This year it will be 10 years since I attended my first bellydance class. There have been many changes in my life since then, but one thing hasn’t changed – I still come to classes twice a week, enjoy dancing and oriental music which makes my hips move.

I was always attracted by the world of oriental music and dance. When looking at bellydancers I admired by their moves and shimmies, twists of their hips and rolls of their body, all seemed to be so unbelievably difficult! I never thought that I could ever move like them!

I started to attend classes in my home country Estonia and when we moved to Australia, continued dancing here. I became very excited and signed up to classes as soon a bellydance studio was opened in my home town. My first teachers were Riina and Aule from Sansaara Studio. Since then, bellydancing became a very important part of my life.

When we were about to move to Australia, I did not know where we are going to live or where I will be working, but first thing I checked out was about bellydance classes in Brisbane. I was dancing just in 2 weeks after arrival! The same year I joined Ambyr’s and Nerissa’s classes. For me, attending classes was a sign of stability, helped me to settle in my new country and not feel lonely. Both teachers and class mates were very supportive and welcoming.

I am very grateful to my teachers Nerissa and Ambyr as they do not just teach classes, but also challenged me with performances in group, solo, improvisation and creating own choreographies.

Being a full-time working mother of two and also studying at Uni, I was many times asked how could I find time and energy for dancing?! My answer was that if you are working-mothering-studying, you just have to dance! I think attending classes helps me to switch off from everyday problems, bring sparkles to my life and finally, I can do what I love. Of course it wouldn’t be possible without support and understanding from my family.