Jillee
Greetings! My name is Jill. I'm a native Northern Californian and I have been dancing American Tribal Style for 4 years. I now teach Level 2 classes in the BlackSheep format. My good friends and tribal sisters Martha Jane and Azza first introduced me to ATS. I noticed how much Martha and Azza both loved tribal and they lit up when ever they talked about it. Then I saw a performance and it was all down hill from there. I immediately fell in love with the costumes, music and above all the dance itself. I began taking lessons with Kajira the following session and have been dedicated to ATS ever since. I feel very fortunate to have received such precious knowledge straight from the source. Kajira was truly an inspiration and learning from her was a beautiful experience.

In addition to my love for ATS I also have been experimenting with fusing fire props with tribal fusion movement. At TribalFest '06 I had the honor of teaching a fire-fusion bellydance worksop. I'm always looking for new ways to grow and create. American Tribal Style has truly been a blessing. I thank the universe for bringing me this beautiful goddess dance. Love and Peace to all! Namasté.

Lu Sha
Lu Sha has danced since she was about 5 years old. When she was 5 years old, she would try to do hula like the dancers she saw on TV. At age 11 she started taking dance lessons which included Jazz, Hula, Ballet and continued studying dance throughout grade school and into high school.

After carreers and children she began dancing again and starting belly dancing with videos by Veena & Neena. It was so much fun, she decided to get serious and obtain more intensive training and found her teacher, Kajira, and the troupe BlackSheep BellyDance and began studying with them in 2002. She loves the spontaneity, grace and synchronized group improvisational style of American Tribal Style "ATS" bellydancing. She is now studying with Kajira and Seba of BlackSheep BellyDance and has become a member of the troupe. She has also obtained her certificate as a Level I teacher of Kajira's unique ATS format. She loves dancing with the troupe and feels blessed to know and study with all of the members of BlackSheep BellyDance.

Cherié

Cherié was born and raised in a small town in Oklahoma. In 2000, she followed her heart to California. In late 2003, she enrolled in a belly dance class & soon after attended a Southern California belly dance festival. She saw tribal style belly dance for the first time and was hooked. She bought Kajira’s American Tribal Style Belly Dance video & contacted Kajira by e-mail. Soon after, she moved to Northern California & began classes with BlackSheep. She was first drawn to tribal style because of its unique improvisational format and eclectic costuming. She feels tribal style belly dance provides the opportunity for feminine expression & tribal sisterhood. She began performing with BlackSheep as a student in May of 2004 and became a troupe member in 2006.

Cherié currently resides in Sebastopol with her husband and three children. She has a B.A. in nursing & worked in labor and delivery for seven years. She is now a full time mother and home schools her children using the Waldorf method. She recently enrolled in a local Waldorf teacher training program. Cherié also enjoys fire dancing and spinning fire, performing regularly with a bay area group, Synergy.





Kristen

Kristen Cortenbach has been a member of BlackSheep BellyDance since April of 2006. She began taking lessons in the fall of 2003, moved out of Santa Rosa for a little over a year and returned to Santa Rosa, and belly dancing, in the fall of 2005. Kristen’s involvement in dance expands beyond Belly Dance to include Modern Dance as well. Kristen studied Modern Dance for five years in college and in the spring of 2003 graduated from Sonoma State University with a degree in Dance and Psychology. Kristen enjoys the excitement of both forms of dance but her love and passion for Belly Dance is inspired by her mother who has been Belly Dancing since 1975.

Tracie

My name is Tracie and I became a student of BlackSheep BellyDance in November of 2004 and was indoctrinated as a Lamb in April of 2006. In March 2007 I became a Sheep. I never thought that I would ever call myself a belly dancer and was persistent in refusing my two roommates at the time, who were both sheep, to participate in any dance form that highlighted my belly. I can’t tell you what changed, maybe I had watched enough performances or found some hidden courage, but going to classes was one of the best risks I ever took. It did wonders for my body image, gave me a sense of community and I fell in love with the spontaneity of American Tribal Style Belly Dance. It is beautiful, energetic and challenging. You never know what is coming next and this keeps you on your toes. Part of the reason I dance is for my own enjoyment, but it is also to touch people and perhaps inspire others to see themselves differently, try the unexpected and take classes. Kajira’s support and direction has taught me to be a dancer and as a result impacted the person I am today, also giving me a great outlet for stress relief. In my professional life I am a therapist, working with emotionally disturbed adolescents.

Reyna

I started taking classes with BlackSheep BellyDance in September of 2005 and in December of 2006, I was made a Lamb and in July of 2007 became a BlackSheep. Never having seen a belly dance performance, I decided to take classes with my sister Robin, to try something different. I never imagined that I would enjoy this dance as much as I do. Dancing Kajira's format has brought out a certain confidence and grace in me that I never knew I had.

In addition to belly dance, I enjoy playing on seasonal softball and golfing leagues in Healdsburg, where I have lived for the last 20 years. I also work at an accounting office in Healdsburg, doing payroll and bookkeeping for several local companies.


Robin

Hello, my name is Robin. I was born in Carmel, California, but I have been living in Sonoma County for the past 20 years. I started taking classes with BlackSheep in 2005, and after the first class, I knew this was going to become an important part of my life. I love that ATS is improvisational, which is part of what makes it so beautiful and powerful. Kajira, my dance sisters, and especially my teacher, Seba, have been such an inspiration, and I feel so fortunate to be a part of this troupe.

Dancing has opened my eyes to some other wonderful interests that I now pursue outside of dance, including Bikram Yoga and ethnic jewelry. I am also an Accountant at a mortgage company in Novato and a full-time student.

Megan

Megan Rincon, also affectionately called Megandeath or MDeath by her dance sisters, has been bellydancing since 2002 and dancing in general since age 5.
In the beginning of her bellydance journey Megan’s practice and participation was very sporadic. Until 2004 when she returned to class and rediscovered her love for this dance form and has been dancing religiously ever since. Megan became a BlackLamb in December of 2006 and was made a BlackSheep in July of 2007.
At first she wasn’t sure if bellydance was were she belonged. She stood in her first class as the only 15-year-old student with a mohawk, a tattoo and piercings. Then, Kajira walked into the room full of light, with tattoos, individuality and pride. From that moment, Kajira inspired Megan to become a bellydancer.
Since then, Seba has been teaching and inspiring Megan for the greater part of her bellydance journey. She has learned so much from Seba and loves how she continuously encourages Megan to push her boundaries as a dancer.
Bellydance has become the most important journey in Megan’s life. Through Tribal Bellydance, she has discovered: empowerment in being a unique individual, camaraderie with her dance sisters and an artistic outlet for self-expression. She hopes to one day become a bellydance teacher so she can pass the magic of this dance on to other women, as her teachers Kajira and Seba have for so many.