Singer, dancer, choreographer, painter, actress and poet, Dany Bustros dedicated her life to the performing arts and became famous for her successful blending of oriental dancing with Western dance forms such as modern dance and flamenco.
Ms. Bustros was born in Beirut on Oct. 8, 1959. A university graduate, Ms. Bustros participated in art festivals around the region, performing in Jordan, Turkey, Dubai, Syria as well as in Spain and several other European countries.
She received acclaim for her dance review "Boulevard de la Cite" in 1991, and two years later tried her hand at acting for the first time in the French play "Encore Une Minute."
In 1995, she starred in a musical alongside Lebanese singer and composer, Melhem Barakat. Some members of Ms. Bustros' family did not hide their opposition to her being on the stage. According to her colleagues, Ms. Bustros had been anxious to prove to them that the main motive behind her work was artistic rather than commercial.
Ms. Bustros married Salim Maatouq, but divorced him several years later. They had one son, George, who died in a tragic drowning accident. He was only 16 years old. Singer and friend May Baylouni said that Ms. Bustros had suffered a great deal since her son's death.
Mrs. Baylouni refused to accept the idea of suicide. "I would rather say she had missed her loved ones and decided to join them," she said. She added that the last time she had heard from Ms. Bustros was during a telephone conversation Saturday morning. Ms. Bustros called to wish Mrs. Baylouni a Merry Christmas and told her friend she was going to attend church later that night.
Nidal Ahmadieh, journalist and friend, said that when she saw Ms. Bustros two days ago she had seemed in good spirits. "This is why I was so upset when I heard about the accident," said Mrs. Ahmadieh.
Another close friend, who asked not to be named, said that Ms. Bustros had made frequent visits to church over the past three weeks, spending much of her time in prayer. "When I asked her what was wrong with her, she told me that she needed God."
Dani Bustrus died in hospital on Monday, December 28, 1998. The police said it was a suicide from a self-inflicted wound to the head caused by a single pistol shot.