About the team
Josephine Wise
Josephine has been dancing since 1976. She originally trained in contemporary dance, but having discovered bellydance in 1981 she quickly transferred her affections. Since then she has studied in Egypt, the UK and Europe and has passed on to her students all the knowledge she has gleaned and the style she has developed.
For many years Josephine has been one of the world’s top exponents of Egyptian Dance, and her style is known for its authenticity and deep expression. As a teacher she is in demand around the world for her high technical standards and her knowledge of the interpretation of Egyptian music.
Josephine has danced extensively throughout the UK, Europe, Egypt and the Middle East, including regular functions for the Royal families of Saudi Arabia and Kuwait, and many years dancing in Arab nightclubs and at high society weddings. She has also gone back to her theatrical roots by touring the UK with her dance company 'Masriat', and has choreographed commissioned works for the theatre and opera in England and France.
Since 1990 she has been Managing Director of JWAAD and has run over 15 Summer Residential Courses. She runs the famous Fantasia Festival in London, which has been until now the UK’s largest bellydance event, and the JWAAD Teacher Training Diploma Course, which develops the teaching skills of dancers and has produced many of the best teachers in the UK and now in other parts of Europe.
At present Josephine is developing her new dance company ‘Johara’ and, of course, the Congress. She is dedicated to improving the standard and raising the profile of bellydance in the West, and is determined to have a good time while she does it.
Peter Teale
Born Southport, England. Educated at Rossall School, Fleetwood and Birmingham University before qualifying as a Chartered Accountant.
Co-produced the short film “Ignotus”, winner of the best international short film at the New York independent film festival (2006) and best foreign language short at the San Fernando Valley international film festival (2007).
In theatre, produced with Paul Savident and Joe Harmston the New York off-Broadway productions of “Beau Brummel” and “Cooking for Kings”, and co-produced in Italy with Compagnia della Rancia the major tours of “West side story” and “Grease”.
Peter was head of Finance of the sports and interactive division of Granada Media which produced and developed television sports programmes for ITV as well as some of the world’s leading sports websites. He is currently Director of Finance and new media for the History Press, the UK’s leading local and specialised history publisher.
Paul Savident
As a producer Paul is a Director of The Ideas Foundry - which is a commercial company dedicated to forging new collaborative relationships between talented people with exciting ideas in order to create exhilarating work of significant artistic and commercial value – and also of Cloud Ten Productions, which presents the work of Richard Lumsden including The Fall & Rise of Lenny Smallman and Skeletons and A Good Place For Fishing which are currently in development for presentation on television and stage.
Recent producing credits for Paul include The Fall & Rise of Lenny Smallman (November ’06, The Mill, Guildford), Beau Brummell and Cooking For Kings [both 59E59 Theater - Off Broadway as part of the 2006 Brits Off Broadway Festival], Mammals [National Tour - Consultant Producer], We Could Be Heroes [Bridewell Theatre - Associate Producer], Richard Cameron’s The Glee Club [National Tour - Associate Producer], Marcus Markou’s acclaimed and famed Age-Sex-Location [Riverside Studios - Co-Producer] and Daniel Abineri’s Money to Burn [Associate Producer]. Current producing include Richard Lumsden's work for cloud ten, Mal Pope’s The Contender, David Chisnell’s Elvis, Lennon and JFK, and Tony Bishard’s Goldman Sacks!.
PAUL SAVIDENT MARKETING & PRESS MANAGEMENT, a marketing, advertising and press management company, was formed in May 2000 following four years as Marketing Manager for Bill Kenwright Limited. Initially the company primarily worked within the theatre industry but in recent years it has seen its client base expand to include personal press management and event and product representation.
John Gosler
John, our Art Director, is marvellously talented, very good-looking and generally lovely. He worked for many years as an illustrator in publishing, and then as a background artist and ‘head of background’ in animation. In recent years John has worked as an art director in print, film and TV. His clients have included Warner Bros. and Disney, and he is currently art directing a series of commercials for Aardman Animations (Wallace & Gromit).
Married to Josephine, John has designed the publicity for her and for JWAAD for many years, and has now been caught off guard and found himself saying yes to designing the Congress publicity. He secretly enjoys this work but hopes that Jo won’t find out.
Sophie Wise
Sophie Wise, aka little sister (but not so little any more!) has come from a background working in family law.
Sophie bellydanced for a couple of years before finding a passion for Arabic drumming and rhythms. Originally taught by Chas Whitaker in Bristol, she formed a band called No Grate Sheikhs with a group of like-minded friends and they have performed at many Haflas and festivals. Although enjoying traditional Arabic rhythms and music, she has also developed a soft spot for Rai and fusion music.
Sophie joined Josephine’s team in 2007, organising the Fantasia Festival in London and running the first International Bellydance Congress Crew. She enjoyed it so much she gave up law and now works full-time on the Bellydance Congress and the Fantasia Festival, also finding the time to run the JWAAD office and generally prevent Josephine’s life from getting out of control. She has not yet found a way of preventing Josephine from coming up with new ideas and projects, and is seriously considering sending in the men in white coats!