I am very excited to announce that we now have the second part of our interview with the famous Mother-Daughter duo on our site.  In the following interview, you get a glimpse of Atlantis’ inspiration and her passion for the beautiful art form.  Atlantis, thank you very much for this interview and for your honesty through all of this.

1. When did you take your first Belly Dance Class?

You’ll never guess who my teacher was! That’s right – TONYA! I just wanted to be as beautiful as my mom was on and off stage! So i took up the art as well. What most people don’t know about her is, as well as being GORGEOUS out side, her “INNER BEAUTY”" comes though in everything she does. It was also a cultural enhancement for me, as my dad ,Andreas Chianis is a famous Greek clarinetist. Tonya, and my dad , Andreas, owned a Greek night club called the “Trojan Horse” restaurant in Long Beach. They owned / managed it with FULL entertainment!  They employed a 4 to 5 piece LIVE band from Greece, BELLY DANCING SHOWS NIGHTLY!, AUTHENTIC GREEK FOOD (I put that in caps because most restaurants homogenize the menu for americanized tastes) open 7 days and nights a week! A couple of nights a week at their restaurant, Tonya, taught class before the show in our banquet room.  She then, produced her ‘Belly Dancer of the Universe Showcase ‘ in the restaurant. (This was only ONE of the MANY places she taught, but it had a direct effect on me.) I watched from the kitchen, and learned from class, and from being on the stage…. This gave me a great example of professional and student level of dancer. This is why, she so strongly feels, you should start w/ practical application in the field , because you learn so much that way. I was dance educated, and grew up in a working environment. I know how a restaurant and entertainment SHOULD be handled , proper protocol (that is so missing in most events today ), and the hard work, and i do mean hard work that goes into having a quality product. . It has held me in good stead w/ my current business practices within my own entertainment and event coordination company ” BELLY DANCER OF THE UNIVERSE” here in Long Beach California.

2. When did I decide to become a Belly Dancer?

When I saw TONYA perform professionally at a club.  I was LITTLE so i don’t remember which one, just that she was FANTASTIC , and unique in look and presentation! Tonya stresses that A LOT in class – be who” YOU” are not a” COPY” of me. That and ”IT’S NOT WHAT YOU KNOW IT’S HOW GOOD YOU LOOK ,DOING WHAT YOU KNOW “.  There are a lot of well trained, highly educated dancers out there, BUT, I have seen students that blow them away, just because of that fact. 

3. Besides your career as a belly dncer, what are your other professions?

Well I MAKE my living by being :BELLY DANCER OF THE UNIVERSE”.  This is not a fly by night thing, or an opportunity to make $$$$. This IS my career, I came out dancing! ALL KINDS of dancing! Some of this, is due to the fact that my grandmother was a professional ballet dancer and teacher w/ her studio next to the Winter Gardens, on 57th in New York, (down the hall from Martha Grahams studio).  I am currently an actress, writer, producer, choreographer and promoter . I have also been in the past been, a baby sitter, fitness trainer, and professional dishwasher, ( you don’t have parents in the restaurant bus w/ out doing a few dishes and clean up keeps ya grounded), and my favorite…… pet sitter.  I, as Tonya, am an animal rescue advocate and we do what we can.

4. How did you start with the dancing?

I went to work with Tonya , and she told me one of her bosses came to see her dance, and
he was in the audience.   She said he wanted to see ME dance!? After I wet my pants, Tonya told me that he hated dancers that did not play ZILS! Well, I had not had the courage to play them before, but, if you know me, (I am affectionately called ‘ LITTLE MISS NO FEAR ‘” by my true friends) I rallied!!! On went the zils out went the little girl and back came BELLY DANCER OF THE UNIVERSE! (ha- ha-ha!!!!) 

5. What prompted you or inspired you to start The Belly Dancer of The Universe Competition?

Tonya’s Originality, Integrity,Knowledge of the dance itself, Cultural Heritage, and a desire to have the art respected & recognized in the main stream of dance and entertainment, thus disassociating and dispelling negative myths that can some times surround this cultural art form. 

