Born to an Italian father and a Tunisian mother, Maryem discovered the dance traditions of the Arab world as a child, passed down from mother to daughter. Through this direct connection with her family heritage, she naturally developed a feel for Arabic rhythms and the expressive movement characteristic of Arab dance.

After training in ballet, artistic and rhythmic gymnastics, and swimming, she first encountered the world of professional entertainment at the age of sixteen through her parents, founders of Taus, the renowned Arab restaurant in Rome. From 1995 onwards, the venue welcomed some of the city’s first Arab musical ensembles and professional Arab dancers. This experience marked a turning point, awakening a lasting passion for performance and the arts.

She combined independent study and regular practice with trips to Tunisia, where she trained with local dance teachers.

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In Rome, she deepened her knowledge of Egyptian folklore and specialised in cane dance under Esmat Osman of the Academy of Alexandria, Egypt. Together, they developed numerous collaborative projects, exploring dance particularly through its historical and cultural context. His teaching remains a treasured memory and an enduring source of inspiration.

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In 1999, she founded the Taus Club dance school as a centre for sharing Arab culture, dance and music in Rome. Alongside the school, she created Italy’s first belly dance website, Taus Club On-Line, which became a reference point for dancers to exchange ideas, news and cultural knowledge.

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From the beginning of her career, she attracted the attention of Italian national television and was invited to present Oriental dance on RAI 1, RAI 2, RAI 3 and Mediaset.

The founding of her school also marked the beginning of numerous collaborations with accomplished artists and teachers from Italy and abroad. Many of these professional relationships developed into close friendships, enriching both her artistic journey and her personal growth.

In 2002, she began working with Sandy D’Alì, exploring different aspects of classical Oriental dance. She studied Ghawazee and Shaabi dance with Los Angeles-based teacher Aisha Alì, and continued refining her Egyptian Raqs Sharki, cane dance and Baladi with Zaza Hassan of the Centre Artistique de Paris, whom she invited to teach in Rome for the first time.

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Her subsequent travels to Egypt allowed her to refine her skills across different styles and develop a closer connection with Egyptian dance, with a particular emphasis on expression through movement. There, she met Raqia Hassan, the celebrated Cairo-based choreographer and founder of the Ahlan Wa Sahlan International Raqs Sharki Festival. This encounter marked another major artistic turning point, opening up new approaches to interpreting dance, particularly within the modern Egyptian style.

She continued her training with many leading teachers, including Nagwa Fouad, Raqia Hassan, Dr Mo Geddawi, Dina, Randa Kamel, Mona Said, Dandash, Yousry Sharif, Soraya Zaied, Asmahan, Mayodi, Kamellia, Djamila Henni-Chebra and Nour.

In Cairo, she also continued specialising in Egyptian Saidi folklore with the veteran dancer Shalaby.

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Throughout her career, Maryem has maintained an ongoing study of Arabic rhythms and their interpretation through Oriental dance. She credits Lebanese percussionist Issa Salem with providing invaluable guidance in this area.

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In 2006, she founded the Marhaba Rome Festival, developing it into one of Europe’s most innovative Oriental dance events. Over the years, the festival has become a reference point for the Italian and European Oriental dance communities, welcoming hundreds of dancers and master teachers.

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In 2009, she began studying the innovative technique of Jillina, the celebrated American artist, founder of Bellydance Evolution and former choreographer of the Bellydance Superstars.

Since 2013, she has worked with Egyptian teachers Saad Ismail, the Reda Troupe’s representative in Italy, and Hosam Elmansy, principal dancer of the Reda Troupe in Egypt, to deepen her understanding of Egyptian folkloric dance.

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Over the years, Maryem has established herself as a respected teacher and mentor to dancers, as well as an accomplished organiser, becoming one of Italy’s leading promoters of Oriental dance events.

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In 2014, the ninth edition of the Marhaba Rome Festival received an award for Best Oriental Dance Event, presented by the Honourable Svetlana Celli through Rome’s Department of Sport and Culture. The festival brings together hundreds of Oriental dancers from around the world.

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In 2015, she created the format for and directed the first EXPO BELLY DANCE within EXPO D’ORIENTE, successfully bringing 300 Oriental dancers to the stage.

