Marlena Raymond – Co-director & Yoga and Creative Dance

Marlena Raymond is a co-director of Over The Moon Yoga and Dance studios, together with Michelle Young.

Marlena grew up dancing at Mangala Studios of Creative Dance and Yoga from the age of three. She has been deeply moved by the music and movement she experienced at Mangala, and these set her on a path for life. She has assisted at Mangala, studied classical music at The Conversatorium at The University of Melbourne and the Australian National Academy of Music (ANAM), and holds a Level 1 Orff Schulwerk certificate. Her teaching experience includes early childhood music, private and school flute teaching, and a band program at a K-12 school. Marlena enjoys dancing with Travel Art Dance Company, an interdisciplinary group directed by Meah Velik-Lord comprising movers trained in ballet, hip hop, Feldenkrais and creative dance (and probably more!). She enjoys practising yoga and exploring spirituality and movement in many forms.

Marlena is extremely grateful to Edna’s teacher, Mrs Dorotea Mangiamele, who emigrated from Germany to Melbourne and established the Mangala school in 1970. Marlena’s teachers are Margaret Crawford, Peter and Sue Hockey, Claudia Mangiamele, Neika Huss, Meah Velik-Lord and the late beloved Amanda Burns; she thanks them for their teachings over many, many years. It is an enormous honour to continue the lineage of Mrs Mangiamele and her student, dear Edna Reinhardt.

Marlena is a lawyer and serves as co-chair on the board of a disability peak body. Marlena is passionate about dignity and respect for all people, in all areas of life, all of the time.

Marlena is delighted to be mentored by OTM Founder, Edna Reinhardt.