Lacey began her journey into Tribal Belly
dance at the early age of 15 in southern California with
Patricia Johnson. Her love for this beautiful art form
was immediate; she began performing at tribal events
and around campfires at SCA (Society for Creative
Anachronism) events almost instantly. The thrill of
live drums and dancing with her sisters was inspiring.
She took this love for the dance all the way through
high school and pursued a dance degree at Victor
Valley Community College. She studied many forms of
classical dance including Ballet, Jazz, Modern, and
Ballroom. However, as fate would have it Lacey
sustained an injury that would prevent her from ever
pursuing a career in classical dance. To her surprise
though, because Belly Dance is best danced barefoot
her doctor approved and encouraged her to continue
Belly dancing.
Lacey
then traveled cross country from California to Central Florida
where she was exposed to the large
community of Cabaret Belly dancers in Florida. Lacey then spent the next four years studying,
teaching, and performing classical Cabaret Belly dance
in Florida as well as in Southern California. It was
in her last trip to California where her original love
for Tribal Belly dance was re-ignited. Lacey then
made the decision that she wanted to bring her
experience and love of Tribal Belly dance to Florida.
So she began Florida Tribal Dance in November of 2006
for just that reason.
Lacey
is the director of Florida Tribal Dance Troupes: Black V, offering
professional Tribal Fusion performances, Blue Caravan, a troupe
specializing in improvisational Tribal Style, and Silver Sage
Tribal Florida Tribal Dance's student troupe. Lacey and Florida
Tribal Dance also hosts two big events each year: " An Evening
of Tribal" every Spring/Summer and " A Tribal Garden" our
annual Gala every November celebrating the students, troupes,
and extended family of Florida Tribal Dance.
In addition to teaching weekly classes Lacey is also available
for instructional workshops. She prides herself on her upbeat
personality that puts students in a fun place to learn and her
meticulous breakdown of movements so whether you are a first
time dancer or a seasoned professional you will find Lacey's
teaching easy to comprehend and useful in any dancer' s progression.
Lacey also holds a beginning certification in the YogaFit Method.
You can see Lacey performing Friday evenings at Café Tu
Tu Tango on International Drive in Orlando starting at 9pm. You
can also see all of Florida Tribal Dance's troupes performing
throughout the community every month.
Laura
Barsalou
In the spring of 2000, Laura wanted to find
a fun and interesting new
exercise program and fell in love with the feminine grace and
sensuality that bellydance embodied. But it wasn’t until
early 2004
that she had the opportunity to take the plunge with formal
classes,
when she started studying Egyptian Cabaret at a local bellydance
studio. Soon, she was invited to join her instructor’s
classical
troupe, gaining her first performance experience through student
showcases and community events.
Laura’s interest in tribal bellydance was sparked by viewing
a video
of Rachel Brice in 2005, and it was then that she became captivated
by
the serpentine, isolated dance form.
Laura began studying tribal fusion with Lacey Sanchez at Florida
Tribal Dance in 2006. Finding her home in the exclusive tribal
dance
school, she became a founding member of Black V Tribal, performing
at
the Downtown Arts & Living Festival, Café Tu Tu Tangos,
TribalCon,
MegaCon and at other local events and venues.
Taking her interest in dance to a deeper level, Laura became
one of
the first graduating members of the Florida Tribal Dance teaching
format, enabling her to share her love for the dance in the classroom.
Bringing her slinky and saucy expression to tribal fusion technique,
Laura is excited to offer classes at Florida Tribal Dance’s
new studio
location in 2011.
Laura’s recent interests include becoming a new member
of Blue
Caravan, the professional improv group of Florida Tribal Dance,
furthering her study of improv tribal style. She is also developing
signature workshops for performance makeup for bellydance, with
hands-on, easily accessible techniques for all levels. Currently,
Laura writes the beauty and glamour column in Yallah Magazine,
as well
as writing cover features and a broad range of topics as a senior
writer. Laura can be seen regularly performing as a soloist at
her
favorite venue, Café Tu Tu Tango.
Greywolf
Greywolf has been teaching hand drumming and facilitating drum
circles
since 1992, after years of (ongoing) study with modern day masters
from West Africa (including Famadou Konate and Mamaday Keta),
the
Congo (including Thobos Lubamba and Teber Milandou Sita), the
Middle
East (including Karim Nagi, Raquy, Quentin Shaw) and many more.
He has
completed the Remo Health Rhythms Facilitator training; is
a Rhythmic
Entertainment Intervention Authorized Therapy Provider; and
has performed, practiced Sound Healing modalities, and recorded
from
coast
to coast.
Current projects include Thee Flammable Babylon
Percussion Ensemble.
Ashley
Makana (Ashley) was born and raised on the island of Oahu in
the
beautiful state of Hawaii. The splendor of Hawaii and its beaches
gifted Makana with a great childhood. As a child she was introduced
to
dance and attended ballet, jazz, and tap classes at the Rosalie
Woodson Dance Academy in Pearl Ridge, Hawaii.
From the first
time
Makana’s feet hit a stage she felt the love of performing
but
unfortunately was never given the opportunity to learned the
dance
that Hawaii is know for; Hula. When she was ten, her family moved
her
from the beautiful islands to Orlando where she would have a
greater
opportunity for education; this her mother wanted badly for her
daughter.
As Makana’s homesickness grew, her mother ventured
out in
search of hula classes and interestingly enough found them being
taught in the Disney’s Polynesian Resort by a teacher from
her very
own island in Hawaii. The Hula classes, along with her new Ohana,
(family) helped cured her homesick by filling the lonely void
in her
life and taught her the beautiful art of dance, home to the Pacific
Islands.
Since that age of ten, she has practiced, performed
and now
teaches the Hawaii’s Hula, Tahiti and the New Zealand’s
Maori dance.
Traveling around Florida for the past thirteen years she has
competed
in many competitions often helping her hula group dance their
way into
title status.
Now, with many years of knowledge under her belt,
Makana
wants to share her love for dance and the cultures of the Pacific
Islands with other in hopes to keep the art of hula alive for
generations to come.