2026-2028 Advisory Board Nominees
All members are eligible to vote. Please check your email for ballot information. If you have questions, please contact newmexicobellydance@gmail.com.
President: “Enchanting” Erica Franklin
I fell in love with bellydance after my very first class way back in 1999. I’ve been dedicated to the art form ever since. I have been passionate about education, both for myself and others.
Prior to taking on the role of vice president of NMBDA, I gained a lot of experience through volunteering and taking on leadership position in several other organizations.
As NMBDA’s vice president, one of my primary (and favorite) tasks has been to keep our social media accounts updated. I love to see how active and diverse the dance form is in our state! As a candidate for president, I would love the opportunity to continue building on this amazing organization that Theresa founded and grew.
Treasurer: Theresa
President and founder of NMBD. I have been dancing for 18 years and teaching for 5 in New Mexico. I am currently a member of Farfesha Belly Dance, New Mexico's longest running troupe, and director of Rosetta Student Dance Troupe. I am currently a non-credit instructor for UNM Continuing Education. I have performed and competed throughout the country. I wish to continue to see NMBD flourish under the guidance and direction of a caring and engaged group of experienced volunteers to ensure the future of belly dance in NM.
Secretary: “Yogini” Yoli Chavez
For 25 years, I have had the privilege of dedicating myself to the study, practice, teaching, and performance of Belly Dance right here in New Mexico. This journey has given me a unique perspective on the evolution and the needs of our state-wide dance community. Serving in the NMBDA Board would allow me to formally and effectively champion several key goals:
Bridging the Geographical Gap: To better connect the dancers, instructors, and resources of Southeastern New Mexico with the larger Albuquerque, Santa Fe, and Northern New Mexico dance communities. Distance should not be a barrier to access and participation.
Expanding Outreach: To assist the NMBDA in its mission by ensuring our programming and support reach all corners of the state, helping to nurture new dancers and sustain existing troupes in areas beyond the major metropolitan centers.
Preserving and Promoting: To use my quarter-century of experience and my regional network to help preserve the authenticity of this art form while promoting its accessibility and growth throughout the Land of Enchantment.
Member at Large: Three Positions Available
Lexi Rockwell: My relationship with the art of Belly Dance started in Myra Krien's SEEDs program 19 years ago. The SEEDs program allowed me to transform into an expressed, informed, and freed individual. Myra cultivated a deep respect and love of MENACA culture through her SEEDs program, and my love for the music, food, art, culture and dance started to grow. For the last 19 years, I have studied under several Belly Dance teachers throughout New Mexico, Colorado, and Arizona, and I have taken many workshops and intensives to broaden my scope of the different dance styles of MENACA cultures.
Today, I perform in Areena Estul's Constellation Collective Troupe, the Ecdysis Dance Troupe, and consider myself an artist, a professional belly dancer, and a student. I approach each class I take, each choreography I learn/create, and each workshop I participate in/teach with cultural humility and respect. I understand that I am a steward for cultural expression that is not my own. I am mindful of honoring and speaking the names of the dancers and teachers who generously shared thier practice as I create and transform the dance.
There is a powerful human connection that emerges from belly dance. It is an art form that fosters healing, transformation, community, freedom, collaboration, problem-solving, play, and expression. I am always looking for ways to provide access to those who want to explore belly dance. I am eager to contribute my connections, creativity, problem-solving/management skills, teaching skills and people skills to Board of New Mexico Belly Dance. I would love to be involved in their mission to provide access to, hold space for, connect, and broaden the community of Belly Dancers in New Mexico.
Megan “Megnolia” Veach: Hello everyone! My name is Megan, and I would love to be a board member for NMBD! I started dancing in college in 2014 and I’ve been hooked ever since! Since college, I have moved around quite a bit - cross country 5 times, 8 states etc, but I have always found the dance community to feel like home. I moved to Santa Fe in September 2024, and I am so fortunate to have found so many opportunities so quickly. I have been taking classes with Areena and Deborah here in Santa Fe, and you may have met me as the bonbon girl/props assist at one of the shows at Paradiso!
I recently purchased a home here and I am so excited to be committed to staying put for the first time in 10 years. I want to be on the board because of the community of amazing supportive people I have met here and it feels like I am finally in a position to be able to give back. I appreciate this opportunity and look forward to getting to meet more of the dance community! Shimmy on.
Karin “Majidah” Eberhardt: I would love to serve and give back to NM Bellydance as a Board Member-----deepen my connection with the community while sharing my experience in digital media and event support. ● I started tribal fusion bellydance in 2002. From Thibodaux, LA to Taos, NM, I've studied with amazing teachers and shimmied with beautiful troupes through the years. ● I am currently a member of Zoe Jakes community, and actively take classes at Sirena Studio in Albuquerque. ● A quote from Colleena Shakti embodies my dance philosophy: "...it is through the discipline, ornamentation, and opulent beauty of the style that I invite the sacred poetry of dance to energize my body and radiate joy..." ● All my best with love, truth and grace, Karin
Alexandria Del Mar: I have been dancing for 10-11 years, and I belong to Fusion World Dance, our beginning local troupe, and to The Hipslingers, our professional troupe. For the past two years I have increased my leadership role within both troupes by becoming our directors assistant for the past two years. In that role I have led classes for our Level 1 Beginner Class, and our Level 2 Choreography class. I help solidify performance opportunities, and help with advertisement. Since joining our professional troupe I have had opportunities to travel and connect with other troupes statewide and join in on those events.