Meet TerraNova:
iris
DIRECTOR
DANCE, PERCUSSION, VOCALS, & DANCE INSTRUCTOR:
FCBD® GENERAL SKILLS CLASSIC & MODERN CERTIFICATION AUGUST 2014
Iris gave belly dance classes a try in 2006, and found the dance form to be a wonderful opportunity to learn new ways to move, be expressive, and explore the many interconnected disciplines and cultures that have contributed the evolution of belly dance. After receiving American Cabaret style instruction for two years, Iris saw TerraNova perform on 2009 and was immediately smitten with the grace, strength, and elegance of the FCBD® vocabulary. With TerraNova, she began studying that format and developing their troupe dialect of this dance language. As they integrated live music into their performances, Iris learned to sing folk songs in several different languages, and to play frame drum and riqq. She has been performing with TNT since 2010, and loves exploring the potential created by the group improvisation style belly dance on stage with the troupe and in class with students.
Tina (Baba Tahia)
DANCE, VOCALS, MANDOLIN, PERCUSSION
Having fallen in love with the beautiful art of Middle Eastern Dance while taking lessons in Little Rock, Arkansas, Tina longed to find a dance family in Northwest Arkansas after moving into the area. Her loving husband bought her a gift certificate for FCBD® lessons with TerraNova in 2011. Tina found a deep love for this style and the sisterhood that goes with it. After years of lessons, she officially joined the troupe in 2016 and enjoys singing as well as playing mandolin and drums for her fellow dancers. She always looks forward to sharing her great passion and joy of dance with the world and her dance family.
Randi
DANCE, FLUTE, PERCUSSION
At the encouragement of her fun-loving grandmother, Randi began taking belly dance classes in 1999. Randi was immediately enamored with the movement, music, and costumes! The celebration of diverse cultures, appreciation for all body types, and spirit of sisterhood were formative for Randi as a young teenager, and since then, she has always come back to belly dance as a mental and physical creative outlet. Randi discovered group improvisational dance through FCBD style lessons with TerraNova in 2018 and officially joined the troupe in 2019. As she learned the history and nuance of the dance style, she knew she had found a form of belly dance that combined all her favorite attributes into a beautiful, cooperative expression that she could share with her dance family. Randi performs on the flute and percussion as well.
BAYLEA
VOCALIST, PERCUSSIONIST, STRINGS
Baylea has had a hand on an instrument most of her life. As a kid, she learned her way around several string instruments including mandolin and ukulele, and built her first cajon to play around with in 2012. She immediately fell in love with hand drumming and has been honing her percussion skills since. In 2020, Baylea discovered TerraNova and began taking lessons as a dance student, but she eventually found her niche as a musician for the troupe. She adores the community she's found through belly dancing and loves the opportunity to practice, learn, and play music together.