Georgette Gebara

Previous Professions

  • Founder and director, 1964 - present, Ecole Libanaise de Ballet. Branch in Tripoli in 1972.
  • Member, 1996-2008, Executive Council of the International Theatre Institute (UNESCO).
  • Secretary, 1995-2008, International Dance committee, International Theatre Institute (UNESCO).
  • Dancing Instructor, 1966-1984, Institute of Fine Arts, Theater Section, Lebanese University.

Major Achievements

  • Choreographed and danced to the recitation of Arabic poetry, the first experience of its kind in the Middle East, for a programme on poetry produced by the Jordanian Television, and aired in almost all Arab countries (1981).

Field(s) of Expertise

Choreography
Ballet Dancing and Teaching Arts
TheaterTeaching

Exhibitions, Lectures & Performances

  • Leading performer, choreograoher and jury member in many play productions, dancing performances and competition programs since 1964 including:
  1. "Soirées de Ballet", 1966, 1972, 1973, 1974, 1988 and 1994 in Beirut, Tripoli and Zahle.
  2. Leading dancer in several major ballets performances of the classical repertoire such as "Nutcracker", "Sleeping Beauty", "Coppelia", "Sylphides".
  3. Choreographer representing Lebanon in several festivals such as Nancy festival (a city in the north of France), Baghdad and Carthage Festivals.
  4. Choreographer of the play "L'émigré de Brisbane" written by George Shehade and performed in the presence of Emperor Haile Selassie in Ethiopia.
  5. Jury member of major competitions involving dance and other art disciplines in Lebanon (such as Studio el-Fan and Nadi El-Nawadi), Cyprus and Italy.
  • Speaker, "Dance Between Two Bombs and the Sniper's Fire", The Lebanese American University, 2012.
  • Speaker, "Choreography to Express Identity", Sousse, Tunisia (April, 2000), Limassol, Cyprus (February, 2006), World Dance Day Festival at the Lebanese American University (LAU), Beirut, April 2011.
  • Speaker, "The XXth Century, Century of Women in Dance", 2011.
  • Speaker, "Pioneer Women of Dance in America", Kennedy Center, Beirut, 1977.
  • Speaker, a lecture on "Classic and Modern Dance", Rotary Club of Tripoli, 1973.
  • Speaker, "Dance in Lebanon" at the International Dance Symposium, Wichita, Kansas, United States of America, August, 1970.

Distinctions

  • Honored by the Japan Foundation for her achievements, 1999.

Awards

  • Said Akl award for artistic achievement, March 1972.
  • Tribute and achievement award by Zouk Cultural Club, 1995.
  • Invited by Japan Fooundation for a VIP official two-week visit of Japan, September 1999.
  • Life achievement award from the “Mouvement Culturel d’Antelias”, 10 March 2001.
  • Life achievement award on 18 August 2004 from the Cultural Commission of the town of Zahle.
  • Murex d’Or award for life achievement in May 2007.
  • Honorary Award, Azm Cultural Club, Tripoli (North Lebanon) 29 April 2010.
  • Honorary Award, Union Catholique Internationale de la Presse, 1 December 2010.
  • Honorary Award on INTERNATIONAL DANCE DAY FESTIVAL, LAU, 2010.
  • Honorary Member of INTERNATIONAL THEATRE INSTITUTE for life, Xiamen, China, 20 September 2011.
  • Honorary Award of the Association Chebli Issa Khoury, Becharreh, 5 November 2011.
  • Honorary Award, VAN RADIO, 6 November 2015.
  • NDU, special life achievement award, 5 November 2017.
  • BIPOD Life achievement award, 16 April 2018.
  • LAU Life achievement award, 8 May 2018.
  • Syndicate of Professional Artists, honoured as Founding Member, 17 March 2019.
  • Order of Merit of the Lebanese Republic, June 2022.
  • Trophee by LAU President on the occasion of donation of my archives, 29 June 2023.
  • Trophee of Distinction from Minister of Information, Ziad Makary, 28 February 2024.