A Brief Personal Dance History
I began taking belly dance classes in San Francisco in 1995 and quickly found myself drawn to Carolena Nericcio's classes at the Noe Valley Ministry. I became a member of FatChanceBellyDance® in 1998, performing at a variety of events and locations including Amira restaurant and Cafe Istanbul on Valencia Street, the San Francisco Ethnic Dance Festival, Tribalfest, Rakkasah and Desert Dance Festival. I began teaching with the company in 2001 when we moved to the new studio in the Mission District.
After leaving the company in 2004 to pursue graduate studies in Physical Therapy, I continued to attend dance classes in the San Francisco Bay Area, studying with Jill Parker, Rachel Brice, Rose Harden, Chitresh Das, Salimpour school and many other dancers. I explored dance performance with Jill Parker's Ultra Gypsy and Fox Glove Sweethearts, as well as dancing with other members of the expansive Bay Area belly dance world.
My dance studies have ranged and expanded, and now include ballroom and social dance. I always return to belly dance, motivated by a love of the movement expression and music. I am particularly fond of the group improvisational format as it offers a way to build community and friendship through shared movement. I have recently relocated to Tucson, AZ and continue to explore the various facets of this dance form and meet the community of dancers who share my love of belly dance.