Actress · Choreographer · Educator
Master en Théâtre, Université Saint-Joseph de Beyrouth, 2026 · Faculty member, Faculty of Fine Arts and Architecture, Lebanese University
2900 Rhode Island Avenue South, St. Louis Park, Minnesota 55426
+961 3 417 49
+1 612 961 7585
About ↑ Contents
Roueida Ghali is a Lebanese actress, choreographer, and educator whose career spans over three decades at the intersection of physical theater, cultural heritage, and contemporary performance. Trained at the internationally renowned Jacques Lecoq School in Paris, she has worked across Lebanon, Europe, and North Africa. Her professional journey includes groundbreaking performances, influential academic teaching, and deeply embodied stage work that merges Butoh, corporeal mime, and Arab oral traditions.
From Beirut’s university classrooms to dimly lit rehearsal studios, Roueida Ghali has traced a path marked not by spectacle, but by steady, embodied presence. Her artistic life reflects a commitment to rigor, silence, and the expressive truth of the body in space.
Ghali’s work emphasizes discipline, introspection, and the power of gesture. Her theater is a space of listening, not loudness; of memory, not mimicry. Students who have studied with her often speak of transformation—not just in movement, but in the way they experience their own artistic voice.
“Wherever an actor reaches for something beyond the text—her fingerprint is there.”
Ghali has worked closely with directors and choreographers across Europe, the Arab world, and Africa, including Jalal Khoury, Wajdi Mouawad, and companies exploring hybrid forms of movement, sound, and text. Her portfolio spans solo pieces, ensemble work, and pedagogical residencies.
Though she rarely seeks the spotlight, Ghali’s influence is quietly vast. Her students speak of her with respect and gratitude. Some now perform on international stages; others teach in conservatories or create their own companies—but many still find themselves returning to her principles.
“You’ve changed my life,” they say.
To learn more about Roueida Ghali’s performances, pedagogy, and humanitarian work, visit roueidaghali.com/about.
Education ↑ Contents
Master en Théâtre
Université Saint-Joseph de Beyrouth (USJ) — Institut d’Études Scéniques, Audiovisuelles et Cinématographiques (IESAV), Faculté des Lettres et des Sciences Humaines
120 credits · 18/20 · mention très honorable avec félicitations du jury — “very honourable, with the congratulations of the jury,” the highest mention awarded. Defended 28 July 2026; diploma issued by the university on 1 September 2026. The jury invited the candidate to publish the thesis.
Thesis: Dramaturgy of the Body: The Body as Bearer and Producer of Meaning — a reading of Nancy Naous’s performance piece “Coquelicots ou shall we dance?”
دراماتورجيا الجسد: الجسدُ حاملاً ومُنتِجاً للمعنى — قراءةٌ في العرض الأدائيّ لنانسي نعوس «Coquelicots ou shall we dance?»
Thesis director: Mariane Njeim · Jury president: Hanan Kassab Hassan · Jury members: Rabih Chami, Abdullah Alkafri · IESAV attestations 26/ATT/2694 (30 July 2026) and 26/ATT/2704 (10 September 2026).
Humanitarian & United Nations work ↑ Contents
Contracts, partners and outcomes are documented in full on the Humanitarian / NGO page.
Art Lead Consultant — Justice Campaign
“Sustaining Struggles and Working Toward Transformative Change: Women, Activism, and Transitional Justice.” Theater workshops for women activists from Lebanon and Sri Lanka on trauma narration, memory archiving, and performance as resistance. Partners: Saint Joseph University (USJ), Oxford Brookes, British Academy.
ESCWA Stories — United Nations
UN SDG-themed education through comics and classroom performance for ages 8–14; curricula on environmental justice, peacebuilding and children’s rights; performances at UN House, Beirut.
Women’s Hums — Seenaryo
Co-led workshops with Fida Al Waer for marginalized women in Lebanon. Funded by the Women’s Peace & Humanitarian Fund, with UN Women and Women Now.
Red Oak — Inclusive Arts
Blind-friendly supermarket flash mob (2018) · “Doors. Please Touch” museum activation · Braille edition of The Diary of a Mulberry Tree · Disability Equality Training (2021–22) with UNESCO/JICA.
Orphan theater production — BIEL
Large-scale performances with 80+ orphaned children at the Beirut International Exhibition & Leisure Center.
Faculty member — Lebanese University
Teaches physical theater and collaborative performance through ongoing national crises.
Teaching ↑ Contents
Known to her students as “Rwita.” More on the Teaching & Pedagogy page.
Performance ↑ Contents
Every credit from the extended archive, grouped by decade — open a decade to read it.
