Hi! I'm Jessica!

If you clicked on this page to learn more about me—thank you! I'm truly honored you're here.

So... where do I even begin?

I spent most of my life in Alaska before moving to Bellingham in December 2021. Over the years, I called many places home, including St. Paul Island, Fairbanks, Anchorage, and Eagle River.

I've been dancing with professional troupes since I was 16, and believe it or not, Alaska has a thriving belly dance community! We shimmied our way through long winters to stay warm, stay sane, and build an incredible sense of community.

When I'm not dancing, I'm a wife and mom to two amazing little kiddos who bring endless joy, laughter, and just the right amount of chaos into our lives.

My dance journey now spans more than 20 years. Throughout that time, I've had the privilege of studying with incredible instructors and performing in a wide variety of styles. I began with a fusion belly dance troupe that blended Bollywood, Kathak, belly dance, and other world dance traditions. Since then, I've performed with FatChance-style, Egyptian, and Turkish belly dance troupes, as well as a Turkish folkloric dance group.

Today, I'm a performing member of Rhythms of India and frequently guest perform with KiZmet and other local groups. I continue to study under my mentors, Deborah Shields and Eliza Soule, and you'll usually find me at every workshop I can possibly attend. I believe there's always something new to learn, no matter where you are in your dance journey.

Beyond performing, I proudly serve as a Member-at-Large for the nonprofit Presence Studio, where I help with communications and community outreach.

Dance has also given me opportunities I never imagined. I spent three months in Pen, India, studying Bharatanatyam while completing a medical internship (fun fact—I'm also a registered nurse!). I've also had the incredible opportunity to perform in Turkey with my instructor, Rabia, and attend the Tarazade Festival. These experiences have introduced me to amazing people, cultures, and traditions that continue to deepen my appreciation for this art form.

For the past three years, I've led the Bellingham Team Shimmy Mob, an annual flash mob-style belly dance event that raises funds and awareness for Domestic Violence & Sexual Assault Services of Whatcom County (DVSAS). That event has since evolved into Unity in Motion, a community fundraising event that I'm incredibly proud to be part of.

People often ask me why I dance, and my answer is always the same: it's the only time my mind becomes completely quiet. Dance is where I find peace. As a mom, nurse, teacher, and human juggling all the things, it often feels like I have 50 tabs open in my brain, all refreshing at once. Dance brings me back to the present. It fills me with joy, confidence, connection, and self-love while creating meaningful relationships with others.

More than anything, dance has taught me that growth happens when we're willing to challenge ourselves, stay curious, and embrace change—even when it's uncomfortable.

I am committed to continuing my education in belly dance and other dance forms while honoring and respectfully representing the traditions, cultures, and stories from which they originate.

As a teacher, my goal is simple: to create a welcoming, supportive community through an art form that has given me so much. Whether you're stepping into your very first class or you've been dancing for years, I hope you'll find encouragement, friendship, and joy here.

I hope you'll join me in discovering the connection, confidence, and happiness that dance can bring.

And if this page changes from time to time... well, that's probably because it will! Writing about yourself is surprisingly difficult—especially with a little "mom brain" keeping life wonderfully busy.