Dance Biography

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Mary Snow is an experienced and widely trained belly dance artist known for her versatility, engaging personality, and polished professionalism. With a strong foundation in Raqs Sharqi (classical Egyptian belly dance), folkloric styles, and a wide range of fusion forms, Mary brings passion, presence, and depth to every performance.

She is a proud member of the award-winning Invoketress Dance Troupe, where she serves as Managing Director, senior dancer, instructor, and choreographer. Both on stage and behind the scenes, Mary is a creative force who thrives on collaboration, innovation, and the transformative power of dance.

Mary discovered belly dance in 2003 under the tutelage of Ishra Blanco, and it was love at first hip drop. Since then, she has pursued an ever-evolving dance education, training regularly in advanced fusion with Ishra and advanced Raqs Sharqi with Melissa Gamal and Florence LeClerc.

She has studied FCBD® (formerly ATS®) for many years with Valizan, most recently at the advanced level, and was a founding member of Tribe Aurealis, a troupe dedicated to group improvisation and fusion. Her curiosity and commitment to growth have led her to study with a broad and celebrated list of instructors across genres and continents.

Notable teachers include:

• Zara (Cairo) 
• Sahar Samara (Cairo) 
• Rachel Brice 
• Kami Liddle 
• Zoe Jakes 
• Yasmina Ramzy 
• Nada El Masriya 
• Michelle Sorensen 
• Silvia Salamanca 
• Sahira 
• Henna 
• Badia Star 
• Nawal Doucette 
• Audra Simmons 
• Inga Petermann 
• Heather Marie 
• Esmeralda Enrique (Flamenco) 
• Neefa from Khafif (Romany)
• and many more!
   

Mary’s eclectic movement vocabulary also includes studies in Bollywood, modern belly dance, Irish, Flamenco, Turkish Romany, hula, Polynesian, hip hop, and more—each adding texture and nuance to her unique performance style.

To deepen her connection to the roots and rhythms of Middle Eastern dance, Mary also studies Arabic music and percussion. Her musical training includes:

• Finger cymbals with Melissa Gamal and Karim Nagi 
• Arabic music appreciation and Arabic drumming rhythms with Dr. George Sawa 
• Live performance technique with Karim Nagi 
• Arabic musicology and singing with Roula Said 
• Arabic drumming with Khizmet 
• Arabic percussion with Sheldon Valeda at Haft Vadi Belly Dance Studio
   

Mary is a seasoned soloist and ensemble performer who has graced countless stages—from elegant weddings and community festivals to variety stages, drag shows, and intimate restaurant showcases. She is the resident belly dancer at Retour Bistro, a Guelph-based Lebanese restaurant where she co-produces sold-out belly dance nights that bring live performance into everyday spaces.

Mary has performed at high-profile belly dance events including:

• International Belly Dance Conference of Canada (Toronto) 
• Fusion Evolution (formerly Tribal Revolution – Illinois) 
• Momentumfest MTL (Montreal) 
• Detroit Raqs 
• Sparkle Motion (Kalamazoo) 
• Great Lakes Belly Dance Convention (Ann Arbor, MI)
   

In 2017, she performed with the Invoketress ensemble that won 1st place at the Hamilton International Belly Dance Competition, and in 2021, was selected by the Canadian Dance Assembly as one of just 12 dancers chosen to kick off National Dance Week across Canada.

A passionate improviser, Mary thrives on dancing to live music and has collaborated with an impressive roster of musicians and ensembles, including:

• Eccodek (twice Juno-nominated) 
• The Lemon Bucket Orkestra 
• Adrian Raso 
• Juneyt (nuevo-Flamenco guitarist) 
• The Light of East Ensemble 
• Roula Said and Nomadica 
• The Guelph Concert Band 
• Gary Diggins 
• Brent Rowan 
• Leslie Shapiro (“The Naked Harpist”) 
• 6K (hip hop artist) 
• The Bhadra Collective
   

Mary is a sought-after instructor, offering private lessons, performance coaching, and workshops at festivals, events, and dance studios. Her teaching credits include:

• Oxford Renaissance Festival
• Wentworth Medieval Faire
• Hillside Festival 
• Guelph and District Multicultural Festival 
• County of Wellington Multicultural Festival
• Woodstock Cultural Canvas Festival
• The Pirate Festival 
• Flying Dance Festival
   

She directed the improvisational performance group Invoketribe for a number of years taught regular classes in this style. She has also choreographed numerous works for others incuding Invoketress, from large-scale ensemble pieces to duets and solos. Her choreography draws from her rich training background, blending cultural respect with personal interpretation.

For Mary, belly dance is more than a performance art—it’s a lifelong path of learning, expression, and connection. Through her teaching, dancing, and musical collaborations, she continues to inspire others while constantly evolving as an artist herself.