Our Writers
The following are our talented and active writers. Learn more about them and contact them!
Active Writers
| Sepi Gazeri |
About Sepi – Founder |
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Thank you for visiting Belly Dancing Diva! I started belly dancing during my college years at UCI where I was studying under Miriam. After graduating, I realized how difficult it is to find an instructor in the Orange County area and made my first attempt at a belly dance website with my friend Amy. As I continued taking more classes, my passion for the art form increased and I decided it was time to create a valuable site for all belly dancers in Orange County. Fast forward two years, the site has since grown into much more than a local directory and I couldn’t be more excited! |
| Jheri St James |
About Jheri – Belly Dance Scribe |
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After performing and teaching for a few centuries, belly dancer Jheri St. James’ fingers are now shimmying across the keyboard of her laptop. Her undulating mind floats freely among the many topics this art form offers—dance technique, theory, humor, colors, performance issues, psychology and spirituality—offering up inspiration, laughter and the wisdom of experience to her readers.
Jheri won two trophies in the Belly Dancer of the Universe Competition and is principal dancer of J.J. & the Habibis Laguna Beach Belly Dancers, popular performers in all of the Laguna Beach art festivals. The Habibis auditioned for “America’s Got Talent” and made it to the final 120 out of 6,000 auditioners before declining to sign the 65 page contract with NBC. She has also been active in Tribe Roman Morga Gypsy dancers, actively performing at many Renaissance Faires in California. Jheri is a member of CID-UNESCO, MECDA and SAMEDA and offers instruction in four levels of belly dancing in Laguna Beach and Aliso Viejo. Her motto is: “Shimmy from the Heart!” Contact Jheri: jherico@cox.net Image Credit: Jody Hoy: jodyhoy@cox.net |
| Amulya | About Amulya |
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I’m a belly dancer in Australia. I live in Northern Rivers. I love art, I have always been into drawing and painting when I was a kid and teenager, but when I discovered belly dance as a teenager and I was immediately impressed by this beautiful dance style. Although I studied many different dancing styles troughout my life (like ballet, Latin and ballroom dance, Bharat Natyam and Indian folkloric dances), my major interest is still belly dance. In 1995 I began teaching and performing belly dance in The Netherlands. Later in 1998 I went India to study different dancing and costuming styles. My latest interest is tribaret style, a combination of classical belly dance and tribal belly dance. I went to the Rietvelt Academy of Arts in Amsterdam in 1994, but this was totally not my kind of thing. They had a different look on art then I do so I left and went my own way. Lately I got into jewelry making. I also do my own costume design for belly dance
Visit her site: http://www.bellydanceramulya.blogspot.com or contact her directly: silimavanya@gmail.com. |
| Jade | About Jade – Event Reporter |
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I’m a 24-year-old communications student from Los Angeles studying at Cal State Dominguez Hills. My major is Communications with an emphasis in Public Relations. I haven’t chosen a minor yet. I found belly dance almost 3 years ago when I was getting my Associates of Arts degree in Journalism from Los Angeles City College. I learned primarily tribal fusion style and ATS (American Tribal Style). I have been dancing since I was 10 years old and in various styles including ballet, jazz and tap. Perhaps someday I will teach a belly dance class, but for now I am content with learning a new style of belly dance every year.
I had the honor performing at my bestfriend’s wedding in 2007. I sort of wish she had waited till now to get married since I have learned so much in the past 2 years. I danced breifly with a company in 2008 as an understudy before branching out on my own to practice with different props such as fans, candles and swords. I have a nac for costume designing, especially full-fuguired women. As I student journalist, I am very accomplished. I have won several awards and scholarships for my work with the Los Angeles Collegian, I was Arts and Entertainment Editor for a year, and I was allowed to attend Unity: Journalists of Color 2008 in Chicago. Visit my blog: http://countessjade.blogspot.com or follow me on twitter |
| Selene | About Selene |
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As a teenager, her dream was to study Radio and Television Broadcasting until she discovered Journalism. Currently, Selene Rivera is a freelance news writer in Southern California. Her career gives her the opportunity to serve the public with relevant articles on important issues such as politics, education, immigration and health. Her passion for writing and creativity has also given her the opportunity to write for BellyDancingDiva.com, a website she quotes as “an extraordinary tool for belly dancers, where once again I’m challenged and fully committed to provide information and entertainment for such an especial community”. |
| Erica | About Erica – Nutrition and Health Specialist |
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Erica (dance name “Rika”) has a passion for empowering women through bellydancing AND for eating nutrient-dense, whole foods. She is completing her masters degree in Holistic Nutrition, and has a growing nutrition consulting practice in Irvine, CA. She encourages others to feed their body, mind, and soul with all the good stuff! You can contact Erica at: erica@realfood2health.com |
Previous Writers
| Diana | About Diana |
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My name is Diana Corpus and I am a student at California State University Fullerton. I am majoring in communications with an emphasis in print and a minor in anthropology. I have about 5 more classes to fulfill and then I can obtain my BA.
I am from San Diego and I moved to the Inland Empire almost three years ago to take a chance and realizing my goal. I am an artist who considers herself a writer, photographer, and fashion victim, in a good sense. I love all three professions and fashion has always been a lifestyle for me even as a kid. I grew up reading magazines and falling in love with fashion and how it could increase your self esteem and confidence, but mainly it is an outlet for me, it enables me to express myself more intimately. I currently work in the fashion, retail, and magazine industry. I freelance as a stylist and a photographer. Aside from me working and going to school, belly dance is a great passion for me. I started belly dancing about 7 years ago. It has given me so much joy mentally, spiritually, and physically, that aside from love, I have never known. I will continue to dance for as long as I walk this earth. “All that we see or seem is but a dream within a dream”. Contact Diana directly: diana@bellydancingdiva.com |
| Jackie Gutierrez | About Jackie |
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I’m a 25 year old aspiring freelance makeup artist currently located in Riverside , CA and was born and raised in Orange County. Now you might be wondering how I got into the amazing world of makeup and for how long I’ve been doing this. It started way back when I was a little girl at the age of 13. I’ve always been rather creative and artistic but when I met makeup it was love at first sight!! To me makeup is such a phenomenal process of transformation that allows each and every one of us to become a completely different being: whether it be an alter ego or just the regular girl next door. I have been involved in some pretty cool projects such as being the head makeup artist for Burning Tree Projects (BTP) Hero music video. I have also done makeup for short films directed by Gregor Habsberg. I have also had the honor to work on celebrities David Moscow and Tim Martin. In conclusion I would like to say that my passion for makeup goes beyond being discovered as a celebrity makeup artist, to me its more of a lifestyle full of all the infinite ways to transform myself and most importantly you. Lets make life bold and stand out and see the beauty that can be created with a single stroke at a time.
Visit her site: http://www.myspace.com/RetroSpeckBaby or contact her directly: |
| Nazy Meknat |
About Nazy |
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Nazy is an image consultant, wardrobe stylist and licensed skin care professional here in Orange County. Nazy offers her expertise to both men and women. She works with each client individually to assess and fulfill their specific goals, whether they would like to update their everyday look, obtain a complete makeover, or prepare for a special event.
Go to Nazy’s site: http://stylebynaz.com, or email her at: nazy@stylebynaz.com |
