Hipnosis Tribal Belly Dance

I have been studying Middle Eastern dance since about January of 2001. At the time I was looking for "something to do" and somehow hit upon Belly Dance being the thing I would do. I started looking for classes, only to find a flyer for the local adult evening school land in my mail box. They offered beginner belly dance! I signed up, started class, and was hooked right away! I have since studied Cabaret style with Leisha and Fairouza (Skippack PA), and American Tribal Style� with Fleur of Philadelphia Tribal Belly Dance, and with Vikki.

While I have enjoyed all forms of belly dance I have been lucky to study, I find that in each style there is something that I can appreciate, learn from, and find expression in. But I am especially drawn to American Tribal Style�. The earthiness, the sense of community and the connection it creates among the dancers is special to me. As soon as I first saw Tribal I knew it was what I had to do.

"The watershed of my experience so far has been finding and studying Tribal Style. The joy, connection and power of dancing with other women in a system of freely giving and taking energy from each other is like nothing else I have ever experienced. There is a feeling I get when the music and my fellow dancers transport me and the pull of leading and following seems to just take over my spirit. I call it the "zen" of tribal. I cannot resist that moment, needing to be in sync, flow the same way as my dance partners.... That's one of the best moments and something that is so hard to describe in words. I dance for those moments. For me, and for my fellow dancers. When my spirit is recharged, uplifted and increased by the experience."

I am so thankful that the love of my life, my husband Butch, is one of my biggest supporters! He is always telling me "I love it because you love it and it makes you happy." It is also wonderful that he takes part in dance with me by drumming at events and helping out where he can. Dance takes up a lot of my time, and although sometimes I dance "too much" and spend a lot of time away from home doing that, he is always understanding about that. And I could not do all that I do, and keep going without his love and support.

Butch's and my 4 cats - George, Kiku, Callie and Dawn are not so much supportive, but accepting. They love fringe belts, silk veils and hanging out in my dance bags. They also enjoy sewing with me, particularly when sewing involves balls of yarn, or scraps of fabric to play with. They hate zills and coin belts and anything that makes too much noise.

Dance has brought so many wonderful women into my life. I am so lucky to have women I dance with - including my troupe mates - that are not only dance friends, but also friends outside of dance.

Outside of dance, I enjoy flower gardening, crafts, sewing and reading. Butch and I also volunteer for Stray Cat Blues, a cat rescue group centered in Lansdale, PA. For my day job I am a computer geek.