Datura, Founder & Creative Director Datura discovered bellydance at the age of five, when she saw a Moroccan bellydancer perform at Bush Gardens. The "bellydancer" became Datura's first Halloween costume and later in life became her favorite dance form. Datura has been teaching Tribal Fusion and American Tribal Style bellydance for six years, and founded the professional dance troupe Prairie Moon in Hastings, Nebraska in 2005. After moving to Fayetteville with her husband and three daughters in the Spring of 2007, she began teaching bellydance at the Fayetteville Athletic Club, where she also works as a certified Yoga and Pilates teacher, personal trainer and group class instructor. Datura has now begun a new journey with the founding of Arkansas troupe TerraNova Tribal.
Lulu (Deb Weddle), Assistant DirectorHaving a tendency to trip over her own feet, Lulu never considered studying dance until seeing a performance of the Bellydance Superstars in 2006 - she’s been hooked ever since. After two years of Cabaret, she began studying American and Improvisational Tribal Style with Datura in 2009. She enjoys and appreciates all forms of bellydance, but is most drawn to the grounded style and improvisational nature of ITS. Lulu constantly strives to improve her skills, and takes workshops (in all styles) whenever possible.
RhiannonRhiannon has danced all her life from grocery aisles to the stage. Her experience is an eclectic concoction of jazz, interpretive, swing, ballet, and bellydancing. As a bellydancer, she's trained in Cabaret, American & Improvisational Tribal Style, and Tribal Fusion. ITS and Tribal Fusion are most appealing because they both encourage breaking the rules and having fun in the process.
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.”
Email us for information on bookings & workshops.