I have always loved to dance-from the toes of my father to the dance floor at Rakkasah. I am inspired by my mother, who loved music and dance and taught me that life is short and that it should be filled with love, laughter and expression. I was first introduced to belly dance 30 years ago and I am today just as intrigued and mesmerized by it as I was then.  Since we formed Asha 10 years ago, I have enjoyed the camaraderie and sense of self that the dance has allowed me.  I am honored to be an ambassador of this art, sharing its expression with everyone I come in contact. I am off on a new adventure now, I have joined the Peace Corps and am working in a program to give assistance to  HIV positive, pregnant mothers so as not to transmit the disease in-vitro.  An amazing amount of the 15-40 year-old population in Africa has been wiped out due to AIDS, so I will also be working with a program to help the orphans. While in Botswana, I plan to learn the culture, their music and their dance.  I am only on hiatus from Asha and plan to return in 2009, so look to us then as we will be sporting some new African-influenced rhythms and dance.

ISLEEN'S PHOTO ALBUM