IRENE RIMER, founded Irene Rimer Dance Academy; she started dancing at the age of 6 after her father, an attorney, and also a "matador" (bull-fighter) with Cesar & Curro Giron, and Flamenco aficionado, took her to see the Ballet of Spain of Antonio Gades. From this moment on, Irene at such an early age was inspired, serious and determined to become a dancer.

Irene studied Ballet with Master Ballet dancer Nina Novak, world prima-ballerina. Simultaneously, she also studied Classic Spanish with Jose Serrano and became his first dancer.  At the age of 13, Irene became the first soloist dancer of the Jose Serrano Classic Spanish ballet touring several countries with the company as first dancer. At the Center Theater in Buffalo, New York, a journalist wrote in the city's newspaper show review. "The most sensual dance is Gypsy Flamenco performed by Irene". She was also featured soloist dancer performing in Operas with soprano singers Victoria Vergara in "Carmen" and Catherine Malfitano in La Traviata at the Municipal Theater of Caracas. 

Her passion for learning the rhythms of Flamenco took her to her grandfather's land, Spain, were she also studied with the best Flamenco professors such as her mentor La Tati, Maria Magdalena, Paco Fernandez, Ciro, Jose Granados, Xavier de la Vega, and others in Amor de Dios studios in Madrid. After living and experiencing Flamenco at the different cities in Spain, she started dancing professionally at theaters and "tablaos flamencos".  She experience the "gypsy" living and had the opportunity of living in Seville and traveling to Morocco and Israel; Irene stayed with her family in Israel and did not miss the chance to be enchanted and mystified by the study of Mideastern dance styles.   

Irene spent a lot of time in Spain and often traveled to neighbor countries such as France, Germany, Holland, and others dancing as soloist; she also spent time in Caracas, Venezuela as a soloist dancer at tablaos such as El Café de Chinitas with the guitars of Fernando Toledo and El Chino de Málaga performing with other great  Flamenco artists such as La China, La Morita, Miguel Hernandez, Antonio & Emilia; in Spain she was also featured at Tablaos in Seville, Madrid, and Huelva with the guitars of Juan Amaya in Madrid, Antonio Montoya in Sevilla, & el Nino Miguel in Huelva. Irene performed at Los Gallos in Seville and was featured in different Ferias in Seville, Jerez de la Frontera, and Cadiz.  Renowned painter, Manuel Romero oil pictures of Irene have been displayed in Japan's museums and a portrait done by the Commander of Police of Caracas (also an artist) has been widely admired by artists. 

In 1985, Irene moved to Miami permanently where she continued performing with artist such as Leo Heredia, Paco del Puerto, Cacharrito, Pepe de Málaga and Estrella Morena. In May of 1998, Irene opened the Irene Rimer Dance Academy, Inc. and also founded the Community Performing Arts Foundation Corp., "COPAF," a non-profit organization that supports and promotes the arts. She also formed the well-known troupes: Corazon Flamenco & The Belly Dance Jewels.

Twenty years later, in 2005, Irene moved to Birmingham, Alabama, where she taught Flamenco & Belly Dance at The Children Dance Foundation and Devyani Dance Center before opening her own studio at Cobb Lane. She is in the advisory board of the Alabama Dance Council, and  continues to certify and oversee all students meeting graduation criteria and graduates at Irene Rimer Dance Academy, Inc and the Community Performing Arts Foundation of South Florida and Alabama.  The Cobb Lane studio focuses on quality dance teaching; it has professional training programs in Ballet, Flamenco & Belly Dancing.  It will also offer intensive workshops in Modern & Pop & Latin Styles such as Salsa Casino.

Among other accomplishments, Irene received a Black Belt in Tae Kwon Do from Grand Master Jhoon Rhee in 1991; she has a Masters Degree in Accounting and Realtor licenses in Florida & Alabama.

MARY JO MISRA

Mary Jo Misra trained in classical ballet, character, pas de deux and classical repertoire at Ballets de San Juan, Puerto Rico. As a member of the corps de ballet, Ms. Misra performed in classical ballets such as: The Sleeping Beauty; Swan Lake; The Nutcracker; La Sylphide; La Fille Mal Gardee; La Bayadere; Terruno; and Giselle. As a soloist, Ms. Misra performed as Carmen; Harlequin Doll and Dew Drop in The Nutcracker; and Grahn in Grand Pas De Quatre. Her training follows the Russian (Vaganova) and the Cuban schools of training. In Alabama, Ms. Misra has worked as dance faculty at the Alabama School of Fine Arts and was owner and artistic director of Danzante. She holds an M.S degree in Early Childhood and Elementary Education from Samford University; and a B.S. degree in Physical Education and Dance with a minor in Exercise Physiology from Adelphi University. She is proud to be a member of Corazon Flamenco and dance faculty at Irene Rimer’s International Dance Academy.

Kelly Hester (substitute Beginner's Belly Dance Instructor, and member of The Belly Dance Jewels) started taking belly dance classes from  the Zivah Saphirah troupe as a way of becoming more active. She quickly fell in love with dancing and added classes with Irene Rimer and Malawi Gibson. Kelly has performed in Zivah Saphirah's show Casbah Cabaret,  and then with Irene Rimer's Belly Dance Jewels at several venues including the BJCC at the Alabama Dance Festival in January of 2008.  She is a devoted student and is now in the teaching intership program at Dance Essentials, and substitutes for Irene's Beginner Belly Dance classes and directs troupe practices when needed.
 

Gema Madi (Children Belly Dance Instructor and member of the Belly Dance Jewels) was born in Lebanon and moved to the United States at the age of 8.  As a way to re-acquaint herself with her background, Gema decided to enroll in bellydance classes, first taking from Linda Coleman(Aziza) in Homewood and now from Irene Rimer.  She has been taking lessons for several years now.  Gema will graduate on May 3rd, 2008 with a masters in English as a Second Language (ESL) and is currently working in the Birmingham City Schools, helping to teach the English language to students from different countries.  She loves working with children and is greatly enjoying teaching bellydance to children at Dance Essentials!

* Birmingham Studio  *DANCE SUPPLIES

  Irene Rimer & Mary Jo Misra