Press Kit
Company Background- 100 word Bio
The Starbelly Dancers are internationally recognized belly dance artists from Boise, Idaho, under the artistic direction of Cecilia Rinn. Specializing in traditional, modern, fusion, and theatrical raks sharki, or belly dance, they are available to entertain at family-friendly celebrations, festivals, and main stage events across the nation. Collectively, the Starbelly Dancers have been granted awards by organizations such as The Alexa Rose Foundation, Boise City Department of Arts and History, The Idaho Arts Commission, and the National Endowment for the Arts and have been featured at events such as Boise Music Week, Treefort Music Festival, and even on Telemundo.
160 word Bio
The Starbelly Dancers are a dazzling force in the belly dance world, captivating audiences across the nation and beyond with their mesmerizing performances. Based in Boise, Idaho, this talented troupe of artists specializes in traditional, modern, fusion, and theatrical raks sharki, bringing their unique style and energy to family-friendly celebrations, festivals, and main stage events both domestically and internationally. Led by Artistic Director and Principle Dancers, Cecilia Rinn & Tori King, and joined by the skilled Soloists Chad Rinn, Bayla Night & Cassandra Joan, the Starbelly Dancers are a true spectacle to behold. With recognition and awards from organizations such as The Alexa Rose Foundation, Boise City Department of Arts and History, The Idaho Arts Commission, and the National Endowment for the Arts, the Starbelly Dancers have graced the stages of Boise Music Week, Treefort Music Festival, and even made an appearance on Telemundo. Their passion is to bring the excitement and beauty of belly dance to communities everywhere, sharing their inspirational art with the world.
70 word Bio
Get ready to be dazzled by The Starbelly Dancers! These talented artists are known for their electrifying fusion of Traditional & Modern Bellydance (Raks Sharki) that captivates audiences all over the country. Under the direction of Director Cecilia Rinn, the Starbelly Dancers are dedicated to sharing the beauty and excitement of this amazing art form, bringing the enchanting world of belly dance to life at celebrations, festivals, and major stage productions.
Cecilia Rinn's Bio
Cecilia Rinn: Visionary Artist, Dancer, and Mentor
Cecilia Rinn embodies the passion and joy of belly dance, sharing its magic through captivating performances and inspired instruction. With ethereal grace and fluid movement, she transforms dance into a transcendent art form, enchanting audiences at a variety of celebrations and events. As a sought-after instructor, she teaches and performs both locally in Boise, Idaho, and nationally, mentoring the next generation of dancers.
A dynamic producer and choreographer, Cecilia is the creative force behind The Big Bad-Ass Belly Dance Show, a theatrical belly dance production that will celebrate its 15th anniversary at Boise’s Visual Arts Collective in February 2025. She has also produced The Art of Belly Dance Show for over a decade, featuring legendary artists such as Delilah and House of Tarab (2016), Karim Nagi (2017), Myra Krein (2018), Beth Quist (2025), and Elasanne Barrows (2025). She is the founder of the StarBelly Dancers, an elite dance company, and a dedicated mentor to four rising professional belly dancers at the StarBelly School of Dance.
Cecilia’s dedication to community arts extends beyond the stage. She directed the SEEDs program for at-risk teenage girls in 2013 and 2014 and has plans to revive it in 2025. Her talent has taken her across the world as a featured performer in the internationally touring production Invaders of the Heart, with "The Radiant Tarot" in 2023 and "The Return" in 2025. A recognized leader in her field, Cecilia has received multiple grants, including support from the Idaho Commission on the Arts (2017) to attend the P.U.R.E. Conference in New York and from the Boise City Department of History and Art (2019) for the "Arabic Folkloric Dance Celebration". Most recently, she directed "Raks of Ages" at J.U.M.P. in June 2023 and is producing Boise Raks Events in 2025.
Beyond dance, Cecilia is an accomplished artist and storyteller. She holds a Bachelor of Science in Social Science from Boise State University and is an award-winning filmmaker and graphic artist through her production company, Full Tilt Boogie L.L.C. Her documentary, Belly: Sensual, Scarred, Scared, premiered at the 2008 Idaho International Film Festival and has since toured nationally. It is currently available on Amazon.
