I was born in Cold Lake, AB, and lived most of my childhood and early adult life in Edmonton. I finally flew the nest in my mid to late 20s, spending 5 1/2 years in Broward County, Florida, working for the Broward County Library system, and 4 1/2 years in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, working at the Higher Colleges of Technology. I have since repatriated and currently live in Regina, SK.
Educational highlights included a stint at Victoria Composite High School right at the beginning of its transformation into Victoria School for the Arts, a Bachelor of Arts in Music and English and a Masters in Library and Information Studies at the University of Alberta.
I have had a lifelong involvement in the arts, including time in the Alberta Ballet School, Edmonton Public School system choirs and string programs, The Citadel Theatre School, Edmonton Musical Theatre, and a few years of private vocal training with the esteemed Linda Perillo. Whilst in Florida, I performed musical theatre with the Broward on Broadway; in Abu Dhabi, I did some acting with the Abu Dhabi Dramatic Society, based out of the British Club.
My most recent focus, however, has been Middle Eastern Dance, or Raqs Sharqi. I began my journey into Danse Orientale in Florida, with Myriam Eli of Harmonic Motion. Myriam's style reflected her training in the hotbed of the New York bellydance scene of the 60s and 70s, where she studied and danced with the likes of Serena and Morocco, and she's the only teacher I've had that remains dedicated to teaching bellydance as a primarily solo, improvised art, danced to live music, focusing on classic elements like zill playing and the five-part routine. I had high hopes of learning some "real, authentic" dance in Abu Dhabi, but unfortunately it did not happen; the local population was quite insular and any teachers I found were either not as good as I already was or were such poor teachers I had to quit class fearing injury. After moving to Regina, I began studying under Linda Yablonski, a dedicated dancer who runs the only bellydance studio in the city and Knows Her Stuff. Currently, I dance with her intermediate cabaret troupe, The Jewels, and her advanced American Tribal Style troupe, Ya La Habibi.
I am an on-again-off-again henna artist, and an on-again-off-again tarot reader. I enjoy yoga, when I can find the time to get on my mat, cooking, and camping. I am a voracious reader.
I have one daughter, a beautiful girl born in 2010, and I am currently at home with her full time.