Mari Engel

We are thrilled to have Miss Mari with us in 2008-09 teaching in Studio B "Upper Room":

• Tues. 4:30 PM Jr. Ballet 1
• Tues. 5:30 PM Jr. Lyrical 1

 After school one day Mari Engel was brought to her first classical ballet studio at the age of 7, as she watched the dancers, she stood awestruck.  Her mother asked her if she would like to dance?  All she could do was say “when can I start?”   Mari continued at that studio studying ballet when she auditioned and was accepted to the Tokyo Dance and Performing Arts Academy.  While at Tokyo Dance and Performing Arts Academy, Mari continued her studies in Classical Ballet and took classes in Modern and Jazz.  After graduation, she auditioned for a recital with the Nakura Kayoko Jazz Dance Company and then began her professional career.  She performed for various television shows, concerts, variety shows, company performances and festivals throughout Japan.  During Mari’s professional career she began to study Modern Dance with more interest.  She was a founding member of a Modern Dance Company “DANCE VENUS.”  As a member of the company she choreographed and performed at numerous recitals, made various television appearances and was asked to guest dance at other company recitals.  During this phase of Mari’s career she traveled to Germany and studied Modern Dance at the Wurzburg Dance Theater.   While in Pensacola, Mari studied Ballet under Dorothy Lister at Kaleidoscope & Ballet Pensacola.  Mari and several dancers from Ballet Pensacola formed a Modern Dance Company “SWERVE”.  SWERVE travel throughout Florida and the south, performing at art festivals and various local events. She choreographed several of their pieces and assisted in arranging their productions.  Mari returned to Japan and began teaching Ballet and Modern dance at a U.S. Naval installation outside of Yokohama.  Mari continued her Ballet studies at Chacott Ballet Studio and Modern Dance at Kazuco Takemoto’s studio.

Returning to the States, Mari has assisted with classes at Reflections school of Dance and guest choreographed for the Cerulean Dance Company.