Where to begin?
hmmmmmm
I have always danced.
Always. Probably danced in a previous life...maybe
several, lol.
 How do I describe the
joy and pleasure that I get from this dance? The rich
history-as old as time itself, the music, the
discipline, the costumes, the jewelry! All I hope is
that I give a little bit of that joy and pleasure back
to the people who are kind enough to watch.
Julianne was my first
‘real’ dance teacher. I started taking classes from
another lady here in Jacksonville in 1982 ...but I knew
right away that she couldn’t teach me what I wanted,
what I needed, to learn. So, I started looking around
and found they offered ‘Belly Dance’ at JEB Stuart Jr.
High through the Adult Education Program. I went, met
Julianne, and the rest is, as they say, history. Back
then we were ‘Essence of the Orient’ and I don’t know
how (or why!) they put up with me, lol. But, I thank god
that they did. It was the foundation in dance that I
learned from Julie, and with Essence, that got me
through many years a long way from home, with no family,
and no friends at first.
In 1989 my husband
was transferred to Spain and thus began a journey that
took us from Spain, to Maine, to Washington, and
finally, to Hawaii. 15 years later I once more found
myself in Jacksonville, Florida. I’d come full circle
and through it all I never lost touch with Julianne or
with the dance.
 
When there was no
dance, I taught it. When there was, I continued to take
classes. Every time we moved I found a new Dr., a new
Dentist, a new job and a new teacher or dance troupe. I
feel honored to have had the opportunity to study with
so many wonderful dancers over the years,
Suhaila,
Dahlena,
Morocco, especially the fantastic instructors that
taught at
Oasis Dance Camp with
Cassandra. I don’t know what I would have done
without my dance partners over the years:
Joy
Rayman, Zeina (Colette Poloquin),
Sai’da (Laura Harris); and troupes and organizations
like ‘The Dancers of the Alcazar’,
M.E.C.A
of Kitsap Co.
and
MEDAH. Many thanks to
Zaghareet! and other dance publications who have
accepted my articles over the years.
But there was nothing
like ‘coming home’ and returning to Julianne’s class and
being invited to join ‘The Silks’.
 
I’m not sure I can
even express the joy, the passion, the love that we
share for this dance, all I know is that life would not
be complete without it and now without them.
I’m married; have a great daughter and son; and am
an
ICNHA certified Henna Artist. I work part time as
the Marketing Director for a local
marine canvas and upholstery company, run a mobile
henna business in the Jacksonville/Orange
Park/Middleburg area, and have my own bookkeeping
business.
If you’ve always wanted to dance,
but were afraid
….be afraid no more and join us.
If you want to see and experience authentic or fusion
Belly dance and the joy it brings…
call us. Call us today!
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