Tribal Bras:
Tassel Belts:
My Favorite Places:
Wild Gypsy Fire:
Khadu’ja has been dancing since she was very young. Her first introduction to dance was through church run programs through The Salvation Army. She learned sacred and interpretive from her mother and the local parishioners that led the dance troupe. At around age 10 she was began playing in the Timberal brigade at the local SA corps. She continued to dance and play her timberals until she moved away to attend college at age 20.
In 1997, while attending a Live Action Role Playing event Khadu’ja got her first glimpse of belly dancing. Intrigued she went in search of an instructor close to where she lived. She ended at Serena’s Studio in Manhattan. She began learning a Cabaret style in 1998, but was only able to take lessons there for a short time. Not willing to stop the learning process she began practicing with instructional videos and cd’s. Eight years later, in 2004, she joined Troupe Mahira (now Mahira Tribe) a fusion troupe of cabaret and folkloric styles. She performed several times with them and attended her first hafla with them.
While attending the Spring 2005 Belly Jam, hosted by Hipnosis, she was introduced to American Tribal Style belly dance. After watching Hipnosis and their student troupe, Tribal Spirit, perform Khadu’ja’s interest was piqued. She attended the weekend long workshop with Carolena Nericcio and Megha Gavin, hosted by Tribal:PURA, in Washington, DC, and her soul was awakened by this beautiful empowering form. She returned from the workshop and began attending Tribal Style classes with Geela Mahsati of Hipnosis in September 2005.
In October 2005, Khadu’ja followed her heart again and began attending Irish Step dancing. Her hopes are that one day she will be able to fuse the dance of her heritage with the dance of her soul. In June 2006, Khadu'ja joined former dance mate Demitria to form Wild Gypsy Fire.
Sew pretty…
Khadu’ja grew up watching her mom sew. Her mom had made all of their Halloween costume for as long as she can remember. When she go the chance to take a basic sewing class in Jr. high as part of economics/arts class she took it. Her first pieces were a quilted pillow and a puppet. About 3 later, she bought a Butterrick pattern for a Jasmine/ genie of the lamp and told her mom that she needed to learn how to use the sewing machine. Her mom laughed at her, but admired her ambition. Two days later, mom sat in front of the machine making the costume.
Fast forward 3 years, Khadu’ja finds herself attending a Live Action Role Playing event and no costuming to be found. Without a clue she rushes to The Rag Shop and buys a few patterns and fabric. This time mom says she wants nothing to do with it, and hands her the instruction manual. Through many trials, broken needles, fingernails, ripped hems, re-ripped hems, and days later she had her first corset vest, full skirt, and knee length under blouse. After attending a few more of these events, and then a few belly dancing lessons, she attempted her first belly dance costume. Crude though it may be, it was finished. The pants idea came from that first pattern that she bought. This costume was followed by a white gown made from 3 wedding dress patterns from the 60’s, a full length kilt in military pleating, wedding costumes for her character and her hubby, and numerous character costumes including a peasant dress and princess gown.
Presently, she is working on perfecting harem pants that don’t have a crotch at your knee or give you the look of having an appendage of our favorite dromedary, as well as learning the fine art of wire jewelry and medallion beading.