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| Beth Mendez, “Doniazade,” was born in Caracas, Venezuela. She has been part of the art world since childhood. She started her career taking courses in ballet, jazz and modern dance, and studied drama. In 1990, at only twelve years old, Beth was selected to be a part of the drama group in the high school program Andres Eloy Blanco in Caracas. Later she received her diploma in humanities and graduated from high school. At the same time, Beth auditioned for the drama school’s Lola Ferrer for the Bellas Artes Caracas. She got her first important role in the company with the play Birds in Captivity by Miguel Lizardy. Beth also performed with the company “Group Reflects” for three years.
In 1996 Beth started her college career at the School of Arts at the Central University of Venezuela. In 1997 she joined a the Folklore Dance and Music Company, “La Trapatiesta,” directed by Ruper Vazquez and Jonny Hernandez who have performed in several important Caracas stages. With this group Beth participated in different cultural events throughout Venezuela. She opened for Giovanni Hidalgo, one of the most important percussionists in the world, with the dance solo Salome. She was also a cast member in the play Iberoamerican Cantata, along with the prominent Venezuelan actors Eduardo Gadea Perez and Laureano Marquez, in the university theatre.
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In 1998, inspired by the African dance style and her own folkloric dancing, Beth traveled to Cuba looking for a new experience and to increase her knowledge. She took classes with Alfredo O’Farrill Pacheco, a performer and instructor from the Folkloric Ballet of Cuba, and took music and culture classes with Regino Jimenez, an important Cuban musician. Three years later, Beth returned to Cuba with the group “La Trapatiesta” and performed in The National Theater of Havana and with the Villa Clara Theater in Villa Clara, Cuba in the plays, "It's Saint John's", "Afro-Venezuelan Dances", and "The Baptist".
Beth graduated from college in 2003 and got a degree in performing arts. She continued taking classes in African techniques with the Venezuelan dancer and instructor Carmen Ortiz. That same year Beth met Zujhaila a belly dancer who invited her to be a part of her company of Arabian dances. Beth later graduated as a belly dance performer and instructor. Since then she has been practicing the art of belly dancing by taking courses, teaching, and performing.
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In 2004 Beth traveled to the United States and began her own performing arts company based in Atlanta. As a resident of Atlanta, Beth has been performing and teaching belly dancing and tropical rhythm dances such as, salsa, samba and merengue, to children, teens and adults. Beth has also performed as a belly dancer in Persopolis, Anatolia, Café Bombay, Darwish and Byblos, local Atlanta restaurants. In December 2007 she taped a TV show about belly dancing with her performing arts company for the channel People TV called “Where East Meets West.”
Beth has participated in cultural events such as the Annual Martin Luther King Young Adult Celebration in Atlanta. In the concert, “One God, One Song,” she choreographed and performed with Fray Richard and the group “Testimonium.” Beth has danced with the Hispanic theater group “Interludio” and has performed in the play The Amazing Case of Miss Pina Colada directed by Wilmer Gonzalez. She is part of the Capoeira Group Cordao de Ourao Atlanta directed by Contra Mestre Muriel Ribeiro. She has performed several times in the High Museum of Atlanta with this group and in the first and second International Batizado in Atlanta.
Beth’s performing name “Doniazade” means “Daughter of the World.” As evidenced by her love of international dance, her travels and her intense willingness to explore new avenues of performance, Beth truly is a daughter of our world.
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