Andalee has been belly dancing for three years. It was immediate from the start that she was going to take it professional. It spoke to her in a way that no other dance ever had. In fact, Andalee has been dancing her entire life. Her first dance memory was putting on a “hula” performance in her living room at age 7. She put on a bikini and a sarong and danced to “Kokomo” by the Beach Boys. Since then, Andalee has explored many types of dance such as ballet, modern and African dance.
Andalee has a natural stage presence. Her smile alone draws in many people. Andalee is meant for the stage and she pleases audiences with her dynamic hips, scintillating curves and fun demeanor.
Since 2005 Andalee has studied under many teachers in the Triangle Area. Andalee currently learns from Deirdre and Hannan Sultan. She has studied most intensively with Leigh Brown at Ninth Street Dance Studio in Durham, where she now teaches Beginning Belly Dance class. Andalee’s first teacher was Aziza Fadwa who taught her muscle control and the understated beauty of Oriental dance. Andalee has also learned from Sharifa Asmar, Gozde Hilal, and Haala. In addition, Andalee has taken many workshops with nationally renowned performers and instructors. For more information on Andalee's dance training, please view her resume.
Now a teacher, Andalee hopes to share the love of the dance with others. She shares her joy with newbies who are now experiencing belly dance for the first time. View her class schedule for more information.
Andalee is also a member of the Khâhari Belly Dance Collaborative based in Chapel Hill, NC. The name, Khâhari is Persian for sisterhood and this four-woman group is truly a sisterly group. They work together on choreograhies for solos and group dances. Other members of the group are Sadiya, Seher and Milagros.
Andalee’s day job is as the Communications Coordinator for the North Carolina Folic Acid Campaign. The Campaign’s purpose is to encourage all women of childbearing age to take a multivitamin with 400 mcg of folic acid every day. Folic acid is a B vitamin which reduces the incidence of severe birth defects of the brain and spine.
Andalee also is a jewelry designer and a freelance graphic designer.