I was first introduced to Greek "Bellydance" at a restaurant in Bamberg, West Germany in early 1981 where I was instantly moved, not only by the physical beauty and grace of the dancer, but by the pure joy on her face as she danced.
Photo by Lydia Rhoades
After relocating to St. Louis in 1985, I studied briefly with Cheryl - formerly of Iowa - and then with Suhaila, Salwa, Andrea and Somra of Simone's 7th Veil Dance Company. Three years later, Soraya Al Musri (formerly of Wichita, St. Louis, Memphis & now in Edmond, OK), founder of Aalim Dance Academy, took me under her wing as my mentor. Under her guidance, my love of teaching merged with my love of dance and I became a teacher of this ancient art I love so much. Teaching bellydance has become one of the greatest joys in my life, and I am forever grateful to Soraya for sharing this wonderful gift with me.
After Soraya's relocation to Memphis, Tennessee, I founded the dance group Raqs Al Dounya (Dances of the World), and later co-founded Desert Moon Dance Academy in St. Louis, Missouri.
Along with these primary instructors, over the years I've taken countless seminars, workshops and master classes with some of the biggest names in Middle Eastern Dance, including Mahmoud Reda (Egypt), Suhaila Salimpour (CA), Sahra Saeeda (CA), Shareen El-Safy (CA), Morocco (NY), Karen Barbee, Leila Gamal (IN), Conchi (OH), Aziz (UT), Kamaal (CA), Dalia Carella (NY), Ruby Jazayre (IN), Vashti (TX) (IN), Leila Gamal (IN), and more!
I have performed in a variety of venues, including television, schools and universities, civic groups meetings, state, county and community fairs, festivals, parades, parties, restaurants, dance seminar concerts, and ethnic nightclubs in 10 states
In 2002, I moved to Columbus, Ohio, where I continue to share my love of the dance through Gentle Wind Center for Conscious Living and BalletMet Dance Academy in Gahanna, an eastern suburb of Columbus, Ohio. I am also very active in a historical recreation group called the SCA (Society for Creative Anachronism).
My greatest thanks goes not only to those who've come before me, but to my students, who continue to inspire me on a daily basis.