Datura, Founder & Creative Director
Lulu (Deb Weddle), Assistant Director
Rhiannon
SashaSasha's mother started her in ballet at age 7 because of her propensity to fall down, hoping it would help her find some grace. She's still clumsy off the dance floor, but dancing has become one her life's passions. She's studied ballet, tap, jazz, modern, ballroom, Latin, and bellydance. Recently she's fallen in love with competitive ballroom and Improvisational Tribal Style bellydance and is ecstatic to have joined the sisterhood of TerraNova Tribal.
Sihaya
In 2007, Sihaya and her mother-in-law took bellydance
classes in the Egyptian Cabaret style. She fell in love with learning how to move her muscles
gracefully like a painter moves her brush. Over the next three years, she continued her dance training,
even during her pregnancy.
“Feeling my son in my womb by the way my muscles worked around him is
one of the most meaningful dance experiences I’ve ever had.” She also recommends bellydancing
during labor, especially big hip circles.
“Dancing can be very meditative during the pain of a contraction. It helps relax and use the muscles
involved- the same ones used in bellydancing!” Sihaya now continues her dance training with TerraNova
Tribal. She enjoys Improvisational Tribal Style for the art created through the interaction between dancers.
Jasmine Shea
Jasmine has enjoyed a diverse dance background since childhood, participating in many musical theatre productions in and around her hometown. It wasn't until 2003 during her junior year of high school that Jasmine was exposed to bellydance, and she was hooked from the very beginning. She began her training in cabaret style bellydance through Amira Dance Productions in Wichita, KS, which continued until 2006. Upon her relocation to the Fayetteville area in 2009, Jasmine felt a strong pull to resume her dance studies. She watched many recorded performances of American Tribal Style bellydance and was totally transfixed with the poise, power and presence of the dancers. She soon began dancing under the instruction of troupe leader Datura and fell irrevocably in love with improvisational bellydance. The themes of unified movement, elegance, groundedness, strength and spontaneous artistry resonate deeply with her. She hopes soon to attain a General Skills Certification in American Tribal Style bellydance, but until then, she can be found dancing up a storm with the wonderful women of TerraNova Tribal.
Amethyst Moon
Amethyst
Moon has had a passion for dancing since the age of seven. Originally
from Kingston, Jamaica, she is now a talented seventeen-year-old who
studies several forms of dance, including Ballroom, Hip-Hop, and
Modern. She has always been drawn to tribal bellydance, and in 2009
became a founding member of TerraNova Tribal.
On performing, Amethyst Moon says, "The energy from the crowd, enjoying
our way of expressing ourselves through the movement of our
bodies...it's like no other energy in this world." She's the youngest
member of our group, but puts her heart and soul into every move. The
costumes, the fun, the spirituality, the love - Amethyst Moon embraces
it all!
Kevana
Kevana is another TerraNovan
supermom. As she cares for her four children, she finds time to manage
her personal business Rouse Jewelry, teach yoga at the Fayetteville Athletic
Club, and dance her hips off with TerraNova Tribal. She loves all forms of
movement. “I believe that dancing is how we, as women, connect with our
history.”