Troupe Members

Dawn- Troupe Director

Photo credit: Josh Edwards

Dawn Ruckert is the Creative Director of Dayanisma. She first saw tribal belly dance in 1993 at a performance by Christine Andrews, Maria Hamer, Olivia Kissel, and Jen Hamer of Zafira Dance Company. It changed her life. These awe-inspiring ladies became and remain one of her greatest influences. Dawn began studying under the members of Zafira soon after.

During her early training, Dawn was introduced to the work of Carolena Nericcio-Bohlman and FatChanceBellyDance ®.  She began teaching in 2002, is FCBD® Certificatied in General Skills and Teacher Training, and is a FatChanceBellyDance® Sister Studio.  Dawn was chosen to participate in the first FCBD® Advanced Teacher Training in June 2015!

In November 2013, Dawn traveled to San Francisco to present Dayanisma's movement dialect steps to Carolena. She was honored to be used as the example of  "Submitting, Reviewing and Revising your ATS® Movement Dialect" in Carolena's FCBD® Director's Cut blog.   FCBD® Director's Cut- Jan 21, 2014.  In making the DVD "ATS® with Props" Dawn partnered with Terri of Third Eye Tribal and SuperBeth of Tamarind.  Dawn values Carolena's vision and expertise while appreciating her willingness to give feedback and lend support.  ATS® with Props DVD

Dawn has studied Indian dance traditions, including Kathak, Bharatanatyan, and dances of Rajasthan.  These traditions continue to influence her dance.  She also draws inspiration from artists such as Jill Parker, Devyani, Kami Liddle, and Rachel Brice.

Dawn is widely recognized for her use of props in ATS® improvisation.  As an invited instructor for the first ATS® Homecoming in 2015, she shared her basket improvisation techniques with ATS® dancers from all over the world.  Although famous for teaching her creative and masterful use of baskets, Dawn also loves to incorporate skirts, pots, swords and fans into improvisation.

Dawn's student troupe, Sunanda Tribe, is held through Dayanisma's home studio, World In Motion.
www.worldinmotiondance.com

Dawn is the mother of 2 amazing children, Aden and Ella, and wife to a loving and supportive dance husband, Andy.  

Lisa- Assistant Troupe Director

Photo credit: Pixie Vision



Lisa Allred, a lifelong dancer,  began bellydancing in 2004.  Soon thereafter she started attending classes with Dawn Ruckert and fell in love with ATS®.  The group format, challenging improvisation, shared leadership and beauty resonated with her in a profound way.  The universal language of ATS® has allowed her to dance with others from around the world and to make countless new friends.  She serves as the Assistant Director of Dayanisma where she gets to use her organizational skills to keep the troupe on track.  She also dances professionally and offers consulting services with her twin sister, Terri Allred.  http://thirdeyetribalblogspot.com

In teaching children’s classes and mother/daughter workshops, she combines her training as a child therapist with her love of dance.  Her workshops can be found through World in Motion Dance. www.worldinmotiondance.com

Lisa lives in Raleigh with her teenage daughter, Kristin, who also loves to bellydance.  Their dog, Tawney, assists in the family hobby by being in the room and under their feet during practice sessions.  Her biggest fan is her boyfriend and best friend, Hasan.

Ming- Event and Performance Coordinator

Photo credit: Josh Edwards

Ming started dancing when she was just four and has been exploring various forms of dance since then.  She has trained in ballet, modern and Chinese folkloric dance.  In 2007, she discovered and fell in love with ATS® bellydance right after her first lesson with Dawn Ruckert.  In addition to bellydance, Ming studies Kathak and Manipuri under Rinku Bhattacharya Das.  Ming has also been a member of Rinku's professional dance troupe, Aakrisht, since 2012.

Ming credits Dawn with inspiring and cultivating her to be a great dancer.  Ming says, "it is an honor to be a member of Dayanisma, a troupe with passion for dance and a sisterhood in which we laugh and perform together."

Ming is the troupe's Event/Performance Coordinator.  She is also fondly known by others in the dance community as "Ming, Ming, the dancing machine" because of her endless energy, positive attitude and amazing memory for everything related to dance.

Natalie- Social Media Coordinator

Photo credit: Bonnie Stanley

Natalie has been a member of Dayanisma since 2012.  She studied ballet and modern dance in college but did not discover the love of bellydance until 2007 when she lived in Las Vegas.  Natalie started taking Egyptian-style classes at a community center for fun, ended up in a local troupe and was well and truly bitten by the bellydance bug. After moving to North Carolina in 2010, she started looking for instructors and was lucky enough to discover Nandana and the world of ATS®.  After spinning for the first time in a 25-yard skirt, she never looked back.  She continues to take classes and workshops with Dawn "Nandana" Ruckert and travels to attend workshops with a variety of instructors whenever possible.  The opportunity to be a part of Dayanisma and to dance with her amazing sisters is one of Natalie's greatest joys. 

