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?