Esmeralda Colabone is taking the Oriental dance world by storm. Esmeralda – Brazilian Oriental Soloist, Master Teacher, Choreographer, Producer and Vlogger – began her dance journey at the tender age of 4 years old. She studied ballet, jazz, contemporary dance until she began a career as a professional ballerina at a very young age. By her 16th birthday she had become infatuated with belly dancing, she explains “I saw it as representing freedom — it gave me the freedom to express what I wanted, and the way to express it, technically and emotionally.”

In 2002 Esmeralda was signed with prestigious artist agencies La Maison De L’Artiste and Bellydance Brazil. Under her contract, she travelled and performed all over the Middle East – United Arab Emirates (Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Al Ain, Ras Al Khaimah); Oman (Muscat); Qatar (Doha); Syria (Damascus); Tunisia (Tunes); Algeria (Argiels); Morocco (Casablanca). For the next 12 years she performed in some of the top 5 start hotels such as Rotana, Le Meridien, JW Marriot, Crowne Plaza, Fairmount, Dubai Marine Resort, Burj Al Arab, Royal Ascot and Hilton; Esmeralda became one of the most successful Brazilian dancers across the Arab world, South America and the Maghreb. She is also popularly known as the ‘Tunisian Treasure’ for her spectacular performances of traditional Tunisian dance.

When Esmeralda dances, it’s as though she invites the viewer to dance with her – to experience the joy of dance. She moves with grace and purpose and every part of her body relays the feeling of the music.

Esmeralda’s fans believe she is bringing belly dance back to its original artistry. When Esmeralda produced her dance video to Oum Kalthoum’s song Enta Omri (You Are My Life) her popularity sky rocketed. In the black and white video performance Esmeralda perfectly expresses the emotional connection between the music and the dance; the ecstasy of Tarab. Esmeralda’s performances are infused with the classical traditions of Egyptian dance but exude a sassy individualism and spirited exuberance that she executes with effortless flair.

Esmeralda will bring her unique perspective on expression and creativity to the 2027 Year of You program!

With over two decades of experience, Florence Leclerc is a dancer, choreographer, and educator distinguished by the precision, refinement, and expressive depth of her movement. Her multidisciplinary training—spanning contemporary dance, ballet, social and Latin dances, flamenco, theater, and mime—finds its fullest resonance in Oriental dance, where she explores the interplay of strength, femininity, and artistic freedom.

Her work is rooted in a poetic and embodied vision of the feminine, celebrating the diversity of the female form while positioning dance as a powerful medium for self-awareness, agency, and transformation.

Internationally recognized for both her artistic voice and pedagogical excellence, Florence is regularly invited to perform, teach, and choreograph across North America and Europe, including in the United States, France, Belgium, Switzerland, Germany, Italy, Poland, and Guadeloupe. She has been a featured instructor at Aziza’s Dream Camp in Canada and remains among a select group of trusted artists chosen to represent and substitute her in her online training programs.

In 2015, she founded Ensemble Grâce et Beauté, where she serves as principal choreographer, developing works that contribute to the contemporary evolution and international visibility of Oriental dance. Among these, Debout, created in collaboration with Kaeshi Chai (New York), stands as a significant milestone in her choreographic repertoire.

As a performer, she has appeared in major stage productions, including Sawah by Yasmina Ramzy and Bazamat by Nesma Al Andalus, affirming her presence within internationally recognized artistic platforms.

Now based in Tunisia, Florence continues to expand her artistic and pedagogical reach through the Grace and Beauty Movement Academy, offering in-person training, digital programs, and immersive retreats designed to foster both technical mastery and artistic depth.

Deeply committed to the transmission and evolution of her art form, Florence pursues an ongoing dialogue between tradition and innovation, placing creativity, integrity, and community at the core of her practice.