Natalie is currently the Social Media Coordinator for Dayanisma, where she gets to use her "exceptional" gift of gab.  When not bouncing around in giant skirts and tassels, Natalie practices law where she gets to talk as much as she wants.  Natalie is also a former Army Officer and is a dog mom to the world's most spoiled Weimaraner.  Her first and most important love is her endlessly patient and supportive partner, Josh, who serves as the unofficial troupe dance photographer/roadie.

Patti- New Member Mentor

Photo credit: Josh Edwards

Patti Beaman is extremely proud to be a member of Dayanisma and is thrilled to be able to dance with the incredible Dawn Ruckert as well as her warm, loving and very talented troupe mates.  She is the New Member Mentor for Dayanisma and serves to help new dancers in the troupe acclimate to the challenges of participating in a troupe at the professional level.

Patti has been studying and teaching bellydance for 15 years and is passionate about the transformational power of bellydance.  She is the founding member and a principal dancer with Blue Moon Dance Company and the owner of World in Motion Dance, Movement & Music Center in Morrisville, NC, which is her dream come true.  www.worldinmotiondance.com

Patti's goal is to be the best dancer she can and to provide a warm and encouraging environment where students and teachers can dance, drum, and dream together in a true labor of love.

Patti lives in Cary, NC with her loving and supportive husband of 35 years, Brian (who is an exceptional drummer with the Lost Nomads), as well as her sweet rescue pooch, Rosie.  She feels supremely blessed that her daughters, Sara and Emily, teach and perform with her on a regular basis.

Associate Members

Karen Hoover

Karen Hoover has been a student of belly dance since 1995 when she attended her first dance class completely against her will.  However, she was hooked after that class and has been dancing ever since!  She is thrilled to be a member of Dayanisma and to have the opportunity to dance with these amazing and talented women.

Karen was first exposed to American Tribal Style ™ dance when a troupe mate found a video cassette of Tribal Basics: Volume 1 many moons ago and was immediately drawn to the beauty and style of ATS ™ .  As there were no teachers in her at that time, Karen gathered all of the videos she could find and learned as best she could.  She ultimately discovered Dawn Ruckert of Dayanisma and has been studying with her for the past five years.

Over the last 18 years, Karen has studied Modern Egyptian, Turkish Folkloric and Spanish Fusion belly dance but her passion lies with American Tribal Style™ .  She was a member of Sunanda Tribe under the direction of Dawn Ruckert prior to joining Dayanisma.

Karen Hoover lives in Mebane with her wonderfully supportive partner George.  She has four wonderful children and two exceedingly exceptional grandchildren. 

Sharon Walker

                                       

Sharon started performing at a young age, playing piano and participating in show choirs throughout her scholastic career. Sharon eventually joined the local Renaissance Festival as a street performer. She discovered belly dance while watching performances by local belly dance artists, including Blue Moon Dance Company. Sharon is over the moon to be joining Dayanisma. The invitation to join is a dream come true. Sharon was an original member of World In Motion's student troupe, Sunanda Tribe. Sharon took her first belly dance class in 2004. In 2010, she was able to start taking classes on a regular basis from Dawn 'Nandana' Ruckert.  Sharon’s first belly dance performance was one of Dawn’s original choreographies. After that, the performance bug struck again and ATS® began calling

By day, Sharon is in Tech Support where she is able to talk to people all day from all over the US and Canada. She also runs a costuming business. You can find her on Etsy at Sapphire Moon Finery. If you look closely, you'll see a number of World In Motion students, along with the wonderful ladies of Dayanisma, wearing some of her items! Sharon is grateful for the love and support her family and friends have given her. And for the opportunity offered by this new stage of her ATS® adventure.

Teresa Kesselman

                                                               

Teresa Kesselman discovered Tribal belly dance in 2007 and it ultimately led her to her true love, ATS®! She was lucky enough to find Dawn Ruckert who has been an encouraging teacher, mentor and cheerleader throughout her Tribal belly dance training. Teresa loves the challenge of learning and growing as a dancer. She takes every opportunity to attend regional and national workshops and classes.  Her dance experiences have been a huge catalyst for her own personal growth.   

Teresa is very thankful for the women who came before her and who have shared with her their knowledge and encouragement.  They have played an integral part in her development.  She hopes to pay back what has been so graciously given to her and to support those who walk with her along this amazing dance path. She is very honored to dance alongside her sisters who comprise Dayanisma.

Outside of dance, Teresa is a hair designer and loves her chosen career.  She's married to her best friend, Scott, who is the best hubby a girl could ask for! She and Scott are owned by a sweet little tuxedo cat that has them very well trained.  She also credits her parents for being supportive of all her creative outlets over the years.