My own path
crossed with Marinda when she started teaching monthly workshops in our little
town of Rustenburg. As a shy, body-conscious person myself, I found this woman
to be an inspiration for confidence and self-acceptance. Little did I know at
what cost this attitude came to Marinda. . .
Marinda’s
journey into belly dance started as a spiritual voyage to deal with a multitude
of terrible experiences in her early years. Her first husband was very
possessive and caused her much heartache. Her eldest daughter (Cherie) was diagnosed
with a heart defect and her son (Sieggi) battled depression. Yet every time life threw
her a curve ball, Marinda would just bounce back stronger. After the passing of
her first husband, she threw herself into the management of a popular
restaurant in Rustenburg, which she later had to close after tragedy struck. A
friendship later turned to love for Marinda and she married Mias, with whom she
has two lovely daughters, Nadia and Tanya. In 2007 she was hit once again by tragedy when
her beloved son, Sieggi died from a brain haemorrhage.
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| Dancing with a Turkish Scimitar |
After all
of this tragedy, Marinda emmersed herself into art and dance. She studied the
art of belly dance and later qualified as a teacher. Her husband built her a
studio on the property where he operated a granite factory and she started
Belly Buttons Harties. They are currently in the process of building a bigger
studio after the closure of a gym in Hartebeesboort where she had later moved
operations to. Marinda pushes herself further in her journey into belly dance
by attending each and every possible workshop and performing at every
opportunity she gets. She is a regular feature at the IODF hosted by Palace of
the Winds at the V&A Waterfront as well as Syncopate held every two years. Her studio also presents the Desert Feast showcase every two years in Hartebeespoort.
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| Marinda (centre, back) with some of her Belly Buttons Harties students |
Students
and acquaintances of Marinda can attest to the pure passion for dance (and life) that
radiates from her. Her stage personality is warm and invites the audience into
the magic and mystery that is belly dance. It is also her own history that
enables her to teach self-acceptance and confidence to her students. Not only is she a talented dancer, but she is also an artist and designs and creates the most amazing customized belly dance costumes.
Please
visit Marinda’s Facebook page and www.bellybuttonsbellydance.co.za
for more information on this amazing dancer.
(source: www.bellyburronsbellydance.com, www.facebook.com/222divine)
Hope you enjoyed this post. Please remember to leave your comments!
Happy shimmying!
XxX
XxX
Marina
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