Belly Dancer
Diane Wakowski (b. 1937)  
Can these movements which move themselves
be the substance of my attraction?
Where does this thin green silk come
from that covers my body?
Surely any woman wearing such fabrics
would move her body just to feel them
touching every part of her.  
Yet most of the women frown, or look away, or laugh stiffly.
They are afraid of these materials and these movements in some way.
The psychologists would say they are afraid of themselves, somehow.
Perhaps awakening too much desire-
that their men could never satisfy?   
So they keep themselves laced and buttoned and made up
in hopes that the framework will keep
them stiff enough not to feel
the whole register.
In hopes that they will not have to experience that unquenchable desire
for rhythm and contact.  
If a snake glided across this floor
most of them would faint or shrink away.
Yet that movement could be their own.
That smooth movement frightens them-
awakening ancestors and relatives
to the tips of the arms and toes.  
So my bare feet
and my thin green silks
my bells and finger cymbals
offend them- frighten their old-young bodies
While the men simper and leer-
glad for the vicarious experience and exercise.
They do not realize how i scorn them:
or how i dance for their frightened,
unawakened, sweet
women. 
 
Belladonna was inspired to delve into the world of belly dance first by a poem by Diane Wakowski and then by a live performance by Utah-based dancer Talanasea more than 11 years ago.

Unable to find an instructor, she began her training and gained a fundamental knowledge of belly dance on her own while attending workshops and dedicating herself to perfecting her dance.

In 1998, she began performing weekly at Mediterranean Cuisine restaurant in Nashville, Tenn. She also performed at Camel Cigarettes' Casbah Parties from 2001 to 2002. In addition to her regular restaurant performances, she has performed at numerous cultural fairs and renaissance and medieval festivals. After moving to the Washington, D.C., area in 2003, she began performing her signature tribal fusion style dance regularly at the Shisha Lounge in Sterling, Va.

Belladonna is also the creator of ROMKA', a Washington D.C.-based belly dance troupe that teaches classes and performs across the United States. ROMKA' hosts the monthly DC Tribal Café and annual Belly Horror Show in Washington D.C.
Belladonna's internationally acclaimed instructional sword DVD “Sword Stylization” was released in 2008 by Insidious Media Group www.insidiousgroup.com.

Belladonna has attended workshops with renowned dance professional Suhaila Salimpour and is currently level 1 certified in the Salimpour format. In addition, she has learned from and been influenced by belly dance professionals Rachel Brice, John Compton, Jill Parker, Leila Haddad, and Amy Sigil, among others. 

Belladonna strives to communicate her artistic expression through her dance, costuming and musical choices. She is in love with her students, with teaching and with the ever evolving tribal fusion belly dance community. She infuses her knowledge of and passion for energetic healing in her weekly classes and specialty workshops. She earned a BFA in photography in 2000 and continues to be inspired by many forms of art and dance.m Please contact Belladonna for more information.