My evolution to oriental dance, in a roundabout way, started when I was a young girl.  I was introduced to music, as most of us were, in elementary school music class.  From the first moment I was able, I joined the band; initially starting with the flute.  My first love has always been singing, so after leaving elementary school I tried out for sixth grade chorus and have been singing ever since. 
All through Jr. High and High School my life centered on the arts.  I participated in chorus, concert band, marching band, and jazz band; playing the flute, piccolo, and saxophone.  I Performed in High School dramas and musicals, even being selected for County and Diocesan band and chorus.  With a troubled home life, music has always made me feel like I knew where I belonged.  It was my outlet for expressing joy, sorrow, and everything in between.
Music is definitely my passion, but it was not the only thing in my life.  Over the years I also was a cheerleader, joined track and field, and performed in the indoor color guard.  Iif I would have had the chance, I probably would have done more athletics, but my music became my primary focus.
As years past after high school, there was not much opportunity for me to play my flute for anyone other than myself.  And the only time I would sing would be at home or in the bar on karaoke night.  As the saying goes “life happens.”  A husband, job, kids; all of this took precedence in my life now.  Eventually, as so many mothers do, I was left wondering who I was.  I asked myself “Is this it?  Is this who I am now?”  I watched singing and dance competition shows envious of those who were making their dreams come true.  I watched, longing for my music; my identity.
Several years ago a man I knew from a large city told me his wife was taking belly-dancing lessons.  The idea left a spark that has always flickered in the back of my head.  The thought was intriguing, but there was no one in my little town that offered such a thing; until Ziva.
As if by fate, with the thought always lingering in my head, I received a card in the mail in late 2007 advertising the opening of Ziva’s Dance Studio.  I had just started a demanding new job were I was overwhelmed every day with intense learning.  I knew I did not have the time or energy to start classes at this time.  But I knew one day I would be a belly dancer so I kept the post card on my home office desk.