41 WOTYA 2025 womanthismonth.com | JANUARY 2026 Winner of the Woman in Performing Arts category at the Woman of the Year Awards 2025, Marija Rakic is a professionally trained ballet dancer and educator whose career spans international stages and classrooms. Educated in Serbia and Russia, she has performed across Europe, Russia and India, and spent a decade teaching in Qatar and Bahrain. She now leads a specialised ballet programme rooted in the Vaganova method, and is the founder of Layali, a performing arts centre dedicated to excellence in ballet education in the Kingdom. What was a moment during the ceremony that felt most meaningful to you? The most meaningful moment for me was standing on stage alongside the representative winners from each category and sharing that collective applause. In that moment, the energy of women supporting women was truly palpable. We all understood, without words, that when we uplift one another, we have the power to make the world a better place. Were there any reactions from family, team, or community that surprised you? I was deeply touched by the overwhelming support from the Bahrain community, from those who voted for me to the many people who reached out afterwards to congratulate me. However, the most precious reaction of all was the hug I received from my daughter, husband and parents the moment I walked into my home with the award in my hands. How has winning informed your priorities or plans since the awards night? Winning this award made me realise how deeply my work and achievements in Bahrain are recognised. It gave me an extra push, almost like a wind at my back, to continue working even harder and to remain focused on achieving my long-term career goals. How will you use the prize, platform, or network that came with this award? First and foremost, I want to use this platform to inspire others who aspire to win this award in the future and to encourage them to pursue their goals with confidence. I also hope the recognition will help expand my network and reach, particularly as I have recently opened Layali, my own performing arts centre and a new home for ballet learning in the Kingdom. What concrete next steps or milestones are you committing to in the next 12 months? In the coming year, I am preparing to welcome my second child into the world, which is a milestone very close to my heart. Alongside this, I am committed to returning to peak performance shape and to attending, creating and organising new and exciting projects in performing arts and theatre through Layali Arts Center. What is one piece of advice you would give to young women looking up to you now that you have won? Nothing comes easily in life, but if you work hard and truly believe in your dream, it will happen at the right time. Patience, persistence and selfbelief make all the difference, along with a little faith in the universe.
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