Hi Everyone,

This is Z-Helene. It has come to my attention that some of you don't know about me and I've been asked to give some backround info. So here it is! I have a BA in Theatre Arts from Franklin and Marshall College. I've been belly dancing since 1977 and was trained in that old '70's style, which I still love. My early studies took me from Hollywood with Marie Silva to New York with Ibrahim Farrah and since then to countless of other teachers as well. I have a NATCMED certification, which is the National Teacher Certification for Middle Eastern dance. I also have extensive training (26 years, on and off for each) in modern, East Indian, African and Flamenco dance. I also have a one- year Iyengar Yoga teacher certification and am certified through AAFA as an Aerobic's instructor. I've been teaching Middle Eastern dance, aerobics and yoga for Austin Community College since 1989. I've also been a nationally registered massage therapist since 1985. Add to this a large amount of theatre experience. So, those are my credentials.
Now, for the nuts and bolts of my performing and teaching. I've always been a fusion Middle Eastern dance person, even from my early days. In 1985 I created a ME fusion style called Blue Wave dance and produced several dance show events with grants from the City of Austin, TX. I, along with my husband Rick Fink, have marketed several belly dance videos and CD's of original belly dance fusion music. I love adding an "alive" element to my shows, with lots of spontaneous improvs with Rick, my percussionist (it's GREAT having a husband who plays drums for you!). I've also been known to break out into poetry and song as part of my dance shows. I guess you could say I do belly dance performance art. As far as my teaching goes, I like to do large group improvisations that warm up the whole body and get the creative juices flowing. Then we get down to business with some hard core technique training. I can teach choreographies or combinations. I love veil and my "Ode to the Elements" video has some incredibly creative group veil choreographies. My zills, if I may be so bold to say so, are exceptional and exhilarating and way out of the normal belly dance box as I use a lot of unusual syncopations and theatre and poetry with them. We do a lot of zills in my classes. People love my classes! For what it's worth, I can also roll 10 quarters up and down 3 times one at a time and, actually, it's pretty hard to do!
So there you have it. If you have any more questions about who I am and what I do, email me here or at home (zhelene@grandecom.net) or go to my website (www.zhelene.com) or call me (512-927-2580). I thank Zymirrah for making me do this!

Yours in wonderful and creative dance,
Z-Helene

TF TX was Cyn, Heather and Katy. ....ad then Cyn moved to SF in 2005....

Heather and Katy now dance under the name Liquid Hips... They have been joined by Brandye ( pardon me if i spelled that wrong) Brandye - ( BrandX) was one of the Dev girls in Cali ... she now resides in the DFW area. They are awesome - very much that same style.

Heather and Katy also dance under the TF banner when they are with the Cali gurls. It sure makes rehearsals tough.

That's what I know...

YEAH!!!!!!!!!!! good times will be had by all.

ky