Melanie Moore / Salome has been dancing her entire life, with a strong background in classical ballet. She performed with the Ballet Quad Cities Nutcracker for 3 years and studied ballet at the University of Iowa. She began studying bellydance during her second pregnancy in 1992. Her teachers include Phaedora, Maleeha, and Carolena Nerricio. She has attended workshops with Artemis Mourat, Sonya, Mariano Parra and Rachel Brice. She enjoys dancing as Salome with the folkloric troupe Rakset al-Nehri and American Tribal Style with unda, as well as teaching ATS. She is a certified Fat Chance Bellydance instructor and Sister Studio.
Melanie is a Certified Professional Midwife and Qualified Examiner with the North American Registry of Midwives. Her midwife mentors include Pearl Breitbach, Kathy Deol, Jeannine Parvati Baker and Ina May Gaskin. She is an ALACE certified doula, childbirth educator and Reiki Master. She has published several articles in publications including "Midwifery Today" and "the Compleat Mother" She also produced the movie "Waterborn".
Melanie has given birth to 6 children, the first born by cesarean, the rest born at home (VBAC). Three were born in water, and her youngest was an unassisted outdoor waterbirth. Her powerful birth experiences led her to believe that all women deserve to give birth with knowledge, power, dignity and joy.
Melanie's other interests include knitting, beekeeping, dogs, homeschooling, vegetarianism and Paganism.
Melanie is a Certified Professional Midwife and Qualified Examiner with the North American Registry of Midwives. Her midwife mentors include Pearl Breitbach, Kathy Deol, Jeannine Parvati Baker and Ina May Gaskin. She is an ALACE certified doula, childbirth educator and Reiki Master. She has published several articles in publications including "Midwifery Today" and "the Compleat Mother" She also produced the movie "Waterborn".
Melanie has given birth to 6 children, the first born by cesarean, the rest born at home (VBAC). Three were born in water, and her youngest was an unassisted outdoor waterbirth. Her powerful birth experiences led her to believe that all women deserve to give birth with knowledge, power, dignity and joy.
Melanie's other interests include knitting, beekeeping, dogs, homeschooling, vegetarianism and Paganism.
Nicole Miller is starting her second year of ATS belly dancing. Nicole is an English teacher at Wilton High School. She also directs plays, coaches speech, teaches yoga and runs an improv group at Wilton. Outside of school, Nicole enjoys reading, shopping for shoes, snuggling her cats, playing Wii, watching Iowa Hawkeye football, being active, and of course, belly dancing. She lives in Wilton with her husband, Brad.
Juniper/ JoAnna Duffy Has been dancing since 2003. I began and continue to dance in a Middle Eastern folkloric troupe, that is where I met Melanie. I am a mother of one super fantastic daughter. I have a wonderful partner who loves to carry my sword!! (when it's not on my head...) My interests are hand crafts
(beading, knitting, quilting...) homeschooling, vegetarianism and also paganism.
(beading, knitting, quilting...) homeschooling, vegetarianism and also paganism.
Rhea
Captain Rhea is the dynamic drill instructor of the group. When she fills in the dancers quake in terror :)
Captain Rhea is the dynamic drill instructor of the group. When she fills in the dancers quake in terror :)
Lisa Masengarb