6. Have either of you encountered any obstacles in your career as a dancer?

I WHOLEHEARTEDLY agree with Tonya on this! The lack of professional ethics is rampant in this business! I can not at times believe the lengths to which someone will go, to obtain a job.  To have no class, and get up DURING someone else’s show, at a club, and dance through their performance WHILE they are trying to entertain is unthinkable. They pass their business card directly to the boss as the show is going on and say “I do that too ! call me!”, instead of talking to another dancer re: the job situation. ( ex:. Are they looking for any substitute dancers to fill in for them? or “Do you know who is hiring in the area? i am new here….. ) If they invite you to get up and display your personal talents, be gracious enough , and do not copy another dancers style or act. Wait for an invite , do not jump up and dance through the other persons show and give an unsolicited audition, on someone else’s time! That is just above and beyond tacky!!! I also can not condone going in and offering the same show that someone else is doing , especially for less $$$$$$$. Whether it’s a show- case or just a show. Know your own realm and capabilities.The strangest thing that has happened to us, is someone wanted to do a show or competition, just like what we offer, even in the same place! They are not able able to make it work for them. They then call us and asked for our help. Don’t make the mistake and assume that if it works for someone else, you can do it too! Or that it must be easy! It’s NOT! Think of something you know how to do, or something different you can offer and do it in a different place and time please!

7. The Belly Dancer of The Universe Competition is considered the most prestigious of
all Belly Dance competitions. What advice would you give some- one who would like to compete, regardless of level or years of training?

Thank you for the compliments on the event! Your only competition should be with yourself! You are your best and worst critic. The competition was created to promote good will among dancers, to further knowledge of the dance and give practical application in the field, while challenging yourself to go above your usual peak of perfection. Come in with good spirit, self awareness of what you exactly wish to accomplish, and most of all, humility. Everyone is putting out their best up there, and behind the scenes to make a great event. Everyone is equal as a person and deserves the same consideration as you do, even the coordinators of the event. However, know yourself. How do you react to “rejection” or not winning? If you don’t win, do NOT blame the producer, or a certain judge , or the # you went on, or bad mouth the event etc…etc. etc… and if you hear that from a current OR prior competitor , dismiss it and know where they are coming from. Bad sportsmanship! Make it your own personal growth experience. Be a logical person , this was the choice you personally made. You chose the costume, you chose the music , you choreographed your routine.  All your personal choices, and it’s one performance. NOW enjoy the other benefits this event provides. Go take a class in something you feel you could use improvement on from and expert in the field. Net work with other dancers and celebrity judges you admire, shop for a new costume, enjoy the shows ,and eat, drink and be merry and most of all… don’t let it stop you from entering next year!

8. How has Belly Dancing helped your relationship with your mom/daughter? 

It is at times, (not often though) VERY hard to work with someone that is close to you. You must at times divorce yourself from the fact that you are related, and dismiss the warm and fuzzy views or opinions concerning work. Tonya is TOO NICE at times and at times. I am not! This however creates a balance between us.  Tonya’s assets and contributions to this business are completely different than mine, and I learn a lot from her. Tonya’s, non aggressive, passionate and compassionate views on life ,and work ,and how they intertwine, reflect in her business style. Doing the “HONORABLE ” or “RIGHT” thing is a very important creed in my upbringing. I am so fortunate to have had parents that implemented that thought process throughout their daily lives. It’s truly something they live by, and strive to uphold , in whatever they do! I admire, love, and commend them to the highest degree! 

Well, this interview ends, as it began ” TONYA ” . that says it all for me! I , thank you for this opportunity to share part of my life with you, and taking the time out of your busy day to read this interview. Time is one of the biggest commodities one can give that and the gift of ones self. I thank my parents for giving me both, time and themselves ! They also gave me life and something they both dearly love - this dance!!