A Flyer in a Coffee Shop
Tiffany's love affair with American Cabaret style belly dance began in 1995 in the town of Bend, Oregon when she saw a flyer in a coffee shop. That night Tiffany's first teacher, Yemaya, did a brief performance as a demonstration for her students and Tiffany knew she was hooked.

A Rhythm that Drives the Soul
Ten years later, Tiffany is still dancing, now as an established performer and instructor in the Portland, Oregon belly dance community. She says "the music, the movement, and the people I've met keep me excited and inspired by this art form". When explaining her love of the music, Tiffany says, "The rhythm drives my soul." Tiffany has recently begun taking classes in Arabic to learn more about the languages and cultures that have shaped the history of this dance. She is also taking drumming lessons from Michael Beach, the bandleader of local favorite Brothers of the Baladi, in order to gain a better understanding of Middle Eastern music.

A Diva with a Mission
Performing is Tiffany's favorite part of being a belly dancer. "Performing is it for me," she says, "I don't get much out of dancing in the privacy of my own home for my cat." She likes performing in restaurants and at private events, and regards these performances as unique opportunities to educate people who might otherwise never encounter the dance. "People get really excited when the belly dancer comes out, but they also get a little uncomfortable," she says, "I like performing for people who have no idea what I'm doing. I feel like I get to educate them and bring them out of their shells." Tiffany is also an active member in the belly dance community and enjoys performing for and showing support to her fellow dancers.

You Don't Realize How Cool You Really Look...
One of Tiffany's favorite aspects of belly dancing is the wardrobe. She says she loves the costumes, exclaiming, "I feel like a movie star daaahling! Beads, sequins, flowing silk, chiffon, and satin! You don't realize how cool you really look until you have to walk through a Safeway to pick up hairspray or safety pins before a performance!"

Becoming the Mama Bear
Tiffany began teaching at the Viscount Dance Studios in 2001. "Teaching brought my dancing to a brand new level," she says, "I have gotten cleaner, more controlled, and more technical. It's different when you become the mama bear...people start really paying attention." When asked to describe her teaching style, Tiffany laughs and says, "I'm kind of a dork." When pressed to elaborate, she adds, "I strive to teach proper technique and make people laugh and have a good time. This is a community dance as well as a way to work out and feel better about yourself." Tiffany's students have described Tiffany's classes are fun and challenging. They say the atmosphere in her classes is engaging, supportive, and really fun.

Training
Tiffany has taken classes and workshops with several local instructors and troupes including:
" Yemaya
" Nemra Khan
" Jane Archer
" Gypsy Caravan

In addition to training with local instructors, Tiffany has taken intensive workshops with some of the nation's top instructors including:
" Suhaila Salimpour
" Ansuya
" Shareen Al Safy
" Aziza

Performances
Tiffany brings a wide range of influences to her dance style, including "Jazz, Modern, and belly dance. I like to think of it as a Gypsy style. I use all of my dance experience when I perform." Of her major strengths as a performer, she says, "I'm an honest person and an honest dancer. I'm very uninhibited when I perform. I'm very energetic and I try to look everyone in the eye when I enter a room. I also pride myself on my grace."

Tiffany has performed in many local venues with different bands including:
" Brother's of the Baladi
" Arabesque
" Pangia
" Vagabond Opera
" Children of Paradise
" Americanistan
" Mediterranian Raqsband
" And many more bands and artists who are no longer active in the local scene

A One Woman Circus Act
When asked what her favorite things about belly dancing and being a belly dancer are, Tiffany exclaims, "I love to dance! Wearing a cute costume and balancing a sword on my head is a bonus as well." While she enjoys props and the interest they add to her dancing, she says, "These things are all kind of just crowd pleasers. It adds a different dimension to your dance. You become a one woman circus act."

Tiffany is known to use many different props in her performances, including:
" Sword
" Double Sword
" Veil
" Candle
" Finger Cymbals (Zills)