I have been performing since the age of 4, when I realized what I wanted to be when I grew up (a famous actress, of course!).  So I dedicated myself to the study of theater, music, mask work, history, storytelling and language.  Through the years my love for dance created a desire to study ballet, modern, jazz and yoga as well as pursuing an active ‘club’ dancing life.  Still, being sure I knew what I wanted to be, I received a Bachelor’s degree in theater from Cal State Long Beach and then decided to continue my acting education at the California Institute of the Arts.  It was here that I reached a crucial turning point, and began a whole new journey as an artist.  While at Cal Arts, I became a part of a community of dancers who gathered in the Mojave desert on full moons.  This experience of free movement along with my new studies in Performance Art, Balinese dance, T’ai Chi, contact improv, and Alexander technique brought me to an acceptance that I was more passionate about being a performance artist than an actor.  I began to create my own works; pieces that were very personal and that united my acting skills with movement and multimedia.  Something extraordinary happened: what was “performance” became ritual, what was “acting” became being.  I found that by putting myself out there in a very open and vulnerable way, my audience had the opportunity to transform; creating deeper understanding and connection between us all.  I have never looked back.  Though I received my MFA in acting, the experience of those years manifested a brand new desire in me: to create powerful exchanges between the hearts and minds of audience and dancer, to never move without intention, to use this art form as a catalyst for consciousness.  When I was invited to study Middle Eastern dance in 1999, there was a seamless connection to what I was already doing.  The feminine power of belly dance and its roots in the temple dance of my ancestors was the next tone in the chorus.  Butoh, Kung Fu and American Tribal Style all contribute their voice to the song as well, one I feel I will be composing for the rest of my days.

NAMASTE