I had heard of belly dance before, but NEVER would have associated it with myself. I was always the shy, slightly overweight girl who had never done any type of dance before. I first started taking some classes with a friend, Paulette Capiris, who danced mostly Cabaret style. At that point I had no idea that there were different styles of belly dance and she was a beautiful dancer. She showed me a lot of the basics of belly dance. We would get together in a friend's apartment and practice- it was great!

Shortly after that, I started taking classes with the ladies of Zafira. I was totally out of my element for the first few classes. My body had no idea what it was doing, as I am sure all beginners can attest to. I also did not realize how out of shape I was! The classes were great, but challenging. I started to slowly purchase music and video's that they would recommend (including FatChanceBellyDance- soon to be inspiration). I couldn't get enough! I think I watched my first video- FatChanceBellyCance Live, about 1000 times!! I loved learning to dance, but was so nervous in the beginning. It was hard to go back to class sometimes because I felt so awkward and out of place. The ladies of Zafira were awesome, of course, as were many of the other ladies in the class. When students come to my classes now, I can tell them honestly that I know how they feel! The first few classes are a little intimidating, but after a while, the body starts to know what it is doing and then the fun really begins.

Shortly after this point, I fell in love with my now husband- Andy. He was a friend for a long time before we started dating. I had started to dance which kind of inspired him to playing the drum (he will have to tell you whether he started because of me or not- I like to believe he did.) He is an awesome musician and I loved dancing to his music at Pennsic and now at our events.

In 2000, Andy and I moved to NC. It was so hard at first and I didn't know a single person. I missed dancing so much!! Finally I put up some fliers in Chapel Hill for a class I was starting. It was mostly to meet people and dancers. This is how I met up with the ladies of Blue Moon Dance Co. and also many of the members of The Devoted Bellydance Collective. Sashi from Blue Moon contacted me and I met with them at a performance they were doing at the NC Renaissance Faire at the State Fair Grounds. They were performing "Tribal Style" belly dance!! YAY!! This was the first Tribal Style troupe I had seen in the Triangle area. I joined up with them and the rest is belly dance history. I also met up with some of my first students, the ladies of Sisterna Kali. AmyJae, Rachel, Julia and Maqui were some of the first "serious" students I had. They are the most wonderful ladies with so much talent. I am happy to say that they are now my fellow dancers in The Devoted Bellydance Collective along with Sara (also a Blue Moon troupe sister), Sarah, and Suzanne.

Now I am lucky enough to teach and perform all over the area and beyond as a soloist, and as a member of Blue Moon Dance Co. and The Devoted Bellydance Collective. This community has been great to me. When I first moved here Qadria of Belly Revelations was the first dancer I met and she welcomed me in with open arms. I now strive to be supportive and loving to this community and it's dancers (both new and old).

There are so many dancers that influence me. My favorites have to be Zafira. They are the most amazing group of talented women. Their choreographies are inspiring and their technique is flawless. I also love Rachel Brice, Jill Parker and, of course, Fat Chance Bellydance. Carolena Nericcio is so full of information on dance, music and much more. She is truly awesome (can I use that word enough??).

There it is- the short and long of it. Dance is my life and I am truly thankful for it.