Female

Hi! I'm Tonje, I live in Vancouver. I've been directing (and now co-directing) Belly Belly Hip Tribal Troupe since 2001.

I am BC's only Gypsy Caravan certified Tribal Bellydance instructor!

I lived in Portland OR 1998-2000, where I took classes with Gypsy Caravan. I still go back once or twice a year for workshops and events. Our troupe dances mostly GC style, but being so close to Seattle we've been able to take workshops there, and bring teachers here, who also dance FCBD style. We brought Sharon Kihara to Vancouver last summer, and then most of us did classes with Rachel Brice at TribalQuest, so that's changing our approach to dance.

I did the Gypsy Caravan level I & II teacher training in 2002, and have been teaching Tribal classes and workshops in and around Vancouver ever since. Until a few months ago I was the only Tribal teacher in town.

I took classes here in Vancouver for about a year and a half before I moved to Portland. I started at a community centre with a woman who's name I can't remember, and who I have not seen since. I've been on the Board of MEDA since 2002, which has been a great way to get to know the local dance community.

I keep telling my students that my main motivation for
teaching is to have more dancers to dance with...