DANCERS

Amy
Amy grew up in Snowflake, AZ and moved to Tucson to attend college. While on vacation in Rocky Point she saw a bellydance performance that sparked her desire to take lessons. She studied Cabaret style for two years before discovering American Tribal Style. She joined Midriff Crisis in 2006 and loves being part of this fabulous group of women. When not belly dancing, Amy spends her free time with her husband, their dogs, and pet snake. They can be found scuba diving, hiking, traveling, or spending quiet nights at home with family and friends. Photo by Buzz Rinder.

Brandye
Brandye took her first bellydance lesson when she was 16. After a serious car accident and over a decade exploring other paths, she finally found her way back to dance. She was immediately drawn to American Tribal Style bellydance when she saw Midriff Crisis perform at a local Hafla. She joined Midriff Crisis in 2004. Her newest passion is hosting bellydance workshops and shows around town. She is also the bellydance promoter for Smiley’s Ultimate Hookah Lounge. She loves that a group of women from all different backgrounds and lifestyles can set their ideas aside and dance together. When she is not dancing, she is a wife and mother to two lovely daughters. Photo by Drea of Dragstar.

Emma
Having no previous formal dance training, Emma began studying Cabaret style bellydance in 2003. Although she liked the dance, she fell in love with American Tribal Style after the first tribal workshop she attended. From that point on, she has diligently studied with several of the nation's top tribal fusion dancers. Emma loves sharing the connection that has been created by dancing with the same group of women for such a long time. Emma has been dancing with Midriff Crisis since its inception in 2004. Photo by Emma.

Fonda
Fonda’s parents were dancing before she was born. She cannot remember not knowing how to waltz. She began studying Cabaret style bellydance for fun and eventually, Midriff Crisis evolved from members of that class. Fonda enjoys studying all forms of dance, playing Arabic and African drums and zills, as well as taking in abused animals. She works tirelessly on the historic Fox Theatre Board and is a dedicated volunteer for Many Mouths One Stomach, focusing her life on promoting Festal Culture and Modern Tribalism. Photo by Howard.

Lori
Lori’s parents claim she was dancing before she could walk. At age 3 she started ballet and continued into acrobatics, tap, and jazz. After moving from the Chicago area, she continued to study various modern dance styles. She began taking Cabaret classes in 2000 and joined Veils of Mystery in 2003. After many workshops, she found Tribal bellydance and was hooked! She became bi-troupal and joined Midriff Crisis in 2004. Lori teaches bellydance and has ignited a love of the dance in her elementary school troupe, Warde. Other interests are spending time with her family, cats, and a good book. Photo by Emma.

Monica
Monica began dancing around the house at age 6 to 1980’s Top 40 hits with her sister and she hasn’t stopped. She discovered her passion for bellydance in 1999, when a fabulous friend began teaching a bellydance conditioning class in Santa Cruz, CA. Soon after, Monica headed to China with the Peace Corps, where she performed for the first time and taught some of her students to bellydance. After returning to the U.S., Monica continued to study Cabaret for 3 years before she was lured to the Tribal dark side. She joined Midriff Crisis in 2006. Her other passions include exploring the world, writing, playing with her camera, escaping to the wild, and loafing. Photo by Michael Van Hall.

Alumni

Julia
Not just a talented dancer, but a phenomenal musician as well, the fabulous Julia split her time in Tucson between Midriff Crisis and her own band, Solid Donkey. Unfortunately, she has left us for colder climes and the wilds of Missoula and can now be found performing with the troupe Tribal Gypsy.

Beth
When she was 7, Beth was determined to become a ballerina-astronaut, spending half a year performing with the Joffrey Ballet and the other half on the space station. Over 20 years later, she has come pretty close as an astronomer by day and bellydancer by night. Bellydancing since early 2002, Beth has studied intensively with Susan Eyde of Hadia Sahara, K-Lee of Natium, Haven Hefner, Domba! and Gina Gonzalez. Beth is a founding member of Midriff Crisis and has performed at Club Congress, Lesbian Shorts, numerous Fetish Balls, and Tribal Cafe. Her personal style is edgy and experimental—pushing the envelope of bellydance! Photo courtesy of AZFetishball.com.

Raven
Raven’s obsession with bellydance began when, as a young girl, she saw bellydancers for the first time at the Renaissance Festival in Arizona. She began taking classes in Egyptian Cabaret but found her true love when she discovered American Tribal Style. She started dancing with Midriff Crisis in 2004. She has felt a strong connection with the dance and the women she dances with ever since. After two and a half years of dancing with Midriff Crisis, Raven reluctantly left the troupe to move to the Bay Area where she continues to bellydance. Photo by Beau Simpson.

Lana
Lana’s obsession with dance started early in life; she began studying classical ballet with Gail Gerber at age 6. At age 9, she was accepted on scholarship to a top-ranked ballet school. After leaving the East coast in 1993, it would be years before she rediscovered the joy and passion of dance. She was inspired by her mother’s Tribal bellydance troupe, Troupe Salamat, and the the earthy elegance they embodied; the dancers seemed to share a language that only they knew. Lana began her training in Egyptian Cabaret in 2001 and became hooked on Tribal style in 2005. She joined Midriff Crisis in 2006. She has also studied Ballroom, African dance, Dabke, and Argentine Tango and she is an award-winning salsa dancer. When Lana is not dancing, she is expanding her brain in pursuit of an Art History degree. Photo courtesy of AZFetishBall.

Amia
Amia began belly dancing as a way to improve her horseback riding and unexpectedly fell in love with it. After moving to Arizona, she studied American Tribal Style with Domba! She has since taken workshops with Rachel Brice, Sonia, and Zoe, and currently studies with Gina Gonzalez. She was thrilled to join Midriff Crisis in 2006, but left too soon to focus on law school.