5 dancers in loose black Egyptian folkloric dresses over different color full length skirts. Dancers wear colorful head coverings and hip sashes embellished with coins and different color scarves tucked into the hip sashes. The center dancer holds a gold cane above her head; the 4 other dancers, all facing the dancer in the center hold their gold canes with one hand in a vertical position, touching the floor, the other arm is extended.

Mosaic Dance Theater Company

Celebrating the Mediterranean's Lively Arts

Location:New JerseyNYCManhattan

Contact Name Morgiana Celeste Varricchio

973-783-2395

About us

Mosaic Dance Theater Company (MDTC) is dedicated to the dance and folkloric traditions of the Mediterranean — North Africa, the Middle East, and southern Europe — creating dance, theater, and educational programs which celebrate the rich diversity of cultures of this region. The dances and music, the stories and myths, and the history and legends of this fascinating area form the wellspring of inspiration for MDTC’s creative vision. Founded in 2003, MDTC tours to performing arts venues, universities, schools, and communities. Known for artistry and authenticity in ensuring cultural integrity, MDTC received the Sunshine Award for its contribution to the performing arts, recognized by National Academy of Recording Arts & Sciences (NARAS) and the United Nations. MDTC is led by Morgiana Celeste Varricchio, Producing Artistic Director, and Samara Adell, Aartistic Direc tor for Dance.

Programming / Repertoire / Offerings

Mosaic Dance Theater Company has an expansive repertory of dance and folklore from the Mediterranean region — North Africa, the Middle East, and southern Europe.

Organization/Business Type + Areas of Expertise

Artistic/creative directionChoreographyEducation (teaching artistry)Higher educationK-12Professional trainingPerformancePresentingProducing

Dance Styles & Movement Techniques

Belly danceInterdisciplinary

Media

"Ma Bi"-example of muwashahat style dance; 4 dancers in coral costumes of chiffon skirt over harem pants with velvet jacket with chiffon sleeves, velvet hat with chiffon veil; 1 dancer in lime green costume Photo by Gary Heller

"The Boating Party" -- an Ancient Egyptian tale of wonder. 4 dancers in pastel chiffon Egyptian dresses are seated on the floor, facing right; 1 dancer in the center is standing, facing left, wearing a turquoise chiffon Egyptian dress. 2 dancers appear in the left rear: 1 is costumed as a Pharaoh, wearing a gold robe with w white head covering with a cobra crown; the other is costumed as a magician, wearing a white shirt, copper skirt with a leopard skin over one shoulder. Photo by Gary Heller.

"Impressions of The Alhambra" -- character playing Washington Irving in center, wearing navy blue knee-length jacket, grey plaid pants, white shirt and burgundy paisley vest; 2 dancers in lower left dressed in Spanish folkloric style of long skirts, white peasant-style blouses and shawls, with an arm wrapped around the other's waits, and their free arms extended upwards; dancer in upper right, plays a falcon, in gold loose pants and long shirt, with cape of brown, yellow & beige, she stands with her arms down; dancer to left of Washington Irving is dressed in long red dress with yellow shawl, she has her hand over her heart; 2 dancers to right of Washington Irving are dressed in flowing Moorish-style robes, tunics and harem pants, they face each other, touching each other's upright palm; dancer in above right is dressed as Queen Isabella, in black velvet gown with white & red paisley inset trimmed with white lace, she is gesturing to the right; 2 dancers in lower right represent a woman and a man of the 18th century Spanish court, the woman is in a navy blue gown with gold inset, the man is in black knee pants, a black jacket, white shirt, and black tricorn hat, they are looking ag one another. Photo by Gary Heller

"Dancers in the Harem" -- Two dancers wearing long white skirts and white tunics with coin hip belts face each other and are flinging long veils (or scarves) in front of themselves. 3 other dancers can be seen in the background, wearing the same type of costume, and partially wrapped in different colored long veils. Photo by Gary Heller.

"Banat el Khaleeg" (Women of the Gulf) -- 3 women in blue, red, and green robes respectively are kneeling, with arms raised with bent elbows, they are in the act of tossing their hair from side to side. Photo by Gary Heller.

"El Zar" -- 2 dancers whearing white robes and head scarves are kneeling in the foreground, 1 is reaching out to the other and conforting her; there are 5 other dancers standing around them in a semi-circle, wearing white tunics, trousers, and head scarves, holding frame drums above their heads; 2 male performers also holding frame drums in front of themselves, dressed in black robes are standing in the background. Photo by Gary Heller.

Videos: #1. “Raks al-Sai’id” — folkdance of Upper Egypt using traditional cane prop #2. “Troy: Women & War”– production capturing the essence of the Trojan war through the eyes of the Trojan women (video by Steven Speliotis) #3. “Sulukule” — Turkish Roma dance in 9/8 rhythm #4. “The Fisherman & The Djinni” — dance/story-theater adaptation of a tale from the Arabian Nights #5. “La Lettera d’Isabella” — original scenario for the Commedia dell’arte, performed with movement and dance #6. “Enheduanna” — story of Enheduanna, the poet/priestess of Ancient Mesopotamia, the first non-anonymous author in history Images: