TerriLynn
Hi, my name is TerriLynn and I’m a bellydance-aholic! I first started bellydancing when a friend of mine from college asked me to sign up for classes with her. We hadn’t been in touch for awhile, so I thought it would be a great opportunity to reconnect with her. Little did I know, she would be the one responsible for one of the greatest things I’ve ever done in my life!
When the Strays asked their students to participate in an event called Dancing On The Edge in May 2008, I thought, “Nah, there’s no way I can get up and dance in front of people!” As much as I loved bellydancing, I never thought I would perform. That was until a group of girls from class who I became very close with, convinced me to do it. “We get to dance the dance we love and dress up in all of our new shiny, sparkly bellydance outfits,” they said. How can you say no to that! But I convinced that I was going to be sick right up to the second I went on stage. And the minute our performance was over, I thought, “When can I do that again!” And that was the moment I knew I was a bellydancer for life!
Bellydancing makes me feel alive! I’ve never had any sort of training in dance and I’ve been clumsy all of my life. But once you take the time to dedicate yourself to learning this beautiful dance, you realize that anyone can do it! I love the way bellydancing makes me feel and I’ve learned to become confident in myself as a dancer and as a person.
On May 11th, 2009, those same girls who convinced me to do my first performance and myself, officially became Neighbourhood Strays, after being known as Baby Strays for 6 months. It was one of the happiest moments of my life! I had admired the Strays from the minute I first saw them perform as a troupe. They were beautiful, graceful, and dignified and how I wanted to be like them! So to be asked to join this amazing and inspiring group of women, was a dream come true! It is truly an honor and a privilege to be a part of this troupe.
“To watch us dance is to hear our hearts speak.” ~Hopi Indian Saying
Photo by Jared Reid.
