About Me

My first bellydance class was during my freshman year of college at Cornell University in upstate New York.  I joined this class because I thought it would make me seem cool, but oh, how much I would learn on the journey.

My college instructor, June, taught the Bellydance Physical Education class and specialized in Turkish Style.  In class we learned the basic movements: hip circles, figure eights, shimmies.  She also taught us a short choreography that we were able to perform for friends at the end of the semester. 

Upon graduation, I moved from New York to Maryland.  In search of a bellydance teacher, I found Artemis (Artie) Mourat.  At the time, I didn’t know that Artie and June were dance buddies from way back.  Technically, June had been Artemis’s student; and since I was June’s student first, I was Artemis’s granddaughter in dance. I ended up studying with Artie for 10 years.  I took her Totally Turkish Intensive, Turkey Egypt Comparison workshop, and several Totally Turkish follow-ups; in addition to 10 years of weekly classes.

I danced thru my pregnancy with my son, Sammy.  The ladies I danced with weekly were kind, helpful and nurturing during my pregnancy.  They became Sammy’s Aunties in Dance.  The first few bellydance shows Sammy went to, he would be wide-eyed and awake, until he heard the 9/8 rhythm.  (The 9/8 rhythm was the one I danced to most frequently during my pregnancy.). When the 9/8 started, he would settle and fall asleep.  Sammy was a terrible sleeper and anything that calmed him enough to sleep was amazing to me!

And when Sammy was two, we moved back home to Ohio.  What I learned during the transition home, is that bellydance brings me immense joy!  It calms my soul and brings me back to myself.  I’ve considered myself a dancer for years now, but I never realized how much a part of me the dance had become.  I find comfort in the movements and the music.  The dance helps me treat my body kindly and with loving respect.  It doesn’t matter what size or shape I am, I can dance.  And when I dance, I am me.  A joyful, peaceful me.

My hope is that I will reach women in the area, help them re-inhabit their bodies, and find a safe space to be themselves.