Interview with a Bellydancer: Lisa Allred

Hi- This is Lisa interviewing Lisa.  I am going to be writing a series for the Dayanisma blog called "Interview with a Bellydancer."  I have been interviewing and writing blogs on so many amazing dancers over the last couple of weeks and I can't wait to post them here over the coming months.  If I haven't contacted you and you would like to participate in this series, by all means, message me on Facebook or send me an email.  I would love to interview you too!!!

So for the first in the series, here is my interview with me!  (I was going to launch the series by publishing the first interview with our troupe director, Dawn Ruckert, but she hasn't gotten it back to me yet- lol.)

I am Lisa Allred and I dance with Dayanisma and Third Eye Tribal.  I live in Raleigh, NC with my daughter, my dad, and my dog.  My daughter started bellydancing when she was 4 (she is 15 now) and helps me teach mother/daughter workshops.  She isn't really dancing other than those workshops because she started competitive shooting- quite the combination of hobbies!

My favorite pic from Homecoming 2015

What is your favorite genre of books?  I like mystery novels.  Reading them is a great way to  de-stress because you can get completely involved in the story.

If you were in a horror movie, what would be chasing you?  My daughter, Kristin, gets credit for this awesome question.  It would definitely be something supernatural.  I have this approach/avoidance thing going on.  It fascinates me and terrifies me at the same time.

With Kristin getting ready to dance 2015

What is your proudest Bellydance moment?  Performing at Homecoming 2015.  I danced with my sister, Terri, and Dayanisma.  Really awesome experience!  The atmosphere was so positive and supportive.  I have never felt so much love from an audience.

What is your proudest non-Bellydance moment?  In the early 90s I was the chair of a coalition that successfully changed the marital rape law in NC.  Before then it was legal for a husband to rape his wife.  I was in my early 20s and lots of powerful women came to the table to work together on this project.  It was exciting and terrifying.

Lisa, Patti, Ming, and Natalie goofing before the ATS ® with Props DVD shooting 2014

What is something most people don’t know about you?   I used to practice Iyengar yoga as fanatically as I now bellydance.

Stay tuned for some fun interviews with some amazing dancers!  Lisa