It is not easy to describe oneself! Anyway, I will try...


Born in Paris, I have loved dance and music since my childhood. I have learned various forms of dance, from ballet to modern dance. However, I studied political sciences, international economics and Spanish in Paris. After graduating from University, I began to work abroad, firstly in Brussels and later on in South America. In 1998, I had a passion for Flamenco. I intensely studied with Sandra Claren in Santiago de Chile, with Marisa Cura in Buenos Aires, and gained further experience through international workshops with renowned dancers such as Eva la Yerbabuena and Soledad Barrio. At the same time, I discovered Raqs Sharqi (also called Belly dance) and I was captivated by the elegance, refinement, femininity and expressiveness of this dance. I trained with Angie Rega in Chile, with Paula Lena in Argentina and continued my studies with Leila Haddad, Hossam Ramzy and Serena, Zizou and Farida Fahmy among others.

Equally charmed by Flamenco and Raqs Sharqi, I was spontaneously encouraged to integrate both, creating an original form of dance. I chose to baptize it Flamenco Descalzo® -Barefoot Flamenco in English. Flamenco Descalzo is synonymous with fusion and synthesis. It returns to the flamenco? ?!"s roots and puts a strong emphasis on Moorish and Gypsy influences. Fascinated by the Gypsy Trail, I started investigating the huge impact of Gypsy people in Dance and Music. This research feeds my creative work and the dances of the Rroma people are nourishing Barefoot Flamenco which gradually incorporates their moves, their gesture, and more importantly, is inspiring by their nomadic spirit and sense of freedom.
Passionate, I continuously extend my knowledge in order to develop Barefoot Flamenco and allow this innovative dance to be progressively deep-rooted. As I moved to London, I trained with Suraya Hilal and Alessandro el Bascioni (Hilal dance), with Jo Wise (belly dance). I yearly attend the Raqs Sharqi Society's Summer School, enjoying quality and diversity of the teaching. I often take part in Festivals such as Majma or Fantasia and opt for specialized courses on traditional and folk dances. I have learned with Miriam Szabo in Brussels (Gypsy duende) and with Nadia Saiji in Paris (traditional Tunisian dances). I have recently discovered the vitality of the Amazigh (berber) dances thanks to astonished dancer Amel Tafsout. More recently, I was studying with Simona Jovic who teaches different kinds of Rrom dances. In January 2007, I went to Rajasthan in order to find out more about the Kalbeliya dance and learn directly from gypsy dancers. I must say that dancing with people from the Sapera nomadic tribe living in the little town of Pushkar was a fabulous experience! In August 2007, I travelled to Serbia and learnt in Belgrade the dance called Kolo (traditional folk dance from the Balkan area), and more importantly Cocek, which is the dance of the Rroma people living in the South of the Balkans States. This trip was a second fabulous field experience!(Trips' reviews are avalaible in inspiration).

I had been teaching and performing for several years in Argentina before I moved to England in 2005. Teaching, sharing knowledge, revealing abilities is one of my favorite and most satisfactory activities. I am currently teaching weekly classes in London and I regularly organise workshops in different countries, especially France. I travel to Buenos Aires at least once a year in order to keep sharing Barefoot Flamenco with my very first students! In class, I love to use my extensive background in corporal technique (thanks to my regular practice of Yoga and Pilates) to help my students refine their posture and improve their alignment. I also make use of my musical knowledge to help them become familiar with complex rhythms. My teaching method is based on choreography as well as improvisation. My aim, as a teacher, is to give my students not only the opportunity to incorporate technical elements but also the possibility to achieve moments of freedom, joy and vitality through their dance.

Valérie Romanin