English CV

ENGLISH CV

THE STORY OF A SUCCESSFUL MUANGOLÉ*

Dina Simão’s varied career has included working as a dancer and dance teacher, a storyteller and model. She has also developed her own fashion range, has organised community development projects and managed international events. Her work has always been inspired by her African heritage and a desire to promote the talents of the various ethnic communities in Portugal. Dina Simão was born in the province of Luanda-Norte in Angola and came to Portugal in the 1980s where she started her international career as a dancer with the well-known Angolan musician Bonga.

Her experience of working with young people from different ethnic backgrounds in Setúbal, where she has lived for more than 20 years, led to the formation of Kissonde. This multicultural group has produced shows and given workshops all over Portugal (in hospitals, prisons, schools and on television) and has toured in Spain , Germany , Angola , France and most recently in Morocco. Although Dina Simão was one of the first African models working in Portugal, at the time opportunities for black models were limited, so she developed her love of fashion and her creativity in another direction. She took professional design courses and, based in her studio in Cascais, started her own fashion label in 1998.

Her clothes combine a European and African aesthetic characterized by the use of traditional African cloth, texture and colour combinations and dressmaking techniques applied to modern, sophisticated and sensual silhouettes. Her designs are popular with clients ranging from television presenters to young people interested in fusion fashion. As well as giving workshops on fashion and numerous appearances on television to show her work , Dina Simão produces live catwalk shows which she describes as a ‘fashion experience’. These shows incorporate dance, live music and circus performers to create exciting events.

In February 2008 her position as one of the leading African designers in Portugal was confirmed when she won the title of Best Designer of the Diaspora.
At the end of the 90s Dina Simão took a degree in International Cooperation and Development at the Universidade Moderna in Lisbon. This led to opportunities such as an invitation to coordinate the ‘Image of Africa’ at Expo 2000 in Hanover.
One of her most defining experiences was as a volunteer (on course placement) with a UN intercultural exchange project in a war zone in the south of Angola .She says: “As an African woman with some knowledge and expertise, I felt that I could make a useful contribution towards the development of the country”.

* Muangolé- Angolan (woman)

SOME RECENT WORK

2008

November- Tour manager of group Kissonde, presenting ‘Fashion Experience’ at 3 venues in Morocco, including show at a gala to commemorate Angolan Independence Day.

Invited by The Angolan Ambassador in Morocco and the Mohammed IV National Theatre.

October – Appearance on television programme Hora da Verdade on TV Zimbo Angola.
-Designed costumes for all the contestants taking part in the Miss Guine Bissau pageant in Lisbon
- Organised fashion show as part of 5th Festival des Musiques du Desert in Rissani-Errachidia , Morocco.

July - Presented catwalk show at gala launch of TPA Africa (television channel) at Colisseu dos Recreios in Lisbon.

May – Produced two catwalk shows in Porto , Portugal as part of the celebrations for Africa Day.

2007

November - Styling for launch of first magazine in Portugal aimed at the modern African Woman.

August - Appearance on Angolan television on Janela Aberta to present her work.
Showed her designs in 4 catwalk shows in Angola together with the new generation of Angolan Designers.

June – Interview on television programme Latitudes on RTP Africa.

May - Organised protocol and styling for African / European meeting of African Ambassadors in Lisbon, Portugal. Attended by Kofi Annan, Un Secretary General.
-Presented a fashion workshop for secondary school students at the Museum of Ethnology in Lisbon, Portugal as part of International Museum Day.

April - Produced catwalk shows in Morocco as part of an international festival le plut Grand Buffet du Plats du Monde.

February - Studio styling for programme presented by Luis Rocha on TVI (Portuguese channel ) .

2006

December - Presented Christmas –themed fashion show on television programme Kandando for RTP Africa.
- Organised protocol for the Angolan ambassador in Portugal at his residence in Lisbon, Portugal.

November - Styling for party for the Angolan Community in Portugal in the Palacio dos Congressos, Lisbon, Portugal at the request of the Angolan Consul-General in Portugal.
-Appearance on television programme Herman SIC (popular Portuguese programme) with Angolan World Cup football team.
- Presented workshop on ‘The Influence of African Style on Western Fashion’ at the Michal Giacometti Museum in Setúbal, Portugal.

June - Presented two fashion shows during the FIFA World Cup in Frankfurt and Cologne at invitation of the Angolan community in Germany.

May - Organised closing ceremony for African Cultural Week in Lisbon. –Designed clothes for two presenters of 11th Portuguese Golden Globes TV gala.