It all started with desire.  My desire to dance.  My desire to connect with other women while dancing.  My concept was to develop a place for women to get away from it all.  A place where they could feel alive, beautiful, and at ease.  A place that I could give my daughters, to share with them the secrets of Bellydance.  To teach them how to become strong, independent, and empowered women.  Bellydance is the ultimate liberating experience.

For me, as a teacher of an art form that is so prevalent in the Middle East, and has been preserved by those countries who made it part of their culture, I feel a responsibility to approach bellydance in a different way than other dance styles.  This style of dance comes from the deepest part of a woman’s self.  There’s a little girl in each of us who wants to feel free to spin, dress up, laugh.  It is my goal to help you remember her. Most Middle Eastern countries have folkloric dances.  These dances incorporate many of the feminine movements of bellydance.  Women handed these movements down to each generation.  I feel it is my duty to these women to teach traditional Arabic bellydance and rhythms, so I may also preserve the integrity of Middle Eastern Dance here in America.

My intent for my studio has taken me to many places.  I’ve met many women over the years.  Most women love it.  They take the education home and work on it.  They have grown to become wonderful Dancers, Teachers, Choreographers,  Directors, and even Travelers.  My goal is to enlighten women in the fact that they have that beauty of bellydance within them.  It just needs to be nurtured through daily practice.  My mission is to safely guide women through this journey. 

So the Hippie Shack was born in the Spring of 2004.  Now known as the Shimmy Shack, the studio is located in Midtown Tulsa.  Nestled in the Briar Village Shopping Center on 31st Street, just to the right of The Music Store. The studio boasts a 600 square foot floating wood dance floor, and the very first Bellydance Store in Tulsa. 

The Shimmy Shack is also a travelling studio and shoppe, setting up at annual local events such as BlueDome Arts Festival, ReggaeFest, the I Am Festival, and other happenings.  I give lessons from the tent and hosts drum circles, so feel free to grab your drum, and come out and play. 

The Studio