NINA MARTINEZ
Dance Director, Master Teacher, GCTB troupe member
Nina Martinez is a Master Teacher in the Global Caravan Tribal Bellydance format. She has been studying with international dance teacher and founder of GCTB® Paulette Rees Denis since 2006. Nina started her Teacher Training in Melbourne with Paulette in 2006 and has now attained her certification to instruct teachers-MT TT1. She has also reached her accreditation to teach students to Collective Soul 5-MT5.
As a master teacher and performer this dance style has taken her around Australia and internationally to, NZ, Japan, USA and Mexico. Since 2014 she has been honoured to teach workshops and dance at WAMED, Fremantle, what a fabulous festival to be part of!
Through her workshops and Collective Soul instruction Nina has gained the reputation as a generous, patient teacher with a commitment in creating community and sisterhood. As a performer she is known for her elegant style and goddess presence.
Although Nina’s main dance passion has been GCTB, she has studied and been influenced by many amazing teachers, including, Terezka, Rachel Brice, Amel Tafsout, Carolena Nericcio, Kajira, Colleena and Devi Mamuk. Nina is inspired by the passion of Flamenco, the grace of Indian classical dance, folkloric circles and pagan rituals. She has also been studying drumming for more than 10years.
At home at her rainforest studio “The Temple” near Innisfail she is the Director of her troupe Templerain and teaches 3 weekly classes. Every month at the Temple there is a delightful Sunday workshop, a gathering of the tribes, with GC sisters coming from around the surrounding areas.
In 2013 Nina created a GCTB festival in Cairns, Tribal in the Tropics[TTT]. This is a wonderful celebration of dance, women and ritual. Bringing together the format, she also invites women who have other skills to share in the circle. TTT attracts dancers from around Australia and NZ for the workshops and fabulous GCTB performances!
Nina has her own costume label- Temple Goddess- designing and creating tribal and tassel belts, bras and headdresses, imports gorgeous tribal goods and fashions jewellery from vintage pieces and upcycled beads, she sells on her website, FB- Temple Goddess Bazaar.
At home she enjoys being surrounded by beauty and nature, living a simple life with family and pets, cooking slow food and loving life!
What it means to be a GC teacher:
Leadership. I have accepted that I am a leader. This took me many years to acknowledge, and once I did everything fell into place, I felt I could breathe….and it was ok to SHINE!
I did quite a bit of work with Paulette on this.
Patience. To be patient and gentle with each student to learn in her own time. Every dancer has a different story to tell.
Kindness. I am kind, supportive, generous. I have said things in the past that were hurtful, small things, but this colours your relationship with how you teach in such a negative way. Leading with an open heart!
Sacred space. Creating a beautiful place to dance. As a teacher I adore making women welcome, safe and special. To hold space for others to shine, to foster their creativity and talents.
Inspiration:
The women of GC inspire me, from Paulette Rees-Denis and her many gifts, to the wider circle and my sister dancers and friends.
Art and music make my heart sing, fill me up.
Nature for my soul. Dipping my toes into earth mother magic.
Nina’s accreditation in Paulette Rees-Denis’ GCTB format:
- Teacher Training Beginner’s Level 1 and 2 2006 Melbourne
- Collective Soul Level 2 2008 Ararat Vic
- Teacher Training Intermediate Level 2 2010 Brisbane
– Collective Soul Level 3 2013 Clatskanie
- Teacher Training Intermediate Level 3 2013 Clatskanie
- Collective Soul Level 4 2015 Sebastopol
- Teacher Training Advanced Level 4 2015 San Francisco
- Collective Soul Level 5 Innisfail 2017
- Teacher Training Advanced Level 5 Hawaii 2019
- Collective Soul Level 6 San Francisco 2015
- Collective Soul level 7 2019 Hawaii
- Master Teacher Level 1 2013 Sebastopol
- Master Teacher Level 2
