Meet the dancers
Jenn
A lifelong dancer, Jenn began belly dancing in 2003 while living in the Middle East. After moving back to the United States in 2004, she studied American Cabaret belly dance with Rajaa of Saraab in Pensacola, Fla. Jenn was introduced to American Tribal Style® (ATS®) Belly Dance in 2007 and began studying with Shareena of Tribal Heart, also in Pensacola. After moving back to her hometown of St. Louis in 2008, Jenn joined Chuvani Belly Dance and has performed with them as a principal dancer at the Greater St. Louis Renaissance Faire and Pirate Festival for the past three years. In October of 2009, she received her General Skills and Teacher Certifications in ATS® from Carolena Nericcio of FatChanceBellyDance®. In 2010, she founded Tandava Tribal, a FatChanceBellyDance® Sister Studio, and the only ATS® troupe in St. Louis.
EllenEllen possesses a passion for all performing arts. She started tap at the early age of four and has been a part of numerous choirs, bands, and theatrical productions. In 2009 she was introduced to ATS® by a friend and in the first week realized this dance was perfect. She fell in love with the strong yet graceful flow of the body and most of all her fellow dance sisters. Everyone working toward a common goal, to have fun and just dance! This style has not only taught her to be a better dancer(since she considers herself a novice), it's taught her how to be more creative, a better communicator, made her more self aware, AND taught a thing or two about sewing! She looks forward to the success of her teacher's organization and can't wait to welcome newcomers.
AdaliaAdalia started belly dancing in 2004 and soon discovered that she enjoyed American Tribal Style® Belly Dance the most. Adalia danced with several different troupes with different styles of belly dance including cabaret, tribal and tribal fusion. In 2010 she was invited to join Tandava. Adalia has studied under many classical Egyptian, cabaret, tribal and tribal fusion instructors including Kami Liddle, Ariellah, Tempest, Mardi Love, Kathy Stahlman, Onca, Princess Farhana, Alaska, Somra, Birdie Przibram, Tribal Sooz, Paulette Reece-Dennis, Amel, Virginia of Florida, Aradia and her idol Carolina Nericco of FCBD®.
Michelle Michelle has been dancing off and on her whole life, everything from ballet to swing to color guard in school. She discovered belly dance while she was in high school, but did not start classes until 2007, after seeing dancers at Renaissance Faire and Pirate Fest. Starting with cabaret, Michelle soon transitioned into tribal fusion, and finally ATS®. While she prefers to fuse different dance forms with belly dance as a solo performer (with a theatrical flair thrown in), ATS® is her preferred group style. Belly dance is the first dance form that feels like “home” to Michelle. She has seen it change lives and loves the beauty that shines through the dancers around her.
NicholeNichole has always been a lover of music and dance since her days in choir, band and cheer leading for her high school. She got involved in belly dancing in 2007,when her husband joined Sheherazade Drums and Chuvani Bellydance. She began to learn the music and beats and dreamed of learning to dance someday. When Jenn (Nichole's sister-in-law) began teaching, she decided to give it a try. Now she is in love with the improv style and group dynamics that are the core of Tandava Tribal. She looks forward to growing and improving as a dancer and hopes that her dance will empower other women.
VickyVicky fell in love with bellydancing when she saw it for the first time at a renaissance faire. Admiring the dance for many years, she began taking cabaret lessons in 2007. That group disbanded in 2008, but the joy of dancing couldn’t be forgotten. In January, 2010, Vicky was introduced to ATS® when she joined Tandava Tribal at a friend’s suggestion. She quickly found that ATS® spoke to her soul more than any other dance form, and there’s been no going back since! Vicky is now a part of Tandava’s performance troupe. She is known for being the “mischievous one,” coming up with unexpected combinations and keeping everyone on their toes.
