How did you get involved with Belly Dancing?
In 1997, my roommate Brian at the time was dating a girl who was taking tribal belly dance lessons from Luna (Amy) in Berkeley who was a former student of Carolena Nericcio of Fat Chance Belly Dance. Brian told me that his girlfriend was performing the coming weekend and he invited me along with him; he told me that he thought I would love it, and that he could see me being really good at it which was funny because he had never seen me dance. I also had never taken any formal dance classes except when I was 9 and a competing figure skater so I’m not sure where he got the notion that I would be good at it. So I went with him that weekend…and he turned out to be right, I loved it! That following Tuesday I began my first Tribal Belly Dance class.
Why do you love dancing?
Dancing is an essential part of who I am. Without satiating this side of me that is forever moving, there is a part of me that is down. Dancing is a nutrient for my soul, without it, I am unhealthy and incomplete.
Do you teach?
I teach every Thursday to the public / walk-ins and Wednesdays are closed for rehearsals as my advanced students prepare for an upcoming showcase. I also travel the world teaching and performing.
How has belly dancing changed your life?
It has significantly changed my life for the better. I have wonderful and unique friends that I wouldn’t have known otherwise. I’m in better shape mentally and physically. But most importantly, I have a creative outlet that has been the most significant in changing my life for the better. Without dancing I wouldn’t have bothered to teach myself photoshop and advertising, or teaching myself how to mix and edit music for my sets. I feel so fortunate to have all these aspects of creativity at my whim depending on my mood or inspiration.
