Lebanon - Dany Boustros A Dancer Who Lived For Her Art

[Nishee]

Singer, dancer, choreographer, painter, actress and poet, Dany Bustros
dedicated her life to the performing arts and became famous for her
successful blending of Oriental dancing with Western dance forms such as
modern dance and flamenco.
Ms. Bustros was born in Beirut on Oct. 8, 1959. A university graduate,
Ms. Bustros participated in art festivals around the region, performing
in Jordan, Turkey, Dubai, Syria as well as in  Spain and other
European countries.
She received acclaim for her dance review “Boulevard de la Cite” in
1991, and two years later tried her hand at acting for the first time in
the French play “Encore Une Minute.”
In 1995, she starred in a musical alongside Lebanese singer and
composer, Melhem Barakat.
Some members of Ms. Bustros’ family did not hide their opposition to her
being on the stage.
According to her colleagues, Ms. Bustros had been anxious to prove to
them that the main motive behind her work was artistic rather than
commercial.
Ms. Bustros married Salim Maatouq, but divorced him several years later.
They had one son, George, who died in a tragic drowning accident. He was
only 16 years old.
Singer and friend May Baylouni said that Ms. Bustros had suffered a
great deal since her son’s death. Mrs. Baylouni refused to accept the
idea of suicide. “I would rather say she had missed her loved ones and
decided to join them,” she said.
She added that the last time she had heard from Ms. Bustros was during a
telephone conversation Saturday morning. Ms. Bustros called to wish Mrs.
Baylouni a Merry Christmas and told her friend she was going to attend
church later that night.
Nidal Ahmadieh, journalist and friend, said that when she saw Ms.
Bustros two days ago she had seemed in good spirits. “This is why I was
so upset when I heard about the accident,” said Mrs. Ahmadieh.
Another close friend, who asked not to be named, said that Ms. Bustros
had made frequent visits to church over the past three weeks, spending
much of her time in prayer.
“When I asked her what was wrong with her, she told me that she needed
God.”