Mariam Prokou is a colleague whom I value more than any other; I value her as an oriental dance teacher, because her teaching comes out of her heart, with love and respect for her female disciples and for dancing. She is close to them, and they jointly create a happy company and lay the foundations for new friendships. Mariam, a restless artistic spirit, is always in search of new ways of teaching and knowledge. She organizes fine performances and takes care to make her disciples feel comfortable on stage, while performing a choreography which brings out their skills. Having engaged for years in a variety of dances, her approach to oriental dances is creative, escapes from stereotypes and is based on her personal research and on individual development through movement.