I started belly dancing shortly before my 16th birthday, and have since studied with cabaret, tribal fusion, and American Tribal Style®  teachers around the world. Since becoming certified as a Sister Studio®  of FatChance BellyDance I’ve focused on making dance classes a safe and welcoming environment for all. I direct the ATS®  troupe Indy Tribal as well as a student troupe, Mandali Tribal, based in the Indianapolis area.

With a PhD in folklore I’m uniquely poised to understand the cultural complexities of tribal style dance. I’ve published articles on tribal belly dance costumes and belly dance’s intersections with spirituality. I also blog about belly dancing and other facets of culture, folklore, and education.