Naima's Bio

Bellydancer Me

In 2001, I started taking bellydance classes while I was attending the University of Rhode Island, and immediately fell in love with tribal bellydance! After about a year of classes I joined the instructor's troupe, Shehkinah, as a student member. Not long after I joined, the instructor and director decided to retire from dancing to focus on other aspects of her life. So, some of the members of her troupe decided to continue dancing together and we reformed under the name Azar Maya. I contined to dance with AM until mid 2005, when I moved up to Ithaca, NY with my husband, for graduate school. I briefly danced with the Cornell bellydance troupe, Teszia, while I completed my graduate degree (but mostly I took the year off from bellydance). In 2006 I moved back to Vermont, and began teaching in the Burlington area. I would love to start a ATS/tribal fusion troupe here, and anyone interested, please contact me! I am currently dancing as part of a duo, Chrysaora, with the other Katie from Azar Maya. (We traveled around as KT^2 before we finally picked a name.) I love to dance, and I am continuing my education in bellydance (I am far from having "mastered" this beautiful dance) by taking workshops whenever my time and pursestrings permit.

People I have taken workshops with include:
Mira Betz
Rachel Brice
Sharon Moore of Infusion Tribal
Kami Liddle
Suihaila Salimpour
Jill Parker of Ultra Gypsy
Jessie & Wendy of Fat Chance Belly Dance
Olivia and Maria of Zafira Dance Company
Heather Stants of Urban Tribal
Carmine Guida (drumming) and Pete List (beatboxing) of Djinn

If you want to know about my experiences taking workshops with the people listed above, email me and I let ya know.

Now that I am in Vermont, I have starting teaching tribal bellydance classes, on and off, to share this beautiful dance to anyone who wants to learn. Longterm I would like to form a tribal troupe up here, performing at local events, and eventually be able to host notable dancers from other areas of the country.

Non-Bellydancer Me

When I am not donning one of my myriad costumes pieces and boogie-ing on the dance floor, I work as an engineer in the Burlington area. And yes, bellydancing keeps me sane. I have a wonderful husband, who is making his way as a carpenter. Anyone need any carpentry work done? We live in a small apartment with our crazy and cute cat, Luna, and I am learning how to live life after college/grad school. I have time to dance, learn a language, play in my garden (or shovel snow), cook more than pasta or rice, and spend time with my husband.