Recent Updates & Random Ramblings

08/28/08 Sunday classes will be canceled this weekend for the Labor day Holiday. Classes resume the next week so I look forward to seeing you all thenhave a safe and fun weekend!!!!

07/05/08 Sunday classes at the Great Lakes Inn are back on schedule! There should be no cancellations for July and most of August so things are pretty much back to normal! Yippie!! I hope to see everyone in class this week, have a safe and fun filled long weekend!

5/13/08

4/24/08 Classes are as scheduled this week. I'm looking forward to seeing you all!

3/19/08 Classes will resume at their regularily scheduled times this week. Also, I have recieved a new shipment of hipscarves that will be available for sale starting this Sunday!

Just a reminder, there will be no classes this Sunday March 16 2008

New Beginning Level classes starting this week in South Haven!!!

Reminder: Classes will be cancelled Sunday, Feb. 3rd. They will resume at their regularily scheduled times the following week.

1/9/08 We have a new location for the Sunday classes. They will now be held at the Great Lakes Inn and Suites Banquet Hall located on the corner if M 140 and Blue Star Highway. The address is 09817 M140, South Haven, Michigan 49090. Classes will be starting at this location on Sunday, January 20.

10/2/07 The time forthe Sunday class have changed. Please see the Classes page for all the most recent information.

8/31/07 Hi Everyone!!!!
Stephanie Barto workshop in South Haven!!!!
The morning session will focus on American Tribal Style (ATS) and the afternoon will focus on urban combinations and drilling.
When: October 6th
Where: The Ol' Factory, 422 Eagle Street, South Haven, Michigan
Cost: $45 before September 21st. $55 after.
registration begins at 9am
workshop begins at 10am
lunch at noon
resume at 1pm
wrap up at 3pm
show begins at 8pm, doors open at 7:30pm.
admission: $10
Halloween Hafla Featuring:
- Stephanie Barto & Read My Hips
- Sabrina Parshall
- Joette Sawall
- Tribal Corps
- Crystal Dunlap & Unveiled Dance Company
- Aminah (of Blue Cat Tribe & Twisted Hipz)
- Ahlam
- Maria
and many more!

6/3/07 Mayfaire was wonderful!! A little soggy, but wonderful none the less. Everyone there made us feel at home and welcomed us into the group. I can't thank everyone enough, I had a terriffic time. Pictures should be coming soon.
There will be classes Sundays June 3 and June 10 at Westshore Family Fitness then it's on to Derbyshire in Muskegon. Check the Apperarances page for specific information. The Sunday class at Westshore Family Fitness will be cancelled on June 17 and 24 and July 15. p>

5/9/07 I have the summer Renaissance Faire performance schedule ready. Check the Apperarances page for specific information. The Sunday class at Westshore Family Fitness will be cancelled on May 20 and 27, June 17 and 24 and July 15. p>

3/8/07 I'm back from Egypt!! I had the most UNBELIEVEABLE time!!!! I've made some wonderful new friends and I've learned a lot about dance as well as myself. I had the opportunity to see shows by Randa Kamel, and Dina as well as many others and I took classes wilth Amani of Cairo, Randa Kamel and Aida Noor!!!! This has definately been an experience I'll never forget and I'd love to share it with all of you. In other news....Classes resume at their normal time this week I've got tons of new things to teach and a few new costumes as well.......:) p>

2/19/07 I'm bound for Egypt!! I will be leaving for Egypt on February 24,2007. I will returning March 7, 2007. During the time that I am gone I will be unreachable. If you wish to contact me I will be checking my email upon my return. Please do not leave me a voice mail until I return as I may not be able to get them all. While I am gone, the Sunday class at Westshore Family Fitness will be cancelled.

2/4/07 Due to the weather, the Belly Dance class at Westshore Family Fitness will be cancelled today. Class will resume next week.

1/12/07Happy New Year!! The Sultana Dancers of Grand Rapids will be hosting a workshop with Sonya of Chicago on January 20, 2007. I will be performing in the show that evening. For information visit www.sultana-dancers.net.

12/23/06 Happy Holidays!!!! Classes will be cancelled both on December 24 and on December 31 for the Hollidays. Classes will resume as usual starting the week of January 7 2007. I hope everyone has a safe and Happy Holidays and I will see you next year!!!!

11/22/06 Just a reminder, class will be cancelled Sunday Nov. 26 for the Thanksgiving weekend. See you all in 2 weeks!!

9/19/06 As we are approaching fall it is time to prepare for the fall sessions of Belly Dance!! The new session will start September 24, 2006. Among other changes for the fall season, this session I will be offering a Beginning Level class as well as an Intermediate Level class. Beginning Belly Dance will be on Sunday's from 1:30pm – 2:30pm and will run in a 6 week session starting September 24 and ending October 29. Intermediate Belly Dance will be on Sunday's from 2:30pm – 3:30pm and will run in a continuous format. Both Classes will take place at Westshore Family Fitness which is located at 125 Elkenburg Street, South Haven, Michigan. Please contact me for more information, with any questions or concerns you may have, or with any bits of useless trivia you would like to share.

