Miriam Peretz is an internationally acclaimed instructor and performing artist specializing in traditional and contemporary dances from the Silk Road, Middle East & beyond. Coming from a highly diverse dance background Miriam’s form brings together her background in traditional forms of world dance (namely Central Asian, Middle Eastern & Flamenco) with her contemporary training. As a performing artist Miriam is most interested in blurring the lines between audience and performer, creating ritualistic dance art, and working with cross cultural, cross religious and devotional themes.
Miriam has been a principal dancer with Inbal Ethnic Dance Theater (Tel Aviv,) Wan Chao Chang Dance Company (Bay Area,) Aywah (Bay Area) and served as assistant artistic director of Ballet Afsaneh (Bay Area) for five years. Miriam was principal dancer, choreographer, and lead instructor with Ballet Afsaneh for over a decade. Miriam has been a featured soloist in festivals throughout the U.S. and Europe. She was selected as a soloist for the highly acclaimed San Francisco Ethnic Dance Festival June 2005, and again June, 2008. Miriam has performed with many acclaimed master musicians including; Amir Shahsar, Pezhham Akhavass, Abbos Kosimov, Efren Lopez, Habib Qaderi, and Sonja Drakulich of Stellamara.
As an instructor, Miriam has a reputation for being a highly dynamic and inspiring teacher, offering students the opportunity for self-growth, personal healing and intense physical challenge. Her students often continue to study with her after many years, as she continues to find innovative ways to challenge them. Miriam holds a B.A. in performing arts with a dance emphasis from Saint Mary’s College of California, and is a certified Pilates instructor.
Miriam’s love of dance has led her on a life long journey taking her throughout the Middle East and Central Asia. Miriam has studied with master teachers from around the world and done intensives in Tajikistan, Spain, Turkey, Egypt, Morocco, and Israel. She studied for three years at the Jerusalem Academy of Oriental Music and Dance where she focused on percussion, music theory, and Central Asian dance with Galia Akilov. Miriam completed an artist residency in Dushanbe, Tajikistan working with Padida Dance Theater directed by Sharofat Rashidova. Some of Miriam’s main dance teachers/mentors are Sharlyn Sawyer (director of Ballet Afsaneh,) Wan-Chao Chang, Ilana Cohen (X-director of Inbal Ethnic Dance Company,) Fanny Ara, and Anna Halprin.