Zuleikha is a movement artist known for her weavings of story, rhythm, and dance. Her innovative work draws from themes of nature, world lore, and life itself. She is constantly creating a contemporary rhythmic language, which embodies an expressive form of spontaneity through movement. The stories, animals and feelings she dances bring delight to her audiences. In the mesmerizing flow of living traditions and the humor and sparkle of the ancients, Zuleikha reveals the soul of our common humanity.
Zuleikha worked for years with American dancer and avant-garde choreographer, Anna Halprin, West Coast pioneer of natural movement. She attended the Ali Akbar College of Music and Dance in San Francisco, which was established by the great musician from India, Ali Akbar Khan. There she studied the classical dance form Kathak with dance master Chitresh Das. Its elements include story, rhythm, and pure movement. She studied Eastern classical music and song in Afghanistan with Ustad Hashim Chishti and toured North America as a dancer with his musical company. Living and dancing in Bali, she was given permission by master dancers to carry costumes of beauty back to the West. She has practiced movement forms from Asia and has danced and taught in temples of Japan.
Because of her interest in the deeper conversation of music and dance, she has the opportunity to work with world musicians inside of her own movement language. Entering the school of mystical traditions, under the guidance of realized teachers, Zuleikha began to create the sacred technology of her art. Vividly costumed, Zuleikha imparts the richness of heart through her own expression of movement.
Zuleikha has been televised on the PBS Special, "Dances From Wild Gardens," a production dedicated to her art and performance. Some of her collaborations include Baba Olatungi, David Darling, Glen Velez, Coleman Barks, Eugene Friesen, Jai Uttal and others.
Downloadable images are in the Photo Gallery
