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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.
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- photo by
Schmerling & Synnestvedt Photography