We all have a passion outside of our workday world, and mine is belly dance. I was hooked from the first time I saw a dancer in a sparkling two-piece costume performing on a stage in Cairo, during my travels through Egypt. It wasn’t just the costumes that kept me coming back for more, but the fabulous Middle Eastern music and the incredible camaraderie that develops between belly buddies. I perform under my stage name, Inara (the Hittite goddess of the wild animals). After a day of sitting at my computer writing, performing belly dance provides a nice balance for mind and body.
I was artistic director for the Jewels of the Desert Belly Dance Troupe in Yucca Valley. Here are some pictures of me and my lovely and talented ladies.