Artemis Mourat
Elizabeth Artemis Mourat is an American dancer, instructor, and dance historian known for her work in Turkish Oryantal dans and Turkish Romani dance. Active since the 1970s, she has taught, performed, and lectured internationally, with a focus on preserving traditional dance forms and promoting cultural understanding.
Early life and education
Mourat was born in the United States to a Greek father of Anatolian heritage and an American mother from the South. Her upbringing combined multiple cultural influences. She holds a Master of Arts in Psychology and a Master of Social Work, with additional postgraduate studies in dance movement therapy. Mourat is a member of the Phi Beta Kappa Society.Career
Mourat began performing in the early 1970s, originally in the American cabaret style before shifting toward Turkish and Romani traditions. Her research has included fieldwork in Turkey, Egypt, and Romania. Mourat has appeared in performances and festivals in over 30 countries, and she regularly presents workshops in the United States and Europe.Her teaching emphasizes historical context, musicality, and technique. In addition to solo instruction, she has collaborated with other instructors to teach comparative styles such as Egyptian Oriental vs Turkish Oryantal dans.