Aziza shared a virtual rainbow of sounds and sights with hundreds of students and teachers at her workshops

You could see the smiles in the eyes of the young students who recognized their familiar friend, Aziza, who returned to Cyprus for a sixth consecutive year to lead workshops in dance education for special-needs children and their teachers. Combining live drum music, vibrant colors, and African dance, Aziza shared a virtual rainbow of sounds and sights with hundreds of students and teachers at her workshops.

Based in New York City, Aziza is the Founder and Director of Def Dance Jam Workshop, an after-school performing arts and academic program in which deaf, hearing and physically-challenged students work together. For over 15 years, Def Dance Jam has been “celebrating life, challenge and different abilities.” Aziza is a choreographer, performer, teacher, and community activist who has worked on dance education programs with dozens of schools throughout the New York City area.

In addition to two weeks of live workshops for students and teachers in the Greek-Cypriot and Turkish-Cypriot communities, Aziza once again led a bicommunal workshop in which deaf and hearing-challenged students from both sides of the divided island danced together at the J.W. Fulbright Center in the UN-controlled Buffer Zone. Aziza also found time to lead a community dance workshop at the American Center for members of the Embassy community, their families and local dance artists.