Photo courtesy of Allen Finley
My parents joke that they could have predicted my whole future by looking at what I was interested in at the Hoggetowne Medieval Faire. My love of belly dance started early. I would watch the Sahnobar Dance Ensemble at the fair when I was a toddler, and I would try to jump up on stage. My fascination with belly dancers continued throughout my childhood; I wanted to grow up to become a belly dancer.
Belly dancing disappeared from my life for nearly a decade, until it once again waltzed in. I met Kiteera of Wyldfyre Dance the summer before my senior year in high school. For nearly a year we fought together in the same stage combat troupe before I learned that she was a belly dancer. I swiftly signed up for classes, and belly dance was part of my life once again.
In May of 2011 I started taking American Tribal Style (ATS) classes with Kiteera. In the past two years I’ve had the pleasure to study ATS, tribal fusion, scimitar and snake dancing with Kiteera. I have also had the privilege to study fusion and improvisational tribal under Heather and Julia of Shambling Shimmies School of Belly Dance, Egyptian with Omega and fusion with Najmah Nour.
While my focus is on studying under local dancers, I have been lucky to have opportunities to take workshops with: Zoe Jakes, Ariellah Aflalo, Sharon Kihara and Luna of Cairo.
Currently I am expanding my study of dance. I began moving away from solely studying tribal belly dance in 2012 to explore modern Egyptian as well. I have begun a study of ballroom dance, and hope to explore it further in the near future. I also am hoping to begin studies in Bharata Natyam within the year.
I am focusing on improving my tribal skills by becoming proficient in zilling, performing and improving my musicality. In August of this year I will travel to Vancouver, British Columbia to become certified in ATS General Skills.
Outside of dance I am a studying journalism and environmental science at the University of Florida. This blog is a product of the Multimedia Writing course.
I hope you will join me on this journey and offer me your knowledge.
❤ Kali
Saved by the Belly 