9/9/06 Sunday September 16 I will be at Oasis Dance Camp. It's a wonderful learning experience both in dance and in life. You can check it out at www.oasisdancecamp.com or you can also get there by visiting the "Links" portion of the site. This means there will be a special class that Sunday. Trever Parshall, our Doumbek player, will be teaching a special drumming for dancers class. Trever has studied extensively in New Orleans with Dominic the "Drum Doc" as well as with Jerimiah Soto of SOLACE. You should all come if you have the chance!!!! Also, I have some new pictures up (finally) so if you get the chance you should check out the photo gallery. Remember, I love to get feedback!

8/15/06 I'm presently in the process of reconfiguring the class schedule. I hope to be adding an intermediate level class with the fall session. If you are interested in either a beginning or intermediate level class please contact me and let me know. This does not commit you to anything, I'm just looking for a rough count. If there isn't enough interest, we may have to stick with one level for the fall session.

8/04/06 Ok,... So I got back from New Orleans at about 1:30 Wednesday morning. I had a wonderful time!!!! It was so good to see all of the Sisters of Salome (www.sistersofsalome.com) as well as my former students and well everyone else too. I learned a lot and I can't wait to share it with you all. Just a quick note if anyone makes it to the Glad Peach Festival in Coloma, I'll be performing with The Vi Shafer School of the Dance on Saturday at about 12:15ish.

7/12/06 I just want to announce that everything should be running normally this week. No cancelled classes or anything like that. I also am excited to announce that I will be attending a workshop in New Orleans at the end of the month!! I'm really excited to see everyone (I miss my New Orleans Sisters and friends of the Sisters, and those Sisters who have been relocated) and a workshop seems like a good excuse to visit.

6/10/06 Saturday, June 17 and Sunday, June 17 as well as Saturday, June 24 and Sunday June 25, 2006 I will be performing at Derbyshire Renaissance Faire. This will means that either a substitute will be teaching or there is the possibility classes may have to be canceled. I will send an e-mail with definate information when I have it. I encourage you all to try to make it to the faire. It's the first year this particular fair is running and it promises to be alot of fun. You can get more information at www.derbyshirerenfaire.com. I hope to see you all there!!

5/18/06 Just a reminder that my Sunday class in South Haven MI is moving to a new location and time starting this week. Please check the "Classes" page for all the details.

4/27/06 Hello!!!! The workshop will Tamalyn Dallal this past weekend was wonderful. I learned so many steps and variations on steps that I can't wait to share them with everyone.

4/10/06 Hey everyone! Just a quick reminder. The Habibi's of Lansing Michigan are sponsering a workshop April 22 and 23 2006 featuring Tamalyn Dallal. Classes will be canceled Sunday April 23 because I will be attending the workshop. I will also be performing at the Mediterranean Grill in Kentwood, Michigan on April 22. See you all soon!!!!

3/5/06 Good News! I'm back from New Orleans and I'm officially completely relocated to South Haven, Michigan. Mardi Gras was great and I had a phenominal time seeing all of the Sisters Of Salome and the friends of the Sisters who were able to make it down. Don't forget, clsses are starting back up this week. Hope to see you all there!

2/20/06 I'm heading back to New Orleans for Mardi Gras and to finish my move to South Haven. Classes will be canceled the Tuesdays of Feb. 21 and Feb. 28 and the Sunday of Feb 26. Classes will resume Sunday, March 5 and Tuesday, March 7. Please contact me with any questions or concerns, I look forward to seeing you all soon!!

2/06/06 I'm back from New Orleans. I'm working now with a few dancers in Michigan. We will be performing every Saturday at the Mediterranean Grill at 6:30 and 8:00. We will be taking turns with who is dancing each week. I will be there this Saturday, February 11. Please see my appearances page for more details. I hope to see as many people as possible there!

1/14/06 I'm going to New Orleans!!!! I'm going to be able to perform a few times, visit some friends, while packing up my belongings to officially move back to Michigan. This also means that my Middle Eastern Dance classes are going to have the opportunity to study with a good frind of mine, Naimah of Grand Rapids while I'm gone. She will be teaching Sunday January 22 and 29 and Tuesday January 24. Naimiah is a wonderful person and a phenomenal teacher. If you'd like to learn more about her just visit my links, you'll find her there!

12/18/05 First of all I Would like to remind everyone that classes will be cancelled Sunday December 25, Tuesday December 27, and Sunday January 1, to allow everyone to travel and have some time off. Secondly, I"M an AUNT .... YIPPIE!!!! My sister had a healthly beautiful baby boy Wednesday. I'm so excited for her!!!!

11/28/05 I hope everyone had a wonderful holiday weekend and I would like to invite you all to check out the newly updated appearances.

11/19/05 Finally its's ready. The long awaited website is working. Please feel free to visit often I will be updating this portion on a regular (well, fairly regular) basis with updates on performances, classes and other random rants.