Sami Mangione is a contemporary dance artist based in St Petersburg, Florida. Her work explores themes of power, embodiment, and healing.
Sami studied dance and psychology at the University of Florida and has completed additional trainings in somatics: focusing on yoga therapy, pilates, Alexander Technique and Laban Movement Analysis. Through UF's Dance in Medicine program, she had opportunities to share the healing powers of dance through performance and teaching in several community spaces.
Sami has danced for two seasons with Sarasota Contemporary Dance Ensemble where she was a part of several in-studio showings and main stage performances. She performed professionally as a fire dancer with Phoenix Fire & Performance Art, where she served as creative director for five years. Additionally, Sami has performed in projects at the Harn Museum of Art, Historic Asolo Theatre, Cook Theatre, and several music and arts festivals throughout the Southeast.
Sami is a teaching artist at Project Alchemy Dance and teaches yoga, pilates, and dance to her St Pete and online communities. Her most recent work, “Ladders” was shown at Sarasota Contemporary Dance in May 2024, and she was invited to return to set t he piece on the company for their 2025 season.
Artist Statement
Einstein said, “look deep into nature, and you will understand everything better.” We are a part of nature, not separate from it. When we look at the natural world, it is easy to admire the intricate geometry of flowers, insects and tree roots. The study of human anatomy reveals to us that this sacred geometry exists in our bodies too. Dance offers a way for us to get to know and celebrate our body's natural intelligence.
Supporting people in reclaiming their creativity and embodied autonomy is a great joy for me. I believe that deep, meaningful embodiment is our birthright, and this is an integral ingredient to our healing - as individuals and a larger community. We reclaim our power when we reclaim our embodiment.
As a dance artist, my greatest desire is to inspire hope, vitality and nurturing change. I believe that the healing energy of dance is accessible to anyone who wants to know it.
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“The most important thing is to hold on, hold out, for your creative life, for your solitude, for your time to be and do, for your very life; hold on, for the promise from the wild nature is this: after winter, spring always comes.”
- Clarissa Pinkola Estés
© Sami Mangione 2025
