Well, generic dance stuff: I come from a Turkish background re: 25 years and counting of Belly Dance! Shukriya was my teacher and mentor, and I cut my dancing-teeth at the 3rd Rakkasah (now Rakkasah-West) and am a past Rakkasah instructor. I'm a California-native and moved to Colorado via Ohio 7 years ago . . . and am currently in the process of moving back to Cali!

Some 'professional' credits: I've done local restaurant 'dance contests' in Cali and won first place in three of 'em . . . did the Belly Dance of the Universe contest, and it was the WORST performance of my professional career (whole story attached to that one!) . . . and I was "the" belly dancer in several Indian movies filmed at the Taj Mahal in Sacramento. Also co-started the original Naughty Navels with Laylia at the Ohio Renaissance Festival (talk about a blast!) . . . as well as the Colorado Ren Faire in 2007. Hoping I'll be able to keep this going while running between Colorado and California for Shimmy :-D

Other stuff: Got six grandkids, two daughters; both daughters and oldest granddaughter have performed with me and/or my troupe at some point. Also figured out while in Ohio for 5+ years that if I ever had to choose, I'd pick teaching over performing (another story attached to this : ) . . .

I am the 'creative' one in my family; luv to dance (what a surprise!), but I also paint, design costumes/women's clothing, do ceramics, porcelain, design jewelry, re-invent my house, and my newest 'how to' is learning Dreamweaver! FIN-ally decided I need to be able to get some control over my websites! Come to realize that technology is what it is . . . and we "can't live with it, and can't live without it" . . . blah . . .