Interview with Cherie

March 26, 2009 01:47 PM

Name: Cherie

What is your role within the Sahara Dance community? Student and Studio Assistant

Childhood ambition: To be a teacher or a lawyer. I’m currently a lawyer, but aspire to teach yoga or maybe even belly dance someday.

First job: At Burger King when I was 14.

What’s playing on your iPod or CD player? I’m all over the place musically… I listen to everything from smooth jazz to R&B to rock, and of course I’ve recently gotten into Arabic music. Currently in heavy rotation is the compilation album “Arabic Groove.”

Indulgence: About 3 Hershey kisses per day and weekly hot baths with salt or sugar scrubs.

What’s your favorite belly dance moment or experience? Definitely Under a Desert Moon 6. Can’t WAIT for Under a Desert Moon 7!

Current inspirations: Anything with a steady beat makes me want to belly dance to it. I just haven’t gotten to the point where I’m comfortable improvising yet. I actually have a couple of songs in mind that I’d like to perform to someday. One has a Spanish flair to it, and the other is urban contemporary.

I’ve loved all of my teachers! Just when one becomes my favorite, I take a class with a new one and fall in love with her too. Each one brings something unique to the dance. I’ve taken a workshop with Ebony, but still hope to take a class with her soon.

What is your dance background? I don’t have much of a dance background… I took ballet and tap for a few months when I was about 7. I was a majorette when I was 12. I took an African Dance course in college, and I’ve taken a couple of salsa lessons in recent years.

Other than a few performances as a majorette, I’ve done nothing competitive or performance-oriented until my first Under a Desert Moon performance with my B1/B2 class last year.

How did you get interested in belly dance? My mother took lessons when I was a small child…I saw the costumes, heard the music and became fascinated. It seemed feminine, graceful and sensual—all attributes I wanted to emulate. It also seems to celebrate the unique curves of a woman.

Finally, what do you love most about Sahara Dance (other than Hip Talk, of course!)? It’s a supportive, sister-friend environment. Classes are the highlight of my week, every week!

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