anna nobili is no ordinary girl . the 38 - age - old used to be a hand - dancers , and was many times acting in french nightclubs . she is now using her talents in a rather different situation - for something she calls " the holy dance " in a performance on tuesday morning at the great cross in temple basilica in rome , in front of several catholic islamic including dean gianfranco ravasi , heads of the university ' s cultural department . mr nobili told the bbc world service that the transformed from stage cup dancer to nun commenced gradually .
Anna Nobili became a nun in 2002.