Shelley Marinus- Regisseur

Shelley Marinus a certified social worker and one of the few dance therapists in West Michigan. Ms. Marinus holds more then 15 years of professional performing experience. While in NYC she studied African Dance and Egyptian Belly Dance and rhythms.

She has taught dance workshops in the Grand Rapids Public Schools system through Very Special Arts. And has also taught Modern Dance at Calvin College, currently she an AT-NEEMRAH "satellite master instructor conducting Middle Easter Dance Workshops in Caledonia, MI .

She began studying Middle Eastern Dance with Anahid Sofian in New York. Training there focused on veilwork and zills (finger cymbals) in addition to the fundamental technique used in the art of belly dancing. She has also studied with Karim Nagi, Nourhan Sharif, and Amel Tafsout.

Belly dance was specifically recommended by her professors in graduate school as a means to free up movement in the torso. With a background in African and Afro-Caribbean dance, it seemed a natural fit. These styles of dance engage the whole person as does belly dancing. Although many movements in Middle Eastern dance isolate specific parts of the body at one time, the whole body is engaged in the dance.

The primary reason that she enjoys performing this style of dance is that it allows an opportunity to engage with people in the audience. This is unlike traditional performances on a stage with a seated audience. She enjoys sharing the experience through dancing with audience members. It is amazing what happens when people have permission to move freely!