Alyssa Springs
Gulf Coast Belly Dance
Alyssa took her first American Cabaret bellydance class with Tamra Tahira when she attended Penn State University. After only two classes, Alyssa 
found it to be a very comfortable and fun atmosphere and she was “hooked.” She had no idea that what started as a non-credit college class would later become such a big part of her life.
After graduating from college, Alyssa moved away from the area, but she was able to find a new dance instructor, Tahya. Tahya’s class focused on the dance rhythms of Middle Eastern music and she taught Alyssa how to play the frame drum. Tahya also helped her improve her technique with the finger cymbals. Alyssa moved to southern Florida in 2007 and studied with Na’ila, who introduced her to Tribal Fusion. Alyssa was involved in putting together a choreography and performance at the Manatee Community College Day of the Arts Festival and she was also provided with her first opportunity to perform in restaurants, Zorba’s Greek Restaurant and Bha! Bha! Persian Bistro, in Naples.
That same year, Alyssa took her first workshop, “The Magic of Bellydance,” with an original Bellydance Superstar, Ansuya. She completed all three of Ansuya’s certification courses and earned an Elite Graduate Certificate in Ansuya’s unique style of dance, referred to as “Cabaribalusion.” This dance style is a fusion of American Cabaret and Tribal style bellydance, with hints of Indian, African and Flamenco movements. Alyssa has also taken workshops and individual classes with Alexandra King, Ava Fleming, Helena Vlahos, Angela Prato, Sahra Saeeda and another original Bellydance Superstar, Tamalyn Dallal. Each instructor has her own unique style and has contributed a lot to the American bellydance scene.
Alyssa loves learning as many different styles from as many different instructors as she can because doing so makes her an educated, well-rounded dancer. She believes it is important to take every possible opportunity to learn from as many diverse dance instructors as possible. It is Alyssa’s goal to pass on her knowledge and to help continue to develop as strong a bellydance community in the Mississippi Gulf Coast area as she has found in Florida and other parts of the country.
Visit Alyssa on the web at www.gulfcoastbellydance.com.
Jacquie Rhodes
Pandorium Belly Dance
Jacqueline Rhodes began her belly dance career in 2000 when she began studying under noted international dance instructor and performer, Maria Barannco. Jacqueline gained an instant appreciation, talent, and what some might call an obsession with middle eastern/oriental dance. She has been trained in traditional Egyptian and Turkish technique and Tribal Fusion. Jacqueline teaches her students not only the history and various styles of belly dance but also the physiology behind the dance’s serpentine moves. In June of 2008, she formed the belly dance troupe, Pandorium, composed of her most dedicated students. Jacqueline and Troupe Pandorium perform frequently around the Southeastern Louisiana region.
Visit Jacquie on the web at www.pandoriumbellydance.com.
Regan Coussan
Regan Coussan is a licensed massage therapist, instructor of both massage and drumming, and very newly-minted husband. However, seven years ago, this man in black was an unexpected addition to Oasis Studio of Lafayette. Jokingly calling himself “the odd man out” in this world of women and dance, his equally unexpected love of hand-drumming has become a wonderful part of his life. His introduction into this art that involves “beating on everything” was a Trial by Fire involving no less than twenty shows in just over three months, including Festival International de Louisiane. Over the next five years, he built and led the Oasis Percussion Group, which performed with Oasis Studio’s Dance Troupe in venues large and small, across Louisiana and Texas.
Years of playing the piano, recorder and flute, and his experience with jazz, have given Regan a very open-minded view of the nature of drumming, and the interweaving of different styles with the respect of the traditional. He also regularly credits Shelly Plaissance {Baton Rouge} and Dayna Price (Lafayette) with furthering this sense of adaptability and instilling in him the spirit of the connection between drummer and dancer. Regan has received regular instruction with Shelly, and has attended workshops with the drummers of Gypsy Caravan {OR}, Dominic the “Drum Doc” (LA), Ziad Islambouli (via Ya Halla Ya’ll), Jeremiah Soto (Solace), and several others — even a class in zils with Shamsi (Baton Rouge), and on the kanoun from master musician Ishmael.
Regan is currently studying Hawai’ian, Tahtian and African drumming, Native American long flute, ocarina, harmonica and Cajun accordion. He looks forward to more opportunities to play great music with other Louisiana musicians, and the chance to teach others his joy of drumming.
Safira Dokos
All Points Belly Dance
Safira has been dancing as long as she can remember and through the years has studied modern, ballet, tap, jazz, and square dance. She also has studies in gymnastics, lyrical, and hip hop as well. Safira began her studies in Egyptian style belly dance with Halima in Richlands, North Carolina in an effort to get back in shape after the birth of her son and the form quickly 
became an integral part of her life. After relocating back home to the New Orleans area in 2005, she began studying Tribal Fusion belly dance with Lady Morrighan of Boundless Fusion Belly Dance in Hammond, Louisiana and was an original member of her student troupe “Hip’notiq Boundless Belly Dance”. She has also studied with Kryss of Crescent Lotus Studio in New Orleans, Louisiana and has attended workshops with Hadia, Yasmina Ramzy, Sahra Saeda, Tobias Roberson, and many more. Safira earned her Level I Teacher Training Certificate in 2006. In May of 2009, she completed level one of Journey Through Egypt, a series of Intensive Workshops in Egyptian Folkloric Dance. She opened All Points Belly Dance in 2008.
Safira has been seen performing at many private functions throughout the Greater New Orleans area as well as the following venues both regionally and internationally: Sheikh’s Palace Restaurant (Johannesburg, South Africa), Byblos Restaurant (New Orleans, LA), India 4 U Restaurant (Mandeville, LA), Asian Heritage Festival at the Audubon Zoo (New Orleans, LA), Louisiana Renaissance Festival (Hammond, LA), Zaynati’s Restaurant (Slidell, LA), Mandeville Trailhead and Cultural Interpretive Center (Mandeville, LA), “Night at the Casbah” Fundraiser for the Northshore Jewish Congregation (Covington, LA), The Green Bean Coffee Shop (Hammond, LA), The Indy Coffee Shop (Hammond, LA), The Art, Heart, & Soul Festival (Mandeville, LA), and many more. She has also been seen on “Good Morning New Orleans” on ABC26 as well as on WWL Eyewitness Morning News.
Visit Safira on the web at www.allpointsbellydance.com.