2010s — 14 credits
Beirut
- Dystopia, directed by Jad Hakawati from the Minwal Collective
- Ogres, written by Yann Verburgh and directed by Eugen Jebeleany
Beirut / HAH
- The diary of a mulberry tree, written and produced by Nadine ABOU ZAKI
- Dance Installation Tableau in Dalieh – Raoucheh area: Acting and directing
Beirut
- The bald soprano, by Eugène Ionesco: Direction
- Dreams, by Wajdi Mouawad, directed by Jean Claude BOULOS: Acting
- Al-Mazar (المزار), written by Imad Al-Shafei, directed by Jalal Jawad, adult theatre competition at the Arab Eden Festival for Child, Street and Adult Theater, Muscat, Oman (December 2016): Performance
Beirut
- As I recall, a theatrical reading of renowned Lebanese writers for the 59th edition of the international Beirut book fair: Direction
Beirut
- The cleasning feast, written and directed by Aktham HAMADA; Monolog
Beirut
- Daisy, a theatrical opening scene directed for Al Jana Cinema Festival
- A bomb in the heart, by Wajdi Mouawad, directed by Lina ABIAB: Acting
- Yellow V, produced by the Goethe Institut: Direction
- The luck journey, directed and adapted with children from The merchant of Venice, produced by ARCS (Arci Cultura e Sviluppo- Italy)
Beirut
- As I recall, a theatrical reading of renowned Lebanese writers such as Abbas Baydoun and Mohammad Abi Samra, among others: Direction
2000s — 17 credits
Beirut
- The red cross, a dance performance for the Lebanese Red Cross: Direction
- Expiry date, a play inspired by Ionesco, Pinter and Kazantzakis’s writings
Beirut
- The house of Capricorn, directed by Mr. Ra’if KARAM: Acting
- Still rolling, a theatrical opening scene directed for Al Jana Cinema Festival
Beirut
- One, two, three… and that’s all, a play by Studio 11: Acting and directing
Beirut
- Jerusalem the fighter, written by Hussein HAMADA. Directed by Mr. Houssam EL SABBAH: set-up of scenery
Beirut
- Tres-D’union, a dance performance by Studio 11: Assisting
- B like Beit, like Beirut, a theatrical reading of the writings of Iman HMEIDANE: Direction
Beirut / Spain
- Once upon a time, produced by Beirut Street Festival and in 2004 by the Festival International De Teatre De Tortosa and Studio 11 at the Centre Cultural l’ESCORXADOR: Acting and directing
- fff, a dance installation directed by Caroline Pouzolles: Acting and dance
- Qana the martyr, an operetta written by Mr. Hussein HAMADA. Directed by Mr. Houssam EL SABBAH: Choreography
- Transparencies, dance theater with Tanbak: Direction, performance and choreography
- Irak’s memory, dance theater: Acting, dance, choreography and direction
Beirut
- Ebb and flow, dance theater with Studio 11: Direction
Beirut
- Etres fantastiques, theatrical tableaux: Direction
- Not in my name, theatrical performance as a result of a workshop with LIVING THEATRE, written by Mrs. Judith MALINA: Acting
Beirut
- Hindyya, directed by Mr. Jalal KHOURY: Choreography
1990s — 22 credits
Beirut
- Faust, a theatrical presentation as the result of a workshop on the Grotowski technique by Mr. James SLOWIAK and Mr. Jairo CUESTA Produced by the Goethe Institut: Acting
- Nizar Kabbani’s poetry, theatrical choreographed readings: Direction
- Samedis piétons, theatrical installation produced by the French cultural center: Direction
- Firas and the eloquent tire, theater for children written by Mr. Ahmad KAABOUR, directed by MR. Ghazi MEKDACHI: Choreography
Beirut / Tunis
- Forbidden Zones (Contemporary Dance Theater): Production, writing, scenography, choreography, direction and performance at Ayloul Festival Beirut and Teatro Tunis
Beirut
- Dance Performance with the Japanese Master Tetsuro Fukuhara at the “Theater of Beirut” under the auspices of The Japanese Ministry of Culture and Embassy: Acting and dance
- The city drummer, musical children’s theater written and directed by Mr. Hassan DAHER and Mr. Ghazi MEKDACHI
Beirut
- O Iskanderia, your sea carries wonders. Directed by Mr. Yaakoub EL CHEDRAWI: Acting, dance, choreography
- An evening with Ounsi El Hajj’s poetry, a theatrical reading directed by Mr. Yaakoub EL CHEDRAWI: Acting
- Fourmis à la ligne, presented by the Lebanese Marionette Troop Directed by Karim DAKROUB
- I the bee, I the wasp, theatre for children written and directed by Mr. Haitham AL HAJJ: Choreography
- Dance and theatrical scene work in seasonal events from 1994 until 1996: Directing and choreography
Japan (Kyoto-Tokyo)
- Butoh performance / master class performed with several foreign nationals over a one month period in several famous and sacred Japanese locations
Beirut / Cairo