Her artistry also extends to fashion and design. As a professional seamstress and costume designer, she creates stunning belly dance costumes for herself, her students, and commissioned clients. She is also the creative force behind StarBelly Creations, where she handcrafts exquisite tie-dyed silks and clothing, celebrating the beauty of movement and self-expression.
Cecilia lives in Boise, Idaho, with her talented artist husband, Chad Rinn, and their two beloved dogs, Vincent & Floyd.
Full company bios are available as a download at the bottom of the page.
Services
The Starbelly Dancers put on an elegant, fun, and colorful show ideal for any event! With thirty years of experience, they will make your event unforgettable!
Examples of possible events: Children/teens birthday, Birthdays, Wedding, Bridal Showers/, Bachorlette Parties, quinceanera, Graduation parties, Educational events, Fundraisers, Company parties, Retirement parties, Women’s celebrations , Special Occasions, Festivals , Grand Openings , Assisted living facilities/retirement centers, Restaurant , Nightclub , Theater Shows, Theme Events, Trade Shows, Conventions...and more
Case Studies
· 9 Reasons Dancing Is Good for Your Health - https://www.everydayhealth.com/fitness-pictures/health-benefits-of-dance.aspx
· The Health Benefits of Dance - https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/abs/10.1177/1084822310384689?journalCode=hhcb
· Belly Dance as an Embodying Activity?: A Test of the Embodiment Model of Positive Body Image - This article concludes that belly dance represents an embodying activity, one associated with a number of benefits for its practitioners, including positive body image. https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s11199-014-0408-2
· Beyond the Belly: An Appraisal of Middle Eastern Dance (aka Belly Dance) as Leisure - Based on participant observation, journal narratives provided by dancers, and publically accessible online discussions, findings are examined along four themes: healing, sisterhood, spirituality, and empowerment. https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/00222216.2012.11950262
Noteworthy Press Coverage
Boise Weekly- The 15th Annual Big Bad-Ass Belly Dance Show: My Silly Um...
KTVB Local Dance School Gets Art Grant
The Roots of Boise Belly Dancing:
https://www.boisestatepublicradio.org/show/idaho-matters/2019-02-19/the-roots-of-boise-belly-dancing
Free dance day for building community — and fun: https://www.idahopress.com/community/life/free-dance-day-for-building-community-and-fun/article_7cb862d5-7972-5c26-94ab-53efa5aa2097.html
The Healing Dance with Cecilia Rinn - The Message with Sohail Ishaq: https://youtu.be/ii7lUhjXiDU
Industry Awards and Accolades
Starbelly School of Dance. The following is a short list of awards
Starbelly School of Dance- Boise City Department of Arts and History in 2019 and 2022
Idaho Arts Commission- Cecilia Rinn (2018), Chad Rinn (2018), Tori King (2020 and 2022), Cassandra Joan (2021), Bayla Night (2021)
National Endowment for the Arts - Cecilia Rinn (2018), Chad Rinn (2018), Tori King (2020 and 2022), Cassandra Joan (2021), Bayla Night (2021)
The Alexa Rose Foundation - Cecilia Rinn (2020)
Treasure Valley Spotlight Award Idaho Press 2021
Cecilia Rinn has been a judge for Fusion Belly Dance & Drag King film Competitions
Cecilia & Chad Rinn's film BELLY: Sensual Scarred Sacred" won Audiance Choice award at the Washougal Film Festival in 2008, and was an official selection of the Idaho Internationals Film Festival before touring internationally in 2009
Contact Information
Press Releases
*Downloadable below
2025 My Silly Um...
2024 RoboBelly Roundup
2023 Raks of Ages
2023 Radiant Tarot Tour
2022 Art of Belly Dance Show
2021 Starbelly Arabic Folkloric Dance Celebration
2020 Bug Bad- Ass Belly dance Show
2019 Big Bad-Ass Belly dance Show
Logo & High Resolution Images
* download below.