Marine, the Bellydance's queen on social networks

Thanks to Marine "BE FULL OF LIFE", a talented oriental dancer and passionate teacher, for responding to our interview with good humor, generosity, gentleness and extreme kindness.

Tell us your story with oriental dance…

I never took dance lessons when I was young. I have always loved dancing but in a very free and spontaneous way at home, a bit like an outlet. It was only at the age of 22, when I received my first salary, that I thought about taking my first dance class. Originally, I wanted to take salsa but the class was full, so a little out of spite, I joined an oriental dance class. As soon as I came across this discipline, it was obvious, a revelation. It was as if I was discovering something that was already within me but that I didn't suspect. I knew at that moment that Bellydance would not only be a hobby but would become a passion that would be by my side throughout my life to express myself and feel good, and this without imagining for a single second that I would make it my job.
Indeed, I studied to be an Italian teacher and then a project manager in tourism to design personalized trips. Today, I do not regret for a single moment this career change in which I flourish through several aspects that are essential for me, namely: handover, event organization and finally creation.
To succeed in this conversion, I was lucky to have a Bellydance teacher who believed in me and offered me to replace her. That's how I got started and it was a big responsibility! Then, beforehand, I left 2 months for Egypt to immerse myself and better understand all the facets and cultural aspects of this dance.
I also followed Yaël ZARCA's professional training to feel more legitimate and benefit from the very good advice necessary to practice this profession.

We know you have a lot of followers on social media. What actions are you taking to bring people together around oriental dance and promote this discipline and your activities in this area?

3 years ago, upon my return from a trip to Brazil where I learned to really let go and be more forgiving towards myself regarding my image and in particular the one conveyed via social networks, I very spontaneously shared a training video made at the start of the school year with my students and... this video has had 9 million views! So I went from 5,000 subscribers to 60,000 overnight, and it has just kept growing. Today, I have nearly 400,000 subscribers and videos that regularly get a million views.
Looking back, I think that the fact of having evolved in my own view, having stopped looking for perfection by simply showing the reality of things, "real life" but also having shared solely for the pleasure (that of others and my own) contributed to the success of this video. Indeed, I favor resilience and even if I am tired or not necessarily happy with some movements that I could undoubtedly do better, I accept that this is what my body produced that day, and also accept to broadcast it.
So, I don't really have any secrets to go viral, except for authenticity, spontaneity and regularity. I always try to share content that reflects who I am: joyful, positive and full of kindness, and I think that's perhaps what people like and what makes so many women want to follow me...
By the way, thank you to all the people who watch my content, appreciate it and send me lots of encouragement. It motivates me and constantly pushes me to move forward.

Was there a key event in your oriental dance journey that was a turning point in your career and made you the renowned Bellydancer you are today?

So the first was this dazzling exposure on Instagram that I also owe to a great Lebanese singer Ragheb Alama who shared my content. I'm very grateful to him because it gave me huge visibility.
Then, there are all the great performances that I did, whether with artists or dancers that I appreciate and admire like Justine for example, or even the shows produced with my friend Sarah COLIN.
Finally, I also think of all these moments of sharing and traveling around the world which have enriched me and are unforgettable.

What does Bellydance bring you?

Oriental dance is truly my reason for being, my oxygen. It is my space of freedom, what makes me happy regardless of life's circumstances. This is what allows me to express my creativity, to give and share. I think that I would not be the woman I am today had it not been for Bellydance. It helped me enormously in terms of self-confidence, fulfillment and it filled me with a lot of happiness, encounters and glitter!

What's your favorite style of oriental dance?

Hard to answer… It really comes and goes… When I started Bellydance, I preferred Baladi and percussion. Today, I really enjoy oriental classical, some pop music and street Shaabi. If I love oriental dance so much, it’s precisely because of its richness and variety of styles. There’s something for every taste and mood, you can't get tired of it!

Have you had to travel as part of your work as a professional oriental dancer and teacher? If so, where and what for?

Traveling is an essential part of my life. A globetrotter by nature, I love to get away whenever I can. They are the kind of escape I need, and they also fuel my creativity. Most of the time, I go off on my own, on adventures. I have visited around forty countries so far and I don't intend to stop there!
When I started giving dance classes, my students suggested ​​taking them on a journey, them coming with me. This is how my first oriental dance trips were born 7 years ago. Over the past few years, I have organized a dozen expeditions to Sicily, Portugal and Egypt, combining cultural and culinary discoveries and, of course, dance, which is our shared passion. These are very powerful and transformative moments which bring the participants closer together and allow them to challenge themselves since by cutting away from their lives and usual surroundings, they fundamentally step out of their comfort zone. For example, I have my students dance in front of a local audience or outside on the beach, in parks, in front of monuments, which also provides very beautiful memories.
The group of women always evolves in a positive and caring dynamic conducive to openness and self-improvement.
As a professional oriental dancer, I performed abroad several times. First of all in Brazil, for shows which took place in major oriental dance institutions in Latin America, where the greatest oriental dancers had the opportunity to perform. It was also in Brazil that I was lucky to dance accompanied by Tony Muzayek, a singer that I love and with whom I would never have thought I would share the stage.
I also danced for festive events in Tunisia and Egypt, they were wonderful and very warm experiences! They taught me to surpass myself but also not to "over-prepare" since the organization is quite folkloric in these countries and you have to know how to adapt to produce a show of quality regardless of the conditions and circumstances.
Finally, more recently, I was invited to give Bellydance workshops on the Reunion and Mauritius Islands.
I am currently in Colombia where I will have the pleasure of teaching at the Belly Passion School in Bogota.
This summer, I am traveling to Saudi Arabia to teach at the Happy Dance School.
With all these trips I can fulfill dreams by combining the two things I love most in my life: traveling and dancing. These are also opportunities to see how oriental dance is evolving in these different parts of the world, and it is always very enriching and inspiring. By giving and receiving, I can create and evolve in a real virtuous exchange, and I am full of gratitude.

Check out Marine's Bellydance video that's been going viral online: