Neenah Loves her Belly Dancing Teacher, Zeyna: Zeyna was Neenah’s Belly Dancing Teacher who Opened the Amazing Doors to the World of Belly Dancing.

I met Zeyna back in the late 1980’s when she was performing at the Goldfinger in Dallas, Texas. My husband and I went to dinner and saw her amazing show. We were so impressed by her show. She had stage presence, a classy aura, beautiful gold and black costume, performed the best floor-work I have ever seen, and great audience participation. The audience loved her! I was so impressed when she came to our table afterwards and introduced herself with that beautiful smile. She was classy on-stage and off-stage, meticulously dressed in an evening gown and her make-up and nails were absolutely perfect. All I was thinking was that I wish I could be a belly dancer like her. By the end of the night, my husband nudged me several times to go and ask her if she teaches belly dancing classes. Back in the 80’s belly dancing classes were very limited. I told her I loved her floor and wanted to know if she would help me with mine. In her Midwestern accent, she asked me if I knew how to do the splits. I sheepishly said “no.” She continues to say to me, “You look like a straight decent kid, you have a nice husband, good family and you are in school.” [Note: I was a stay at home mom and at that time our 3 daughters were 3,2 and 1 years old. They also got to know Zeyna. She taught them how to be strong swimmers]. After a long pause, she says “Yeah, I will teach you, but I am very picky about who I teach to, so you gotta listen to me and pay attention ..”___Was I in for a big surprise. Zeyna has spent years with me since then, drilling in my mind the importance of costuming, make-up, stage presence and the audience and still coaches me today about the world of Belly Dancing. The up and coming BLOGS will describe her belly dancing career, specifically in New York where she was re-known and referred to as “Gypsy.” The BLOGS will also follow with the amazing Belly Dancers who influenced her belly dancing performance and molded her dancing career. I can’t wait to share.