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Hammam Shafie

Bio

Hammam Shafie, Palestinian American and citizen of the world, resides in Los Angeles where he is perfecting his skills in acting, choreographing, dancing, directing, singing, and producing.

From the very first moment Hammam saw Fred Astaire on TV (in 1972 in Cincinnati), he was convinced of the "The Astair Way".  After earning Bronze and Silver Teacher Certificates form Fred Astair Schools of the Performing Arts, he went on teaching and performing throughout the continental USA. Variety first took note of Mr. Shafie in 1975, with a rave review of his performance in the musical I HEARD THAT.  In 1976, he accepted a scholarship in poetry and dance from the University of Michigan, and distinguished himself with the university dance team.  In 1977, he was chosen as a troubleshooter for the Fred Astair dance studios, from cost to coast.

After moving to New York in 1976, Hammam Shafie enrolled in a vigorous Dance program at the American Ballet Theater and the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater.  He also enrolled in a Voice program with Robert Gancert of Carnegie Hall and Eugene Price of the Julliard School of Music.  After a 1978 performance on Broadway, Mr. Shafie was described by Barry Cunningham of COSMOPOLITAN MAGAZINE as “poetry in motion - a man of infinite pep.” Leo Shull of SHOW BUSINESS wrote “an overwhelming duo of Valentino and George Raft.”  In 1979, Hammam choreographed In The Heart Of Darkness which was described by THE VILLAGE VOICE as “new-era disco”, as well as Miss Hollywood and an original musical which he also co-wrote and directed, titled A Dream.

In 1980, MGM filmed THE FORMULA, in which Mr. Shafie’s performance almost caused an international incident and much of the footage was cut because of its intensity.  In 1981, he performed as the gang leader Buda and dance captain in the Universal film ZOOT SUIT.  After appearing as a specialty dance act at the Casablanca Night Club in Mexico City, he was recalled, by public demand in 1982, to choreograph and perform in a sensational act entitled BENITO CASTRO.

In 1983, Mr. Shafie formed the Los Angeles Olympians Dance Company. The first performance by this company at the California Dance Tournament, held at the Universal Sheraton, earned him the award of “Top Most Outstanding Performance” at the tournament.  Mr. Shafie prepared an ensemble of fifteen dancers, in a dramatization of the origins and development of the dance in America, which was considered by the Olympic Dance Committee. In 1984, the Los Angeles Olympics Organizing Committee awarded Hammam a certificate “In Recognition and Apperception for Your Assistance, Participation and Performance in the XXIII OLYMPIAD OPENING CEREMONIES"; and another "For your Contribution to the Success of the GAMES OF THE XXIII OLYMPIAD".

In 1985, Hammam received credit for the lead role in a nationwide commercial in Mexico City for the revival of Monte Carlo cigarettes, the oldest brand of cigarettes in Mexico. In 1986, his scene as the chemical expert in New World Pictures’ WANTED DEAD OR ALIVE was so compelling, it was used to promote the film’s release on national television.

After three months (spring season) of intensive teaching and choreographing Dancer’s Workshop for the Yuma Ballet Theater, Mr. Shafie’s students took first place in modern and first place in ballet at the Arizona State Annual Dance Contest; and second place in the nationals in Las Vegas. In 1986 and 1987, Mr. Shafie received cultural grants from the city of Los Angeles Cultural Affaires Department to write and produce a musical play “Where To Ramallah” and a short film “A Day In The Life of An Actor”. He directed two television pilots and several musical videos. He assisted the choreographer Walter Painter and danced in Columbia’s Discovery Series film RAY’S HETEROSEXUAL MALE DANCE HALL, winner of the 1988 Academy Award for Best Short Fiction. That same year he created summer workshops for teaching kids theater and wrote and produced a musical play “The Festival” with the cast of fifty kids.

After settling down in west hills Los Angeles, Hammam raised a step daughter, three dogs and a horse. In 1994, he performed in Naked Gun 33 1/3: the Final Insult; and in 1996, he received a certificate from the UCLA Extension in pre-production, production and post-production in film/TV and Video. That same year he planned and directed a TV telethon to raise funds to build a Mosque in Palmdale, California that was connected with UCLA and Alazhar University of Cairo, Egypt. Today the Mosque can be seen erected on Palmdale Blvd, with a school that serves almost 1500 students and worshipers. In 1999, Hammam received an AA from Pierce Collage where he has taught and produced a dance workshop for Pierce Folk and Modern concerts on regular bases. 

In the fall of 1999, Hammam suffered a very serious neck and crippling spinal cord injury, while surfing in the Pacific Ocean.  A three year struggle and a zest for life and the performing arts helped him to overcome the injury and to recover.   Hammam now is singing with and serves on the board of directors of THE SAN FERNANDO VALLEY MALE CHORUS.  He worked on several projects including a weekly how-to-ballroom-dance “CHEEK TO CHEEK”, “Shadows” a musical play he wrote, Forbidden Tales” a documentary about the Arab-American. He prepared and choreographed dancers who performed in conductor Sheldon Cohen’s musical "SWING, SWING, SWING" starring ED McMahon. Recently he produced Two TV programs for the SFVMChorus and they aired on Time Warner cable TV throughout the greater Los Angels metropolitan area. Hammam also produced/filmed/edited a documentary on The San Fernando Valley Male Chorus "IN The Making of Yosemite Suite By Sheldon Cohen Composer & Conductor, with  The Los Angeles Pierce Choir director Cathryn Tortell, and The Los Angeles Symphony Winds under the leadership of Conductor Stephen Piazza.

 Currently he is working on writing, directing, and dancing in the story of "Argentine Tango" for film/TV, "Amin the trust worthy" a documentary,  "Arabian Nights" narrating the abridged audio book and DVD  in Arabic & English.  Hammam  is also singing, dancing, and acting in the "God Father of Arabic music", a  musical on the live and work of  "Saied Darwish" is work  in progress. 

For further information contact Hammam at:

Email: hammam@universalcasting.com

Tel: 818-884-0605