Spiral Skies Bellydance

I've always joked around that I was a bellydancer in a former life! I even bought a LP on how to bellydance in my early 20's, but lost interest...I just wanted to dance, not make my husband feel like a sultan! Sometime after that I got into tap and jazz dancing...loved it, but there was something missing. Then in 2002 I saw a poster for beginning tribal style bellydance class at the grocery store. Cool!! But what the heck is "tribal style"?? So I joined the class and OMG! I was hooked! It was exactly what I was looking for in dance.

Tribal style has a look that's powerful, confident and folkloric, earthly.

The basis of tribal style is synchronized group improvisation developed by Carolena Nericcio of FatChance BellyDance, San Francisco. Once you learnyour basic steps (your ABC's) you can dance with any tribal dancer in theworld! Its like magic!! And that's what I like best about it....sharing the stage with another dancer, supporting each other thru the language of dance. The camaraderie, the connection is incredible!

Two ladies (Trish and Mary) and I started in the same beginning class and we became a part of a student troupe that debuted in 2003 at the Feathered Pipe Yoga Retreat Center outside of Helena. The three of us soon after went out on our own and became "Nataraja Tribal Dance" It's been so amazing to be apart of this group. Learning to choreograph dances, coming up with new moves...the COSTUMES!! the JEWELRY!! How many belts are too many!?! hahahaa!

Currently Mary has left us for a 2 year commitment in the Peace Corps, but Trish and I have been exploring dancing as a duet. Oh boy! new moves! which of course means new costumes!!

About 4 years ago I started teaching and I find I really like it. Nothing

like teaching to really become the student, I've really had to break down and learn everything over and go deeper. I also love to get others involved with such a wonder dance form. And I mean all bellydance styles.  It brings you to a place of accepting yourself and others. It asks you to grow! It's challenging to find a teacher in Montana, so traveling for continuing education is a must but very expensive. Thankfully we have groups around Montana who are working hard at bring experienced teachers to our area. Thank you!!

Recently I went to San Francisco to the FatChance studio and completed my General Skills Intensive Workshop (24 hours!) with Carolena. It was the most amazing 4 days ever! Going over every move in the FatChance ATS format, fine tuning and getting guestions answered. And dancing with some incredible women from all over the world. Plus hanging out with Carolena and some of the other Fat Chance dancers, I've gone to heaven!