Amity

 

  Cairo Night Club
scarlet velvet and silver wings,
metallic butterfly,
lioness sphinx,
her own horizon"

-For Amity by Dr. Kelly Mechling

CLICK HERE TO SEE PHOTO GALLERY

Amity means "friend" in Latin, "truth" in Hebrew, and "peace" in most Middle Eastern and European languages.  This friendly, truthful, and peaceful dancer has been studying the dance since 2001, predominantly under Alia Thabit and Mira of Maine.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Originally thought to be born with two left feet, Amity stumbled upon a flyer for classes and has been hooked ever since. As an Accountant by day and dancer by night, her dream is to empower others through performances, workshops, and classes to step out of their boxes, increase their self-esteem and positive self-image, live through the music, and most of all, just have fun.

Amity has assisted over a thousand people to learn their first dance moves through college classes, adult education programs, non-profits, and private classes. Preferred to be called a mentor, she encourages her students to study with various teachers and various styles in order to find their "own dance."

As a lifelong dedicated student of the dance, she has attend over fifty master workshops in other states (and some serious mileage on her car) and also travelling to study abroad in Cairo, Egypt, to further her education. In addition, she has taken college courses and been involved with Middle East Forums and Discussions not only on the dance, but the culture from which this ancient dance from comes from. Amity has also cross-trained in other dance forms such as Ballet, Jazz, Modern, Flamenco, Ballroom, Hip Hop, and other Latin dances.

She has taught through college classes, adult education programs, non-profits, and private classes. She is the recipient of an Educational Programming Award in Middle Eastern Dance from Thomas College as well as the founder of the Thomas College Dance Company, which provides classes and performance opportunities to the community for many dance styles.

Amity is the founder and director of the Raq-ettes, the Twin State's premier Modern Belly Dance Troupe as well as a member of Vermont’s own Hypzotika’s Belly Dance Circus.  She is a member of the International Dance Teachers Association and member of both the Northeast Belly Dance Association and New England Raqs Sharqi. In addition to dancing, Amity also produces a regional E-zine and hosts master instructors for workshops and performances in the Upper Valley on a regular basis.

She has performed in restaurants, restaurants, fundraisers, and other private functions and placed 2nd runner up in a local competition in 2009. Her style can be best described as Classic Oriental fused with Modern Egyptian. Her soft spot is for classical Egyptian orchestrated music; there is nothing more pure than a dancer hearing the music and interpreting it through her heart for the audience

Amity reaches out to all who will listen...Belly Dance is indeed an art form that can be appreciated by all!

  habebe
I move my hips
for you, my love
I'm worth more than
the coins I wear
hear me jingle?
spend me wisely"

For Amity by Dr. Kelly Mechling

 

 

In December of 2007,

Amity went to Egypt to study dance.

Read about her trip here:

www.raq-on.net/egypt