Photography by Matt Odum
Teejei discovered bellydance through the videos of Fat Chance Bellydance in 2004, and self-trained till she could grab the nearest class. She began classes with Egyptian style instructor Zarifa of Charlotte NC, and in May of 2005 moved to Atlanta to study Tribal Style Bellydance with Ziah Ali of Awalim.
She joined Awalim in 2006, and continues her study of movement and music through workshops and research. She is proud to have earned her FCBD General Skills Certification in 2007, and her FCBD Teacher Training certification in 2010. She was also a dancer-chosen finalist for the Bellydance Superstars Embedded Reporter contest, and is carries teaching and administrative roles in the annual TribalCon.
Teejei is also an artistic anatomist, and marries this knowledge of the human systems into her technique. She is also rabid Middle Eastern and Eastern European percussionist. With fellow dancer Majda, she promotes basic knowledge of percussion as part of a dancer’s study in a workshop, “Drumming for Dancers.” Her dance and movement workshops are revolutionary in that instructional modules can be combined to create custom instruction ranging from traditional to progressive, from beginner through many shades of expertise.