That same year, RAI 1 invited her twice to present Oriental dance as a practice supporting physical and mental wellbeing. She appeared on Buongiorno Benessere, hosted by Vira Carbone, and Effetto Estate, hosted by Rita Forte, Alessandro Greco and Benedetta Rinaldi.

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On 15 July 2015, she received the PREMIO INTERNAZIONALE MEDITERRANEO for Oriental dance, awarded by Federitalia and Mediterraneos Production and created by Elena Presti and Gianni Gandi.

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In December 2015, she collaborated with UIKT, the Italian Traditional Kung Fu Union, to present Oriental dance and folklore at events including Natale D’Oriente.

Maryem is also one of Rome’s most sought-after performers for fashion show openings and gala events.

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Her international career has taken her to Egypt, Lebanon, Tunisia, Brazil, Argentina, Poland, France, the Netherlands and Spain, as well as throughout Italy, as a guest artist for workshops and major shows.

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In 2017, she performed as a Middle Eastern dancer in Dubai and created and directed CINE BELLYDANCE for ORIENTE EXPERIENCE at CINECITTÀ WORLD, organised by UIKT and OPES.

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That same year, she brought Oriental dance into dialogue with the visual arts, performing in Parma at an art exhibition organised by art dealer Annamaria Brazzò, with Vittorio Sgarbi.

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Also in 2017, she brought Fantasm: Odyssey of Dreams, the spectacular production by the American company Bellydance Evolution, directed by internationally acclaimed choreographer Jillina Carlano, to Rome’s Teatro Orione, where it played to a sold-out audience.

 

In 2018, she began an inspiring collaboration with Iraqi master teacher Assala Ibrahim, deepening her study of Iraqi dance traditions, particularly Kawleya, Hachaa, Basra dance and Choobi.

That same year, Maryem brought Iraqi dance and the folkloric dances of North Africa and the Middle East to the Sala della Protomoteca at Rome’s Capitoline Hill for the first time. The occasion was The Green Veil, an event featuring Assala Ibrahim and organised in collaboration with Anna Maria Brazzò.

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In 2018, she also began a close artistic partnership with pianist Virna Liurni, artistic director of San Gemini Classic, “a small festival of true art”. Their shared artistic sensitivity inspired original works bringing Oriental dance and classical music together.

Maryem Bent Anis took part in two editions of San Gemini Classic at the atmospheric Museo Calori, accompanied by her musicians and dancers, under the artistic direction of Virna Liurni.

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In 2018 and 2019, she served as Artistic Director of the MIDAS Oriental Dance Congress at Hotel Casale in Colli del Tronto.

She was appointed to the National Oriental Dance Commission of M.I.D.A.S. — Maestri Italiani Danza Sportiva — and as National Discipline Coordinator for F.I.D.S., the Italian DanceSport Federation.

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In 2019, she organised a star-studded edition of the MARHABA ROME FESTIVAL – International Bellydance, featuring Saida Helou from Argentina, Jillina Carlano from the USA and Kapua from Polynesia.

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That same year, she appeared as a teacher, performer and competition judge at Katia Eshta’s international Cairo Mirage event in Moscow, Russia.

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In 2020, she created the Marhaba Academy platform, enabling dancers to continue studying Oriental dance remotely, and launched her first online belly dance competition.

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In 2021, 2022 and 2023, she carefully coached her leading students for the Italian DanceSport Federation’s regional and national championships, where they earned prestigious Regional, Interregional and National Champion titles.

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In January and July 2023, she led the Oriental Dance Discipline Congress for the Federation’s training school, held respectively at the Coverciano Technical Centre (CONI) and at Rimini Expo Centre during the Italian DanceSport Championships.

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In 2023, Maryem Bent Anis and her dancers were selected by the production team of Italia’s Got Talent to perform in the official opening sequence of the new season on Disney+.

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In May 2023, the Marhaba Rome Festival returned with a spectacular edition featuring the extraordinary cast of The Jungle Book, a Bellydance Evolution production by Jillina Carlano (USA). The event welcomed more than 200 dancers from around the world.

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Alongside her teaching and event production, Maryem continues to perform at prestigious events and celebrations, working regularly with renowned wedding planners and entertainment agencies. She creates bespoke performances for weddings, Zaffa processions — Lebanese Zaffe with live percussion — birthdays, anniversaries and corporate events.

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Major projects are being planned for the 2027/2028 season.