Spiral Skies Bellydance

My name is Kim, but my dance name is Lapis. I was blessed to be able to be a stay-at-home mom for as long as I wanted. I am currently a case manager for people with developmental disabilities and traumatic brain injuries in northern Wyoming. In the fall of 2010 our last of four daughters left for college, and I found myself with an empty nest. I decided to make some changes in my life. I started painting again, hired a personal trainer to help me lose a lot of weight, started working out at the gym, taking a Zumba class, started scuba diving and passed my Open Water Diver certification, and in the fall of 2010 I started going to a belly dance class with a friend. This is surprising since I had a misconceived notion of what belly dance was all about. At that time, I was only going to go once, just to try it. Billie Smith was my first instructor, here in Powell. She gave me a good foundation and provided a fun environment for class.

I attended the 2011 Yellowstone Bellydance Festival in August, and loved learning with so many dancers. I had no idea that there were so many of us!

This fall I started going to Billings on the weekends for class at Urban Sands Bellydance Studio, with Tessa Thompson and Kyla Proffitt as instructors. I am amazed at how much I learn every week! My life is changed forever. My artistic inspiration comes from these two instructors, Spiral Skies Bellydance Troupe, and my belly dance sisters.

I love choreography, snake arms, undulations, pops, locks, and shimmies. I enjoy dancing to all kinds of music: Arabic, Egyptian, Indian, African, Celtic, bluegrass, rock, pop, hip-hop, rap, jazz, blues, etc. I prefer dramatic or complex pieces of music that move me from the core of my soul. Belly dance makes me feel free, and offers me a new way of artistic expression.

I am grateful that I have met some amazing seamstresses. They can create the most beautiful costumes! As for me, I got out the old sewing machine and started to dabble with costuming. I plan to create a few tops, belts and headpieces. I find myself going to thrift stores to shop for costume pieces, or items that I can cut up and turn into a costume. I have some great costuming ideas; the challenge is making them as beautiful as they are in my head! I do love to watch other dancers, and see how they have pieced together costumes, jewelry, hair styles, and makeup. As an artist, I adore the colors, layers, textures, richness, and most importantly the story behind each costume.

I am drawn to tribal and tribal fusion styles of dance. My goal is to learn and polish more skills, choreograph dances, perform in public, and evolve as a dancer should.

I have always wanted to live for a hundred years. Well, this year I made it halfway there, and also celebrated my 30th wedding anniversary! I am planning for my next fifty years to be filled with belly dancing in one way or another. That’s for certain.

I am truly thankful for the acceptance, encouragement, inspiration, and friendships from the sisterhood of belly dancers.

Evelyn Couch: I’m too young to be old, and I’m too old to be young.

- fried green tomatoes

Spiral Skies Bellydance Troupe

(Winter 2011)

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.

I have always enjoyed the arts of music and dance and for many years I have wanted to learn the ancient art of belly dancing.  I started taking classes from Morjhana in november of 2008, here in Billings, MT.  I enjoyed it so much I started taking extra classes from Sonja, also here in billings.

For me belly dancing is about being in touch with my feminine spirit and sharing it with all who are present.  When I am dancing I feel absolute freedom and peace.

Every dance move represents a spiritual side of me which enables me to be who I really am... a spiritual being.

I love creating costumes with lot's of sparkles, glitz, bells, and coins. I believe that the costumes aid in the mystery of all the belly dance moves, not to mention we all look way cool in them.

I get much of my inspiration from from watching professional belly dancers on line.  My favorite styles of dance are egyptian and turkish.  I also get a lot of inspiration from my belly dance teachers, all my belly sisters in the community, and dancing at taste of india restaurant.

I will continue to be open to learning and growing each day in this beautiful ancient art of dance so I can bring all that I've learned to each performance.  And so I can share it with all who are interested and most of all to continue to have FUN!