Elhaida Dani


Elhaida Dani is an Albanian singer-songwriter and actress.
Born and raised in Shkodër, she performed in diverse singing competitions and started to play piano as a child. She rose to significant recognition in the Albanian-speaking world after her victories at Star Academy Albania, Top Fest and Festivali i Këngës. In Italy, she is also prominent for being the winner of the first series of The Voice of Italy.
Dani represented Albania in the Eurovision Song Contest 2015 with the song "I'm Alive", after she won the 53rd edition of Festivali i Këngës. She participated in Kënga Magjike for the first time in 2017 with the song "E Ngrirë" whereas she finished second. She rose again great popularity in Italy as well as in France upon her international acting debut in the world renowned musical of Notre-Dame de Paris.

Life

Elhaida Dani was born on 17 February 1993 in Shkodër, north Albania to a Muslim family. She studied piano from the age of 6. She started appearing on national television in 2008, after participating in Kënga Magjike with her song "Fjala e fundit".

Career

In 2009, she auditioned for the Albanian version of Star Academy and won the show. She then continued singing at various music competitions around the Balkans. In 2011 she participated in Sunčane Skale, held in Montenegro with "Si asnjëherë". and won the youth category of the show. Later that year, she won two competitions in Bulgaria and Romania. She also participated at the 50th edition of Festivali i Këngës with "Mijëra vjet".
In early 2012, she worked with Threedots Music Albania, a popular music label and wrote "S'je më", and won Albania's biggest music show, Top Fest. After returning to Albania, the first song she sang was "Ya nabi salam alayka" of Maher Zain in the Medrese Haxhi Sheh Shamia of Shkodra. There she wore a headscarf.

The Voice of Italy

After seeking an international career and winning many music competitions in the Balkan region, Elhaida decided to temporarily move to Rome, Italy to audition for the Italian version of The Voice. She appeared on the "Blind auditions" with Jessie J's "Mamma Knows Best" and received a huge feedback from the jury and the viewers.
She chose to join Riccardo Cocciante's team, and the world-renowned songwriter became her coach. She advanced to the battles and knockouts and reached the finals in May 2013. She sang Lara Fabian's version of "Adagio" and "When Love Calls Your Name", the unreleased song that Riccardo Cocciante wrote for her with Roxanne Seeman, and won the show with over 70% of the public vote.

Eurovision Song Contest

In 2014, Dani revealed that she was going to participate at the 53rd edition of Festivali i Këngës, with the hope to represent Albania at the 2015 Eurovision Song Contest. Her song "Diell" was among the 28 participating entries. The competition was held from 26 to 28 December in Tirana. She was the favourite to win the show. On 28 December 2014, Elhaida won the contest with a total of 82 points.
After Festivali i Këngës, Dani was forced to change her Eurovision song "Diell" to "I'm Alive", after the original song's composers decided to withdraw it from the contest. She then competed in the Eurovision Song Contest 2015 with this song. She qualified from the first semi final in tenth place.
and Angelo Del Vecchio in the musical Notre-Dame de Paris in 2016.
At the final of the Eurovision Song Contest 2015 Elhaida Dani placed 17th, with a total of 34 points, similarly to previous Albanian entrants Olta Boka in Eurovision Song Contest 2008 and Kejsi Tola in Eurovision Song Contest 2009.

Notre Dame de Paris

In 2016, she has been called by Riccardo Cocciante and Luc Plamondon to play the role of Esmeralda in the world renown musical Notre Dame de Paris.
And since 2016 she is touring worldwide.
In December she competed in Kënga Magjike, one of Albania's largest musical events. She reached the final and ended up in second place with 988 points, 11 points behind Anxhela Peristeri, the winner. She also won the Critics' Award.

Discography

Extended plays

Singles

;Featured in
YearTitleRoleNotes
2009Star Academy AlbaniaHerselfWinner, season 4
2011, 2014PortokalliHerselfMusical guest, season 16 & 21
2012Top FestHerselfWinner, season 9
2013Apartamenti 2XLHerselfSpecial guest, season 2
2013The Voice of ItalyHerselfWinner, season 1
2014, 2015X Factor AlbaniaHerselfMusical guest, season 3 & 4
2014Festivali i KëngësHerselfWinner, season 53
2015Eurovision Song ContestHerselfContestant
2015HerselfJudge

Awards and nominations

Festivali i Këngës