Female

Simona Jović
"Ambassador of the Roma " (cf. press-Serbia and Romania)
"World number One of the gypsy dance" (cf. press France)

Czech-Serbian origin, Simona Jović spends her childhood between the Adriatic cost in Montenegro, the Bosnian-Serbian border and the surroundings of Prague. The diversity of the cultures, traditions and languages she grows up with, are of great influence.

Her passion for the Balkan and Roma culture was passed on to her from her father, so that she started singing traditional songs at the age of five. Her mother introduced her to dancing and she ‘practiced’ daily at Serbian and Gypsy festivities, which she considered being her most important dancing school.

Ever since her early age Simona has been regularly in contact with the Roma from her countries of origin and could thus establish a special connection with their communities. She has the chance to be accepted and be able to share with them their way of living, their traditions, music and dancing.

After the studies of French at the University of Belgrade, she moves to Paris and continues her studies at the University of Nouvelle Sorbonne. Paris, being one of the cosmopolitan centres of the world, awakens the urge in her to ‘go on the road’ again. This time she decides to meet other Roma and nomadic communities in other countries and continents.

This long trip of several years takes her all around the world. From North Africa to Central Asia, Russia, India and the Indian Ocean Simona discovers, explores and compares various traditions. She also travels through Western Europe, down to the south of France, Andalusia and crosses the ocean to South America. During these trips she performs as a singer and dancer, publishes several articles about the Roma culture and teaches in dance workshops and seminars.

In september 2007, after to her performance at the International Roma Art Festival in Romania, Simona was praised as the “Ambassador of the Roma”. The same year, “Them”, the official Serbian Roma magazine gives her the same title of “Ambassador” of their culture. In January 2008 Simona was chosen to represent the Roma culture at the International Indian Diaspora Festival in New Delhi. At this occasion, the Indian National Centre for the Arts organized a recording cession with Simona for their official archives, in order to keep the memory of the authentic Roma dances alive. She is collaborating worldwide with the different organizations and fights for the recognition and the maintenance of the authenticy of the rroma dances.

Today Simona is an accomplished artist. Beginning of 2008 she again settled in Europe and
surrounded herself with talented musicians. Her performances and concerts are a mirror to her cosmopolitan experience. Simona integrates and mixes different aspects : the dances of the Rroma, the dances of the Silk Road and the Balkan music taking into account important influences of Central Asia, Turkey and Central Europe on it. She performs with the the Demiran Cerimovic orchestra.

She is president of the Humanitarian and Cultural Organization "Rroma of the world".

Simona Jovic is the first dancer in the history of the Council of Europe allowed to dance inside.

Simona Jovic performs with the Demiran Cerimovic orchestra from Vranje in South of Serbia, great triple winners of the big Guca festival (best orchestra in 2002, 2006 and 2007).

Each year she organizes several music, language and dance tours in the villages all around the world in order to let people meet the authentic roma culture and learn these traditions directly from the source.

Today, she lives mostly in Serbia, but she spends a lot of time in France and continue travelling all around the world...


Official Simona Jovic's website : www.simonajovic.com



PRESS REVIEWS

* Astonishing Simona Jovic! World number one of the gypsy dance, Simona Jovic amazed the spectators...A performance of a rare purity."
(La liberté, FRANCE)

* Simona Jovic has a mission to bring cultures closer to one another, that's why she deserves the "Rroma ambassador" title..."
(Iraf, ROMANIA)

* Beyond all the techniques and dance steps, she highlights a culture and a state of mind, passionately mingling sadness and joy..."
(Le Quotidien de la Réunion, REUNION ISLAND)

* The dance of life is what the lovely Simona Jovic presents. A perfect mix of emotion and enthousiasm..."
(The Indian Express, INDIA)

* "Simona Jovic is the Rromani ambassador..."
(Rromani magazine Them, SERBIA)

* "A very serious and authentic work presented in a historical context..."
(Besançon, FRANCE)