Reem Naamani is a choreographer, creative director, and dance educator who has become one of the most exciting artistic voices working between Lebanon and the United Arab Emirates. With a career that blends studio teaching, large scale events, theatrical productions, and deeply personal contemporary work, she has built a path that is both inspiring and influential for dancers across the region.
What makes Reem Naamani stand out is her ability to move between worlds with ease, from the quiet discipline of the studio to the spectacle of national ceremonies. At every stage of her work, she carries the same values: clarity, care, creativity, and a strong belief in the power of movement to transform people.
Building a Foundation: A Dance Journey Rooted in Lebanon
Reem Naamani’s relationship with dance began in Lebanon, where she trained in classical ballet and contemporary techniques from an early age. She grew up understanding that dance is both a craft and a language, something that requires years of discipline but also serves as a powerful tool for storytelling.
Her early experiences shaped her perspective as a creator. She learned that movement can express the emotional complexity of a place, a memory, or a moment, an idea that later became central to her choreographic identity.
Plie Dance Institute: A Home for the Next Generation
One of Reem Naamani’s proudest achievements is the founding of Plie Dance Institute in Lebanon. What began as a single studio in Saida has now expanded to multiple branches including Beirut. Over the years, Plie has grown into a creative community where hundreds of students explore dance in a supportive, structured, and inspiring environment.
The institute offers ballet, contemporary, jazz, hip hop, Latin, and gymnastics. The programs balance solid technique, guided by the Royal Academy of Dance syllabus, with creativity, musicality, and personal expression. Reem Naamani recently completed the Rad Certificate in Dance Teaching, aligning her practical experience with international teaching standards.
But Plie Dance Institute is more than a training center. It is a place where young dancers build confidence, discipline, teamwork, and artistic identity. Students participate in end of year shows, exams, and creative projects that expose them to real performance environments. Reem Naamani focuses on shaping dancers who are technically strong, emotionally expressive, and ready to grow beyond the studio.
From Studio Floors to Global Stages
While teaching remains a core part of her work, Reem Naamani has developed an impressive career as a choreographer and creative collaborator for large scale productions across the Middle East.
She has contributed to major events such as national celebrations in the United Arab Emirates, cultural festivals, and opening and closing ceremonies for important exhibitions. Her work often involves managing large casts, coordinating with designers and creative teams, and shaping performances that blend dance, storytelling, and visual spectacle.
Reem Naamani has a unique talent for making choreography feel alive within massive environments. Whether she is staging a parade featuring hundreds of performers or guiding a smaller ensemble, she approaches every production with precision and artistic vision.
A Voice Rooted in Place
A central theme in Reem Naamani’s work is her relationship to place. She is deeply influenced by coastal Lebanon, especially her hometown Saida, and by the cultural landscape of the Arabian Gulf. Her contemporary piece Whispers of the Tide is a powerful example of this connection. The ten minute performance blends movement, theatre, and poetic imagery inspired by the sea, a symbol of memory, resilience, and identity.
This relationship to geography and heritage gives her work authenticity. Whether she is creating large productions in the United Arab Emirates or intimate performances in Lebanon, her pieces carry a sense of place, culture, and emotional depth that audiences can feel.
Creating Worlds for Children and Youth
Reem Naamani’s contribution to children’s and youth theatre is equally impactful. She has written, choreographed, and directed major productions such as The Adventures of Sinbad.
These shows combine multiple dance styles including ballet, contemporary, hip hop, Latin, and gymnastics within a storytelling structure that delights audiences of all ages. They feature imaginative scenography, music, and narrative arcs that turn young dancers into confident performers.
For Reem Naamani, these productions are more than performances. They are educational experiences that help children discover creativity, responsibility, and teamwork.
Big Projects and Bigger Vision
Today, Reem Naamani is involved in two major upcoming projects that reflect her growth and ambition. She is part of the creative team for the opening of the Natural History Museum in Abu Dhabi and the Union Parade 2025 in Al Wathba.
These platforms allow her to work at an extraordinary level of scale, collaborating with international teams, designers, and performers. They also give her the chance to merge research, choreography, and cultural storytelling, the three pillars of her creative identity.
What makes her journey unique is the way she brings her experiences from these important productions back to Lebanon. The knowledge she gains directly enriches her students’ training, helping them understand the expectations of the professional world.
A Teacher, A Creator, A Bridge
Across all her work, Reem Naamani embodies a mission to bridge worlds.
She bridges Lebanon and the United Arab Emirates.
She bridges classical technique and contemporary expression.
She bridges studio training with large scale productions.
She bridges the dreams of children with the responsibilities of professional artistry.
Her approach to teaching and creating is holistic. She sees dance as a tool that can build stronger communities, open opportunities, and help young people discover their voices.
Why Her Story Inspires
Reem Naamani’s journey is inspiring for dancers, creatives, and anyone who believes in passion and hard work. She has grown her career through resilience, creativity, and a deep love for her craft. Despite challenges in Lebanon’s artistic landscape and the limited support available for dance, she has built a vibrant path that touches thousands of people.
She hopes to be remembered as someone who opened doors, for dancers stepping into their first class, for collaborators exploring new ideas, and for audiences discovering dance for the first time.
Whether she is directing a national celebration, developing a new artistic project, or guiding a dancer through a challenging exercise in the studio, Reem Naamani brings the same dedication. Her story is a reminder that art can build bridges, inspire change, and shape the future one movement at a time.
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