Christiane 

As a child, dance for me was something that other people did and enjoyed. Although I liked the ballet class my mother enrolled me, the teacher was a screaming harridan. I was doubly cursed because I missed almost every single recital because of a major childhood illness!

My love of performing was focused in other directions: stage shows and singing in high school, learning how to play the guitar later on. But learning how to bellydance was a dream. Eventually I did have my first classes with Habiba of Philadelphia, a wonderful lady who gave me hope by telling me that I had a great Egyptian shimmy. My interest in gothic music and clubbing was able to be fulfilled about the time I had first started lessons with Habiba. I used to take class with Habiba on Leithgow Street, then run down to Digital Ferret on 5th Street to show Patrick Rodgers my latest dance moves and to buy gothic music for my collection. Around this time, at 2nd and Bainbridge, Ulana's Nightclub started hosting a gothic Saturday night party. It was on our way to Ulana's one night that my husband and I stopped for dinner at a sumptuous new Middle Eastern restaurant called Diwan. Looking at the setting, my husband and I thought it would be a great place to hold an alternative club night. My husband and 13th Child promoter John Rambo began operating two nights there, and the resident bellydancer, Aisha Anoor, taught some beginning classes as well as performing at some of the nights. Seeing her do a sword dance to dark music inspired me.

Learning American Tribal Style bellydance shaped my dancing into a flavorful fusion, and my growing involvement in the local gothic scene in Philadelphia told me there could be a place for gothic bellydancers. I was lucky to find other ladies who share my vision ~ my wonderfully talented troupe sisters in Ak-Ana! They've inspired me to reach out in new directions.