Basic Belly Dance Class at Prophecy, starts May 12th 2008

This should be fun! This is a spacious studio with wood floors and great mirors.

This is a great in town location (right across from Governor's Square Mall). I have lots of great things planned for this class. It will be targeted toward the very basic dance moves. Ideal for the beginner or someone looking to get started in the Troupe Arabesque style.

www.instepstudio.com (850)421-5151

Bainbridge Communtiy College Class

Okay, I've been running in circles. I'm so excited about this new class. Middle Eastern Belly Dance Basics at Bainbridge Community College. Link: www.bainbridge.edu/academic...u_idx.htm

I will be doing very basic moves, with some culture, and a little music "theory." This will be interesting, some of the folks that are currently taking the Hip Hop class will be taking my class.

From what I can tell, there has not been much Middle Eastern Dance in (or around) Bainbridge, GA. I'm from Tallahassee,FL and that is 45 min. south of the border.

I just can't wait!

Jim Boz weekend in Ft. Walton

I had such a good time!!!!!! Sept. 21 - 23, 2007 I love the way Jim Boz teaches & dances. The combos and music are always fun and very useable. He does not teach fluff that you can't use. Clean and appealing are two words I can use to describe his style. Moves conect and glide into the next combo. You are moving and pausing, using timing to create visual interest. He is soooooo worth seeing and learing from. I will take more workshops from him, any chance I get. Thanks Jim, for another wonderful class!!!!!

There was also a little get together at the Aegean restaurant. We had a blast. There was a live band, plus our drummers (Mike, Ben, and Sue) played. Everybody ate, drank, and was very merry!

I had to miss the last day. I had a terrible head cold and wanted to head home. *cough-hack-sneeze* It was pretty bad Sunday morning.

Well, heres to hoping I make it to other Jim Boz workshops!!!! The man can DANCE!

New YMCA Facility

WOW! I went to see our new YMCA facility. They moved to 3840 N. Monroe Street, Suite 400, here in Tallahassee. It's a lot nicer than the old place. I'm very excited to have a new, clean place to teach and work. The last few years, the facility was in very bad need of some TLC. However, knowing the property was going to be bought...the Y did not want to sink much money into up-keep.

Well, now we have a sparklingly new place!!!! Our first classes at the new facility are Monday, Sept. 17th. The members are going to be so pleased. I know I was!

Why I started Middle Eastern Dance (bellydance)...

Well there is a movie called From Russia With Love, starring Sean Connery (you know...007) with lots of dancing in it. I told my Dad (I was about 5 yrs. old) that I was going to do that. So, after getting married and realizing I needed a hobby...I looked up bellydance on the internet.

I found Nancy Redig (aka Halimeda) teaching at what was then, In Step With Lisa & Wellness Works. She was so cool! I thought she was awsome, and still do! She could move body parts, up until then, I thought were stationary. And shimmy...like nobodies business!

I had found my place. I'd always wanted to dance and knew that it was what I wanted to learn to do. That was October 1998.

I've now been teaching for Halimeda & In Step Studio for 4 years. I've been an memeber of Troupe Arabesque since 1999.

I've studied with Halimeda all this time, but travel and take work shops from various instructors. Some of which include: Aunt Rocky, Jim Boz, Karina of Seminole, FL, Fatim, Alexandra King, Artemis, and many others who's names escape me at the moment. All of which have influenced my dance in some shape or form.

Nancy (Halimeda) has a MySpace page, which gives a history of her teaching back ground. www.myspace.com/halimedasoasis

Nancy is the owner & leader of Troupe Arabesque and In Step Studio. She also performs and teaches Hula and Tahitian. Nancy also has some of us teaching the basics classes at the YMCA on N. Monroe Street. All classes are in Tallahassee, FL.

Get out and see things. My thoughts are that it's good to get out and see what other dance communities do. Learning from others, dancing at venues like haflas & seminars, meeting & networking with other dancers, and making lots of dance friends.

Nancy also owns Halimeda's Oasis, where you can find costumes and dance wear. (Both the fancy black dress & the purple dress in my pics both were ordered thru Halimeda's.)

NOTE: This business has nothing whatsoever to do with Julianna or the now defunked Chaundra's Dance Extravaganza. Although we are friends with Dianna, the CHANDRA & the original owner of Chaundra's Dance Extravaganza.

I'm now taking Tahitian classes on a regular basis and love it. I'm also slowly moving into Hula. We'll see were this takes me. I see more costumes in my future. I wonder if Nancy will let me sew sequins on my Hula outfits?

Gig - Great guests & fun ladies

Last night I did a gig for a bachelorett party. These ladies were so fun! They asked super questions about the dance & culture. Usually people don't want to know about the real stuff. They are after what they think is naughty. These ladies were all class! It always feels good to have people interested in the culture, the dance form, and wanting more of both. I tried to explain to them that there was a never ending amount of learning one could do. Also, that you can spend a lifetime studying Middle Eastern Culture and Dance. I hope to see some of these great gals in future classes!

NYC with Rocky & Tarik

Just got back from a week long with Aunt Rocky & Tarik. Lots of first's! First airplane, first subway ride, first cab ride, first real train ride! Geeze, you'd think I was a sheltered little thing wouldn't you?!? Anyway, we danced our buts off, eat the best food (thanks to Rocky), went to see Spamalote, and just had a blast! I was super happy to travel with my teacher (Nancy Redig, aka Halimeda). She's a blast! We also roomed with another Tally dancer, Gitana De La Rosa. She found a wonderful deli they'd eaten at before! NYC never lets you down. There is always somthing new, funky, or just plain cool, to do & see! I hope I'm able to travel more in the near future. Happy Dancing!