Anya Nova

Ethnomusicologist

Anya Nova is a singer, dancer, ethnomusicologist, anthropologist, and music therapist. Her artistic journey began in 2005 with the study of contemporary and metal singing. In 2010, she expanded her vocal training to include classical singing under the guidance of Anna Maria Festa, before enrolling at the *Nicola Sala Conservatory* in Benevento. Fascinated by Middle Eastern musical traditions and dance forms from an early age, she gradually directed her interests towards traditional music. In 2021, she graduated from the Conservatory of Vicenza with a degree in Extra-European Music, specialising in Hindustani classical music and Kathak dance. In the same year, she graduated in Anthropology and Ethnology from the University of Bologna (*Alma Mater Studiorum*), presenting a research thesis on the musical tradition of Kurdish *dengbêj*, the Kurdish singer-storytellers. Over the years, she has deepened her knowledge of vocal techniques and traditional repertoires by studying with internationally renowned masters, including Eleonore Fourniau and Veka Aler (Turkish and Kurdish singing); Katerina Papadopoulou, Martha Mavrodi, Katerina Douka, and Avgerini Gatsi (traditional Greek singing and rebetiko); Khaled Alhafed (classical Arabic singing and Syrian *muwashshahat*); Ahmet Erdogdular (Ottoman Turkish singing); and Mahsa Vahdat (Persian singing). In 2021, she also began studying Middle Eastern percussion. Committed to continuous professional development, she regularly attends courses organised by Labyrinth in Italy and Catalonia. She also undertakes frequent research trips, studying directly with local teachers and artists in their cultural contexts. Her dance journey began in 2015, focusing initially on Romani and Oriental dance styles before expanding through international travel and further training. Alongside Kathak classical dance, which she studied at the Conservatory of Vicenza under the guidance of Rosella Fanelli, she has developed her skills in Tribal Fusion and Persian, Central Asian, Armenian, and Balkan dance traditions, exploring their diverse cultural and artistic expressions. She has performed with numerous companies in Italy and abroad. As a performer and singer, Anya Nova collaborates with several artistic projects, including the ensemble Nefes, whose repertoire spans the Balkans and Asia Minor, and Meraklides, dedicated to Greek music. She also takes part in literary readings, theatrical performances, and multidisciplinary projects. Alongside her artistic career, she works as a music therapist and teaches traditional music from Asia Minor, as well as various traditional dance forms, including Oriental dance, Tribal Fusion, Romani dance, and Central Asian dance. Through her various artistic projects, she has performed at Italian festivals such as Folkest and Selva in Festival, bringing her music to international audiences in Morocco, Armenia, Spain, Romania, Albania, and Switzerland. Make the biography more conciseImprove the chronological flow