We've had the priviledge to have been taught by the creator of American Tribal Style®, Carolena Nericcio, and her former student, Megha Gavin. Amanda, Anni and Maija got the General Skills sertificate for ATS® in 2009.

In summer 2010, Amanda studied with Suhaila Salimpour in Milan, Italy, and both Amanda and Anni took the four day long intensive workshop with Rachel Brice in Amsterdam, Netherlands.

As we create performances we put a lot emphasis on the overall look, so that the choreography, music, technique, expression and costuming encounter in a way that gives the audience member an experience like no other. We don't look at belly dance as just a healthy form of exercise or an entertaining show but we consider it as a unique form of art.

FatChanceBellyDance®, FCBD®, ATS® and American Tribal Style®, are federally registered trademarks of FatChanceBellyDance, Inc. For more information, please visit www.fcbd.com/about
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Maija

A friend of drama and swords, Maija has studied belly dance with a variety of teachers and has taken many special workshops. Elysium's website has been designed by her. She also drills traditional oriental dance technique weekly with the highly acclaimed Finnish teacher Anu Toivonen. Maija is also the treasurer of Mizmar dance association and is interested in Pilates.

Amanda

Amanda has studied bellydance several years and is especially interested in Salimpour-technique, ATS and tribal fusion. She studies Salimpour under the guidance of Arya Jansen. Astangayoga and ballet are among her other hobbies.

Amanda is the first Finnish dancer who has Suhaila Salimpour's Level 1 certificate.

Elviira

Elviira has studied oriental dance for several years and has been a performer in music since she was a child, singing in medieval band and various kinds of choirs. This diverse artist has also done improvisation theatre and directed school plays.

We did our first choreography to a song called Elysium. Elysium is the Latin form of the Greek word Elysion which is a haven in the Greek mythology. Heroic and virtuous souls were let in to rest in the green fields of Elysium where there was an everlasting spring.

Anni

Anni had moved to far away lands, Vaasa in Finland.

Anni is interested in the different styles of bellydance, various folk dances, as well as fantasy and fusion styles, but recently ATS and tribal fusion has become more and more important to her. She also does modern dance, jazz dance and ballet.