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Alma Maria Simon


Phone: +972525458708 
Email almadance11@gmail.com

Residence: Amsterdam 
Nationality: Israel, France. 
Languages: Hebrew, English.
 

Education & Training

  • Ph.D. Candidate (Education and Learning Sciences) | Wageningen University & Research, Netherlands (Current)

  • M.A (Science, Technology & Society) | Bar Ilan University, Israel (2022–2025)

  • M.A. in Choreography | Jerusalem Academy of Music & Dance, Israel (2020–2022)

  • B.A. in Movement (Choreography Major) | Jerusalem Academy of Music & Dance, Israel (2014–2016)

  • Certified Teacher Training | "The Singing Body" Approach (Iris Goren), Israel

  • Choreography Certificate | "Hakvutza" Dance School, Directed by Odelia Kupperberg, Israel

  • Academic Certificate (Art, Education, Society and Sustainability) | David Yelin College & "The Cube", Jerusalem (2014–2015)

  • Permaculture Design Certificate (PDC) | "Hava Ve Adam" Ecological Center, Israel (2012)

  • High School Diploma (Dance Major & Fine Arts Matriculation) | Charles Smith School of the Arts, Jerusalem (2008)
     

Professional Work History

  • Operations Manager | Vacanza Fragrances, Amsterdam, NL (2025–2026)

  • Co-Founder, Co-Director & Instructor | NaNa School of Somatic Movement and Contemporary Dance, Ginigar, IL (2020–2024)

  • Artistic Manager & Choreographer | Barbour Ensemble for People with Special Needs, Kiryat Tivon, IL (2020–2024)

  • Performance Course Instructor (First-Year Bachelor's) | Department of Movement, Jerusalem Academy of Music and Dance, Israel (2021–2023)

  • Course Instructor ("The Singing Body", Years 1-4) | Performance Department, Jerusalem Academy of Music and Dance, Israel (2021–2022)

  • Movement Instructor for Actors | "Hastudio" Acting School, Haifa, IL (2018–2021)

  • Freelance Dance Teacher | Independent Practice, International (2014–2018)

  • Contemporary Dance Teacher | Studio Penina Honigman, Israel (2012–2016)

  • Project Coordinator | Bustan Hashalom Hebrew-Arab Sustainability for Peace Education Program, Israel (2012–2014)

  • Dance Group Founder & Instructor | Arts Nucleus Civil Service, Wizo Boarding School, Israel (2008–2009)
     

Conferences, Talks & Awards

  • Academic Presentation | UPF Barcelona, Spain (2026)

  • Research Workshop Participant | "Collective Creativity", TU Dresden, Germany (2024)

  • Conference Initiator & Organizer | "Teaching Movement in a Time of Crisis and War", Kelim Center for Choreography (Zoom, 2023)

  • Speaker | "Embodied Ecology" Talk, Kelim Center for Choreography (Zoom, 2023)

  • Speaker | "Transformations in Stillness: the Act of 'Stopping' in Dance History", Slow Meeting Conference, Tel Aviv University, Israel (2023)

  • Speaker | EASST-4S STS Conference, VU Amsterdam, Netherlands (2023)

  • Excellence Scholarship | Bar Ilan University, Israel (2023)

  • Best M.A. Seminar Paper Award | Research Authority, Dance Department, Jerusalem Academy of Music and Dance, Israel (2022)

  • Best Written Paper Award | Research Authority, Dance Department, Jerusalem Academy of Music and Dance, Israel (2021)

  • Afik Excellence Scholarship | Jerusalem Academy of Music and Dance, Israel (2021)

Choreography & Original Creations

  • Fomo Party | Premiered at "Mahol Shalem" Dance District (2022)

  • No!T!f!cat!ons | Jerusalem Academy of Music & Dance Ensemble (Premiered at Israel Festival "Public Parking", toured to Herzliya Museum and Jerusalem Science Museum, 2021)

  • Birthmark | Co-created and performed with Orit Livne (Premiered at "HaTahana" Center, Sha’ar Haemakim, 2021)

  • Archetype [Solo & Ensemble versions] | Co-created with Aden Weissman and Ori Dvir (Premiered at "Between Heaven and Earth" Festival at Israel Museum, toured to Haifa Museum, Struck Museum, "Sphere" Kalil, "Under the Radar" Haifa, Pyramid Center, and Barbur Gallery, 2018–2020)

  • Alma and Orit [Duet] | Performed with Orit Livne, choreographed by Tamar Binyamin (Premiered at Gerard Behar Center / Mahol Shalem, toured to Sheikh Abrik Festival, 2019)

  • The Foyer | Co-created and performed with Yael Averbuch and Gefen Lieberman (Staged at Haifa Art Museum, "Beit Mazia", and Impulstanz Festival Vienna, 2018)

  • Breath Turns | Co-created and performed with Stav Stein (Premiered in Haifa, performed at "Al Sfat Ha’Kahal" Bat Galim, 2018)

  • Theater Choreographies (Beginning with Boom and Ending with Trouble / Be Healthy for Me) | Home Theater, Ramat Yochanan (National tour, 2018)

  • The Frigidity | Co-created and performed with Shai Cohen (Premiered at Shaon Horef Jerusalem 2014, performed at Menashe Forest Festival 2015)

  • Unspecified Original Piece | Staged at "Mahol Shalem" via Studio Penina Honigman (2013)
     

Performance History (Dancer)

  • La Fuga | Created by Eden Wiseman (Premiered at Spoleto Festival Italy, toured to Yasmin Godder Studio, Kelim Center, and Tana Studio, 2017)

  • The Voices | Choreographed by May Zarhy & Michal Oppenheim (Premiered at Diver Festival, toured to Israeli Culture Week Paris and CCA Tel Aviv, 2017–2018)

  • Ezor Pere Megundar | Created by Merav Cohen (Premiered at Haifa Municipal Theater, performed at Tmuna Theater Tel Aviv, 2017)

  • Graduation Film Appearance | Directed by Daniela Meroz, Bezalel Academy (Haifa International Film Festival, 2016)

  • Unspecified Project Performance | Choreographed by Maayan Gur (Mahol Shalem International Dance Week & Kelim, 2015)

  • Video Dance Performance | Directed by Maayan Schwartz (Dimona Film Festival, 2014)

  • Repertory & Personal Work Performances | "The Group" (Hakvutza) Training Track (2013–2014)

  • Solo Performance Inclusions | "Shaon Horef" and "Tower of David Festival", Jerusalem (Dates unspecified)

  • Dance Training History | Contemporary Dance Intensive Courses at Impulstanz Vienna (2015); Private Somatic Studies with Pnina Honigman (1996–2016); Classical Ballet with Audrey Delis (2005–2008); Creative Dance at Studio Peni-Yam Jerusalem (1996–2008)
     

Affiliations

  • Core Group Member | The Enactive Research Group (enactiveresearch.org)

  • Research Affiliate | PSSELab (Public Space and Social Ecology Lab), Wageningen University (psselab.com)

  • Participant & Organizer | Contact Improvisation Community, Amsterdam

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