Dear friend,

First, let ma thank you for reading my profile.

My name is Elena. I was born in the Republic of Moldova (former USSR): a post-soviet country with continuous trials of unsuccessful political and economic transformations. I am ethnic Romanian so I have the citizenship of the 2 countries.

At the age of four, I had my first singing experience on a professional stage. Later, I was 6 years old when in 1990 my mother founded a folk dance group. I was an active member (dancer and singer) of that group for twelve years, later becoming a dance trainer.

My teaching career lasted for almost 7 years. I thought folk dances to children and teenagers. Together we participated in many international folk dance festivals (12 European countries). My international experience has given me the opportunity to encounter and discover the traditions of many nations and communities of the world, thus nurturing my continuous interest towards learning and researching the phenomenon of traditional dance.

Also, I continued my singing career, focusing on Romanian traditional music (freelancer). I have recorded my own traditional songs and I experienced participations in TV/Radio shows, LIVE performances, singing at weddings and other family-private events.

Through my other hobbies, I have a big collection of traditional costumes.  Currently, the number goes beyond 100 items.

At some point in my artistic career, I started to feel the need in a personal growth. I wanted to take a "break", to find myself. I felt a kind of contradiction between who I am and whom I was pretending to be. In 2014 I left everyone and everything behind and went volunteering through Workaway program. I stayed 4 months in Europe, in remote villages away from a buzzy life...that is how I understood many things I was taking for granted, and...found a piece of me... Well, I am still looking for other parts of the "puzzle" I am.

Then, in August 2015 I started the International Master Program in Dance Knowledge, Practice and Intangible Cultural Heritage (CHOREOMUNDUS). Currently, I am in London, finishing my Dissertation at Roehampton University.

我为什么加入 Couchsurfing

I like challenging myself by changing my usual environment. I want to meet spiritual and honest people who are willing to share a bit of their time with me.

I want to experience new places/cultures from the locals' perspective...to discover off-beaten tracks and places.

I LOVE quiet places, small villages, idyllic places... I am fond of discovering cities too, but I would not choose a city for living.

兴趣

• singing
• dancing
• traveling
• socializing
• hiking
• adventure travel
• traditional food
• meeting new people
• heritage
• villages
• traditional music
• traditional dance

音乐、电影和书籍

Traditional music of the World :) Celine Dion

我做过的一件不可思议的事情

I was volunteering in Andalucia (Spain) when I had the first SOLO hiking trip in my life. I was alone in Alpujarras Mountains....only had some instructions about tracks and directions... I got lost for 2 hours....heading to a completely wrong direction.... at some point, I met a local but..... I did not speak Spanish :))))... I found my way in the end but that was not the point. The most PRECIOUS thing: I let myself embraced by nature ... nature was telling me how to find my way...I suddenly I found a piece of me...

Then, when I arrived in Norway for my Master Studies, I "caught" Aurora Borealis and experienced the Midnight Sun....those moments were ...AMAZING.....I learned to walk straight and to observe the SKY, the SUN...

教，学，和分享

I can TEACH you Romanian traditional dances. We can organize a workshop for you, your family/ friends/community.

I would love to SHARE my singing. If you are a musician we can try some improvisation and "fusion" of styles ;)

I would love to LEARN some traditional dances/songs from you culture ....or, your traditional recipes (I LOVE cooking).

我可以与沙发主分享些什么

Long conversations over a cup of coffee/ tea...

A traditional meal :)

我游览过的国家

Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Czech Republic, France, Germany, Italy, Lithuania, Macedonia, Netherlands, Poland, Slovakia, Spain, Switzerland, Ukraine

我居住过的国家

Hungary, Norway, Romania, United Kingdom