Interview with Patty

July 7, 2009 12:56 PM

Name: Patty

What is your role within the Sahara Dance community? Raqs Caravan West member, SDE member and Student

Childhood ambition: Specifically, I always wanted to be an FBI Agent and to do brilliant lovely wonderful things for the world. I loved Wonder Woman!

First job: Haha I wanted to become a dishwasher because I wanted to start at the very bottom. My mom had to drive me 45 minutes to the restaurant because I wasn’t old enough to drive.

What’s playing on your iPod or CD player? Lots of classical drum solos, pop belly dance, old skool, some sappy love songs, Ne-Yo, Timberland, Ryuku Underground. I am completely and randomly inspired by new and old alike! I like music that moves me- ES Posthumus and Amon Tobin have been solo favorites.

Indulgence: I love an organic chicken with Meyer lemons, olive oil and sea salt! Red wines and Moscato wine. Yum. I also love zany platform shoes and unique jewelry and organic clothing- with colors and prints I wore when I was a kid!

What’s your favorite belly dance moment or experience? The experience of finding I love both cabaret and tribal belly dance is most joyous! In particular, I love, love, love the shimmy. Shimmies make me smile and laugh. Layering, now that’s pure perfection! haha!

Current inspirations: Haha I can’t tell you! Always Rachel Brice, Moira, Mira Betz, Aziza, Amani, Unmata, Bozenka, African, Asian, and Old Skool.

What is your dance background? Hmmm. My sister and I took ballet for a minute - until my cousin quit teaching us because we were much too silly and rambunctious. I gained much poise and precision from a long career in the military that taught me physical and mental discipline, marching and public confidence. I have six years of belly dance with various wonderful cabaret and tribal teachers, many of which are part of or have come to Sahara Dance. (Thank YOU!!) I go every chance I get. For me, there is always more to learn and experience.

How did you get interested in belly dance? In the early 90s I wanted to take Hula lessons because I loved the ocean and the movement of Hula. Well, belly dance was as close as I could get….A local college in Sacramento, CA offered a community class close to my home…..I was hooked. I was hooked not only by the dance, but the variety of women that came together to dance.

Finally, what do you love most about Sahara Dance (other than Hip Talk, of course!)? I love that Sahara Dance is a welcoming environment for all dancers. Sahara Dance has been a very accepting place to expand my education and personal growth as an artist, woman and dancer. It is place where I have had the opportunity to meet extraordinary dancers with varied goals and individual reasons for belly dance. MU-AH!! XO. I always tell every woman I meet to give it a try. Belly dance at Sahara Dance has been, and continues to be a wonderful experience.

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