Enchanting Erica

Enchanting Erica began her belly dance journey in 1999. She has been a regular performer with Bad Weather Burlesque, Vixen Variety Shows, Kismet, Mistryl Shimmy Guard, and the Flaming Hips. Erica was an active part of the local Fargo, ND dance community. She was the 2013 Fargo sponsor for Club Belly Dance, and a Shimmy Mob Team Leader in 2014, 2015, 2019, and 2020.

Her mission is education and cultural appreciation of Middle Eastern Dance, and she has given talks and demonstrations for community groups, library programs and even Head Start.

Enchanting Erica moved to Albuquerque, NM in 2016 and has been studying and dancing with the wonderful community here.

When not dancing, Erica is sewing costumes both for belly dance and for cosplay, baking yummy treats, playing board games, and acting as masquerade director for a local anime convention, Con-Jikan.

Korsha

Korsha has been in love with dance her whole life, starting her training as a ballet dancer. Life has many journeys and it was not until 2007 when she met Nikkal Feyrose and started belly dancing, finally able to live her passion for dance.

After a year of studying, she became a member in Nikkal’s Troupe “The Dancing Belly.” In The Dancing Belly she danced American Cabaret and Fusion, but found her heart was in Fusion when she saw a troupe dancing Fat Chance Belly Dance (FCBD) style. Between the costuming and dancing, she decided to learn FCBD style.

Life again took its turns and Korsha moved to New Mexico in 2010 where she studied with local teachers and studios. In 2017, she continued her journey in the FCBD style and studied with Carolena Nericcio (General Skills), and several of the FCBD Troupe members through Workshops/ATS Reunion. Currently, she studies with Eric Salazar of Albuquerque, NM, Melody Bustillos of Salt City Tribal (FCBD Style) and Deb Rubin (Dancer Therapeutics) of Los Angeles, CA.

Korsha is also the Director of the Sassy Sages Dance Troupe and whether a troupe performance or solo performance Korsha and the Sassy Sages’ passion for the dance comes through.

Korsha loves the emotion and intensity of US and world music. When dancing she is either telling the audience a story or bringing an emotion to the audience.

“I am hoping the New Mexico Belly Dance Association will be able to help dancers, teachers, and studios spread their art form and their joy of dancing to our community through awareness, teaching and performances. I am excited to be on the ground level of this new Association.”

Emily

As an Albuquerque native, Emily discovered belly dance in 2001, and since then has focused primarily on improvisational (formally known as tribal) style for most of her belly dance career. Other styles include “triberet,” ATS, Fusion, and various fun props such as sword, basket, veil, fan veil, and poi veil.

Her teachers have included Flo of the Rogue Bindis, Krissy, Michelle al Farfesha, Rosanne of al Jinan, Rachel Brice, Zoe Jakes, Mardi Love, Terri of Troupe Salamat, Elsanne of Studio Libuela, Sarah of Santa Fe, Sadie of Sirena, among others. 

While currently without a troupe, Emily has danced with several troupes including Gypsy Wind student troupe, Rogue Bindis, Sol Sisters, and Saharni, while teaching at many of the major studios in Albuquerque. Collaborations include Farfesha and Sirena, as well as various members of our belly dance community.

Yoli

Yolanda was born and raised in Portales, NM. From a young age she was captivated with movement and dance. In 1999 she took her first belly dance class. The passion and curiosity grew greater until she became a member of the Nataraja’s and took her first professional workshop in Santa Fe at Pomegranate Studios hosted by Carolena Nericcio.

Yoli currently teaches yoga and belly dance at Eastern New Mexico University and is the director of Fusion World Dance, performing at many local events from the annual Ethnic Fair to the Clovis Comic Con. She has hosted numerous workshops and shows including the late Bollywood Superstar Queen Harish and Rajasthani Gypsy Caravan with Suva Devi and Katrina Ji. Yolanda is currently enrolled in the Rajasthani Folk Dance Program Certification honored by UNESCO and is a member of the New Mexico Belly Dance Advisory Board.

Theresa al Farfesha- Founder

After many years of belly dance, I sat in the midst of the quarantine thinking about how much I missed my belly dance community. From troupe practice to regular performance salons and haflas, I reflected on the importance of community and just how much of my time I spent with my dance sisters.

Also, being a marketing nerd…uhhh…I mean professional, I decided to combine my two talents and build this online community. All things belly dance.

I shared my idea with several of my mentors and several instances of serendipity occurred. History repeating itself in the hours of labor put into Dancers Supporting Dancers, an organization and studio that existed for the exact same reasons long before Snap Chat and Google search. Like dance steps passed down through generations, my idea was not new but morphed into a modern version from the work done by my dance sisters before me.

When I shared my thoughts with the legendary Amaya about creating a similar initiative as the Austin Belly Dance Association, she revealed that their very first meeting was held in her old studio in Texas back in the day. The dance goddesses smiling down on me.

And, above all, the lovely Michelle al Farfesha, who has been a constant mentor in my life and who I am lucky enough to call my friend, inspires me to be more and carry on the legacy of Farfesha that she built. Besides being talented and beautiful, she is in fact a wealth of knowledge…like a beautiful Yoda.

Additionally, I’d also like to thank the following dancers for their input and inspiration:

• Leyla Najma

• Sadie Adair

• Krissy Domino

I hope that you will find this site useful and indulge my inquiries, pestering, slacker-ness, and asks from time to time.

Theresa al Farfesha, New Mexico Belly Dance