My dance background is in belly dance, flamenco and ballet. I took my first belly dance lesson when I was in high school, and have been a student, devotee and ambassador of the dance ever since (more years than I care to admit). My interest in ethnic dance stems back to my youth as a global nomad growing up in exotic lands and watching traditional dance forms in the countries I lived in and visited.
When I first saw the legendary American Tribal Style (ATS) troupe, FatChance BellyDance, I was mesmerized by the power and beauty of the movements, captivated by the costuming, and completely amazed to learn that ATS is an improvisational dance form. I traded in my cabaret clothes for tribal costuming on the spot.
Patience, Persistence and Practice!
Before joining FatChanceBellyDance I had performed for several years with San Francisco-based folkloric and cabaret belly dance troupes, including Magana Baptiste's internationally recognized dance group. And yes, I needed to learn how to dance all over again when I left cabaret for ATS.
Determined to be good enough to dance with FatChance I took classes from Carolena (the legend who brought ATS to the world) four days a week, and frequently met with my classmates outside of class to practice, practice, practice. After two years and countless hours of drilling and practicing my hard work paid off. I was invited to join FatChance, first as part of Second Skin (advanced student troupe), then finally as a full-fledged member of the troupe.
A move from San Francisco to San Jose in 2003 gave me an opportunity to begin teaching ATS classes rooted in the tradition of FatChanceBellyDance. Late in 2005, one of my star students joined me in forming my own ATS troupe, Tribal Moon. Since then the troupe has grown to include five talented dancers who are as hooked on ATS as I am.
My combined performance experience with FatChance and Tribal Moon includes performing at world-class festivals, cool restaurants, corporate and private fund raisers, and local haflas including:
San Francisco Ethnic Dance Festival. Rakassah, Dessert Dance Festival, Tribal Fest, Tribal Throwdown, Tribal Fusion Faire, Fantasy Festival, Cafe Bellie, San Jose Dancin' Dowtown (in honor of National Dance Week), Cabrillo Music Festival, Club Spice, Filmore NYE shows, Cafe Istanbul, Amira Cafe, Khan Zaman Restaurant
You can also see me in three FatChance BellyDance instructional videos: 'Advanced Steps' and 'Cues & Transitions', the FatChance production of 'The Gypsy Trail', performed at Theatre Artaud in San Francisco, and in the 20 Year FCBD Retrospective DVD released in 2008.
Check youtube.com and myspace for video clips of Tribal Moon!
