

Secondly, Katrina’s earlier work as editor of academic texts on African, Pacific and indigenous cultures, plus her anthropology studies, contribute to her articles on Egyptian history and dance (see ‘Information’: ‘Reviews’ and ‘Dance History’).

Katrina has been centrally involved in developing Society training and performance projects. She developed the History of Egyptian Music and Dance modules for the Society’s Teacher Training Foundation course, aspects of the choreography course for the 2003 Summer Residential and was originator/artistic director of the Society’s Showcase Performances in 2002 and 2003. 

Her performance work includes ‘Moods of the City’ with Juliana Brustik and Judy Hammond.