Kahlea has been bellydance learning since 1998, professionally bellydancing since 2002, bellydance teaching since 2003, and bellydance costuming for many many years.

As she became friends with Jazille of Domba! Kahlea experienced what most girls feel when seeing Domba! perform. "I wanted to be just like them. I wanted to wear all those coins and layers and be mysterious and mesmerizing. At first it was more about the costumes than the dance, but I knew I'd need to get through some classes to wear those costumes." Kahlea began taking classes through her city's parks and rec department with Yasmina www.joyofbellydancing.com and was instantly baffled and deflated. "I was so incredibly clumsy. I even fell in a class once!"

Persevering, the desire to wear those costumes super-ceding the desire to give up, she kept at it. After some time with Yasmina, Kahlea then took a workshop with Fat Chance Bellydance. While again frustrated by her own clumsiness and lack of grace, she did discover that this new found tribal style resonated with her and she fell in love. Kahlea then began to take tribal classes with Jazille of Domba and spent some time practicing and hanging out with the student troupe that formed from those classes, Bedouin Tribe. After a couple of years struggling to remember the combos, layers and cues, Kahlea felt confident enough to audition and made it into Bedouin Tribe, sister troupe to Domba! She danced with Bedouin Tribe and guest danced with Domba! and participated in shows at Rakkasah West, Arizona Renaissance Faire and numerous local shows.. "The experience I obtained dancing with the girls in Bedouin Tribe and learning from the masters in Domba gave me so many tools to take with me when I left. Heidi was not just a teacher, but became a dear friend and I still consider her a mentor in dance." After embarking on teacher-training from Domba! and teaching the Domba! Tribal Format for a couple of years, Kahlea left the troupes to experience her own endeavors in learning and growing. "I was ready to take on new challenges and to experience other styles I hadn't yet learned."

Soon after leaving the troupes, Kahlea was asked to substitute direct a student troupe started up by a colleague. Not feeling ready, she opted to sit in on some practices to meet the ladies and watch them first. "It was really exciting to see this fledgling troupe. They were new, fresh, excited and eager. They were so hungry and it was just refreshing. So I accepted the invitation to substitute while Makara dealt with some family matters." After some time had passed, and with Makara needing more time with her family, Kahlea was asked to stay on permanently as Director of NATIUM. She readily accepted, having by this time formed a great bond with the troupe and feeling the director role was her calling. Kahlea kept teaching bellydance and today teaches about five to eight classes per week in Tucson and in Phoenix, as well as annual workshops in Flagstaff and will teach at Tribal Fest 2008. She still directs the troupe NATIUM World Dance and has another troupe called Diabolique Unconventional Entertainment which performs more "street" urban and funky fusion blended with cute and flirty moves with a bellydance base. Diabolique also features fire performances as well as hosts the successful production Romantasy Cabaret, a "naughty-adult-circus".

Kahlea resides in Arizona with her little family and while not having children of her own, thrives on being Mama Bird to her Baby Birds in NATIUM World Dance.

To meet the troupe, go here http://www.thegoddessgarden.net/kahlea_natium.html or come out to a show sometime.

" I LOVE life and I am so happy, very lucky and eternally grateful for the path my life has taken. I am surrounded by amazing people, have the best job the world has to offer and live a family life that can only be savored every single minute. The future is a huge dream coming true and without the students and the customers and the support network I have, none of it is possible! THANK YOU to every single person who has gifted my life!"

Blessings
Kahlea

Kahlea & Carolena, Trbal Goddess, teacher and mother of ATS