Spiral Skies Bellydance

In 1996 I began studying American Oriental style belly dancing at the Creative Arts Center in Helena Montana. Like most of the Helena area dancers, I trace my teaching lineage to Wanda Weston who was my first teacher. I tried American Tribal, Turkish Oriental, ethnic folk dances, this that and some other stuff, and then settled on Egyptian Raqs Sharqi and Beledi. Aisha Azar of Spokane Washington was the catalyst for my love of Egyptian style dances. She has been my most influential teacher because she changed the way I think about dance. I moved into taking workshops, collecting videos, and today I mostly travel for private lessons. I will always be learning belly dance: I think I need a few lifetimes to fit in everything I want to do!

I have to say what I love the most is the state of tarab, becoming one with the music. It's been wonderful meeting the great people in the belly dance community, dancers and musicians, even ones from all over the world- thank you internet! Also, learning about Egyptian and Turkish culture, history, and Arabic music has been very interesting.

I don't have a favorite specific move, but there is a move I don't like on me- back bends. My face turns bright red like a tomato. Now everyone knows my horrible secret!

Music! A great piece of music has complexity and moves me emotionally to get up and be part of it. I love the classics like songs made famous by Om Kolthoum and the famous dancers like Fifi Abdo, Samia Gamal, Soheir Zaki, Dina, Mona Said, Tulay Karaka, and Neserin Topkapi.

I do a lot of costume sewing, but I don't make most of my belly dance costumes- kind of weird really. I usually just buy them. I do make a lot of historical costumes like my Ottoman costumes from the late fifteenth century; It's a bit of a sideline hobby for me and the hats are crazy looking. I used to sew the ballet, jazz, and tap costumes for the Creative Arts Center. Maybe I got burned out on sewing dance costumes!

Because I generally only do Turkish and Egyptian styles anymore- to dance without an American accent. I always want to grow and learn more about the dance, the cultures it comes from, and pass that on my students.