Tanya began dancing over 9 years ago when she discovered the dance through the Society for Creative Anachronism. At the time she was training to be a rapier fighter. Someone suggested that a dance class might help with balance. One moonlit night, while at an SCA event in Lumberton Mississippi she heard drums calling from across a large field and decided to go and find their source.

 

There she found the magic of belly dance. Drummers wearing kaftans sitting on stools in the grass and dancers with their sagat or zills in flowing skirts and sparkling coins had gathered in a circle around a campfire. The drums were mesmerizing. It didn’t matter that she was dressed in yards of heavy black velvet, like a woman from 12th century France. The rhythm took over and she began to dance.

 

Tanya began serious study at that event and has taken every class she could since that day. She has studied belly dance in large seminars and workshops along with regular, weekly classes and troupe practice. Some of her teachers include Amaya, Artemis. Ageela, Karen Barbee, Dalia Carella, Aisha Ali, Mesmera, Morocco, ZaharaZuhair, Gypsy Caravan, Ultra Gypsy, Fat Chance Belly Dance, Neha Sha, Maja the Girl From the Nile, Zia, Amel Tafsout, Pari, Rachel Lazarus Soto, and Fahtiem.

 

Tanya has been performing since 1997 at local festivals, Renaissance Fairs, in restaurants, for private parties and on stage. She has had the privilege to perform with Daria of Shalimar, Florida, Juanita of Pensacola, Florida , Saraab of Pensacola Florida, The Zuri Dancers of Mobile, Alabama, Xena of Jacksonville, Florida, The band Labrynthe from Knoxville, Tennessee, and The Band Peach Curry from Atlanta, Ga. She has been a member of Mystic Mirage and the Kasba Dancers. She even got to dance with the band from Gypsy Caravan during a lunch break jam session in Miami Florida.

 

She is grateful for all the opportunities she has had to study and perform.

 

 

 

 

Daria

Danielle

Terry

Theresa

Trixie