Bellyography: Heidi
Issue 209 / May 2006 More from this Issue
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By Astara
"Shine a spotlight on me and I'll dance for you!"
I love that I can highlight belly dancers that are stepping out and going solo. Heidi's venture into the spotlight alone has given our community a lively, imaginative and effervescent dancer. Lucky us!
Raised in Oregon, Heidi has danced all her life. Her dance background includes tap, jazz, gymnastics and ballet. She became a Utahn by attending Dixie College and marrying a native.Her initial exposure to belly dancing was in 1998 at the Meeting of the Tribes.
"I went there to watch my sister dance, and I thought, 'How weird! I have to try this.' I started taking lessons from Thia, and I have been there ever since."
"Being from out-of-state, I was surprised at the large dance community in Salt Lake, the strong dance opportunities, and the variety of dance being performed. There is an artistic and historic intelligence about belly dancing here that creates a high level of artistic achievement and execution. Utah dancers are very, very fortunate."
In 1999, Heidi joined Avatar, then a fledgling troupe, and is a member to this day. Avatar performs all over the state and at almost every main belly dance venue in our community. Last year Avatar traveled to Florida and performed in the Dina show. As Heidi explains:
"Watching Dina dance changed my entire perspective of Egyptian cabaret dance. I didn't understand Dina from her videos. When I saw her perform live, I got it. Her technique is very good very Egyptian, very subtle but it is her stage presence that really shines through."
Like so many belly dancers in Utah, Heidi balances her dancing with raising three children, working part-time, teaching piano lessons, and writing travel articles. Her travel adventures have provided ample opportunities to observe dancing in countries such as Thailand and Korea, and she has incorporated these native dances into her own interpretations.
"I love everything about belly dancing, but I adore Egyptian cabaret. I love all the sparkle and the movement. I outgrew all the other forms of dance I had studied, and I am so delighted to be the age I am and still have many years ahead of me to dance. I still have so much to learn. I love that about this art form. It is truly for all women, and it is so elegant and eloquent."
There is something so refreshing about Heidi's interpretation of Middle Eastern dance. She blends parts of herself and her travels and translates it into something entirely her own. For me, that is what art is all about. Learn from the masters and then create your own version of that truth. Heidi has come into her own the last couple of years, and I sincerely hope she continues her journey of dance exploration. Heidi will solo at the Belly Dance Festival this summer and also perform with Avatar there and at Thia's Fire and Ice Show, June 9 at Westminster College.
"Shine a spotlight on me and I'll dance for you!"
I love that I can highlight belly dancers that are stepping out and going solo. Heidi's venture into the spotlight alone has given our community a lively, imaginative and effervescent dancer. Lucky us!
Raised in Oregon, Heidi has danced all her life. Her dance background includes tap, jazz, gymnastics and ballet. She became a Utahn by attending Dixie College and marrying a native.Her initial exposure to belly dancing was in 1998 at the Meeting of the Tribes."I went there to watch my sister dance, and I thought, 'How weird! I have to try this.' I started taking lessons from Thia, and I have been there ever since."
"Being from out-of-state, I was surprised at the large dance community in Salt Lake, the strong dance opportunities, and the variety of dance being performed. There is an artistic and historic intelligence about belly dancing here that creates a high level of artistic achievement and execution. Utah dancers are very, very fortunate."
In 1999, Heidi joined Avatar, then a fledgling troupe, and is a member to this day. Avatar performs all over the state and at almost every main belly dance venue in our community. Last year Avatar traveled to Florida and performed in the Dina show. As Heidi explains:
"Watching Dina dance changed my entire perspective of Egyptian cabaret dance. I didn't understand Dina from her videos. When I saw her perform live, I got it. Her technique is very good very Egyptian, very subtle but it is her stage presence that really shines through."
Like so many belly dancers in Utah, Heidi balances her dancing with raising three children, working part-time, teaching piano lessons, and writing travel articles. Her travel adventures have provided ample opportunities to observe dancing in countries such as Thailand and Korea, and she has incorporated these native dances into her own interpretations.
"I love everything about belly dancing, but I adore Egyptian cabaret. I love all the sparkle and the movement. I outgrew all the other forms of dance I had studied, and I am so delighted to be the age I am and still have many years ahead of me to dance. I still have so much to learn. I love that about this art form. It is truly for all women, and it is so elegant and eloquent."
There is something so refreshing about Heidi's interpretation of Middle Eastern dance. She blends parts of herself and her travels and translates it into something entirely her own. For me, that is what art is all about. Learn from the masters and then create your own version of that truth. Heidi has come into her own the last couple of years, and I sincerely hope she continues her journey of dance exploration. Heidi will solo at the Belly Dance Festival this summer and also perform with Avatar there and at Thia's Fire and Ice Show, June 9 at Westminster College.
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