- Medea, Medea, directed by Seham NASER: Acting, dance and choreography
Japan
- SHADOWS, a solo BUTOH dance performance, produced by the Japanese Foundation and the Institut Bohdisatha, directed, choreographed and performed at the international passage festival in Tokyo City
- Collaboration New Butoh, improvisation with Butoh dance, Kiryo City
- Improvisational dance in the Temple of Limpid Water, Kyoto City
- Zaarour and the golden egg, written and directed by Mr. Mounir KESERWANI: Choreography
- The bird’s forest, theatre for children written and directed by Mr. Haitham AL HAJJ: Choreography
Paris
- Le Miel d’Asclepios, directed by M. Jean-Marie PRADIER. Presented at Paris VIII – VINCENNES university (AIDS theater)
Russia / Beirut
- Played a leading role in the King of Tales puppet theater. Produced and directed in Russia by Anatoly TOTCHKOV. Performed later on in Beirut
- The witch’s hut, theater for children, written and directed by Mr. Adel CHAHINE: Choreography
1980s — 8 credits
Carthage Festival
- Black on White, written and directed by Mr. Mash’hour MUSTAPHA: Acting
Abidjan
- The Wasp, directed by Mr. Housam AL SABBAH: Acting
Damascus Festival
- Time of The Deaf, written and directed by Mr. Housam AL SABBAH: Acting and choreography
Beirut
- The pomegranate seeds, musical children’s theater. Directed by Mr. Faek HIMAISEH: Acting and dance
Beirut
- Hala and The Prince, theater for children written and directed by Mr. Issa ISSA: Acting
- The last tale of Cinderella, written and directed by Mr. Ma’en BARAZI: Choreography
Beirut
- The Thoroughbred, dance and folk theater spectacle: Choreography by Mr. Nabil MRAD
- Rchacha Tayseh, written and directed by Mr. Ra’if KARAM: Acting and dance
Videos, press and more: Performances · Press & Media.
Specialized training & master classes ↑ Contents
Languages ↑ Contents
Native — perfect
Excellent (spoken, written)
Very good (spoken, written)
Credentials & archive ↑ Contents
The diploma, its authentication, and a note on television work. The full artistic archive is the Performance section above.
The Jacques Lecoq diploma — authenticated
This diploma certifies that Roueida Ghali successfully completed her formal training at the internationally renowned École Internationale de Théâtre Jacques Lecoq in Paris from October 1991 to June 1993, specializing in mime, physical theatre, and movement.
The version shown here has been legally certified by the French Ministry of Foreign Affairs, consularized by the French Consulate in Beirut, and stamped by the Lebanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs. A full Arabic translation has also been officially registered and notarized.
This internationally authenticated diploma reflects both Roueida’s artistic foundation and her recognized status within European and Middle Eastern cultural institutions.
Download the authenticated Lecoq diploma (PDF)École Internationale de Théâtre Jacques Lecoq — Diplôme en théâtre physique, Paris. Roueida Ghali is a graduate of the École Internationale de Théâtre Jacques Lecoq in Paris—widely recognized as one of the most distinguished theatre schools in the world. Founded by Jacques Lecoq in 1956, the school is known for shaping a global movement in physical and devised theatre. Its alumni include some of the most innovative theatre-makers and performers of the last century.
Trained in Lecoq’s rigorous pedagogy, which emphasizes the expressive power of the body, movement, and space, Roueida developed an approach to performance rooted in clarity, empathy, and imaginative transformation. Her acceptance to the school was made possible through a rare and highly competitive $8,000 grant from the French government—one of the highest international awards for arts study available at the time.
This experience continues to inform her teaching, her writing, and her belief in theatre as a vital language of renewal and resistance.
Behind the scenes: Lebanese television
Roueida Ghali has contributed to several landmark Lebanese television productions as a makeup artist and visual storyteller. This behind-the-scenes feature, originally published in Fann magazine, captures her work alongside acclaimed actor Abdel Majid Majzoub and director Ali Diab during a major outdoor shoot.
In this production, Roueida played a key creative role, applying detailed character makeup under natural lighting conditions while collaborating closely with the director and cast. Her presence on set reflects both her technical precision and her narrative sensitivity.
Download the Fann feature (PDF)
