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Hali
This is the beginning of my fourth year of dance. I began dancing the fall of 2004, my freshman year. I had no previous dance experience, but heard Jacqui in my Spanish class talking about this belly dance class. I absolutely fell in love with it. I began performing my second semester. My first performance was the International Street Fair. I have performed at She-Sha, Dance of Nations, Street Fair, the Celebration of Diversity, Diwali, the East Coast Classic, and more. I am now the President and really enjoy being able to teach.

I am a senior English major, in Professional Writting. I am the Editor-in-Chief of Silhouette.

For more information, contact Hali.
Chelsea G
I began bellydancing in the Fall semester of 2003 as a freshman at Virginia Tech. It was my first experience with the art form and immediately fell in love and wanted to learn more. Within a semester in Hill and Veil I began performing and choreographing. You may have seen me perform at Attitudes, She-sha, Dance of Nations, International Street Fair, Dance Potpouri, Arts Fusion, or even the East Coast Bellydance Classic over the last few years. As well as performing, I find great joy in teaching others and watching them discover their own love for the dance form. In my non-bellydance life I study Architecture and spend a lot of my time in the studio. I was the former President of Hill and Veil (2005-2006) and now serve as a Public Relations officer.

For more information, contact Chelsea G.
Kristin
I am a second year Architecture student here at VT. I began dancing with Hill and Veil at the beginning of last fall and have found it to be a very good stress reliever as well as a beautiful form of expression.

I also enjoy Pina Coladas and walks in the rain.

For more information, contact Kristin.
Liz
I began belly dancing in the spring of 2004 and fell in love with it instantly. I currently serve as the treasurer and webmaster for Hill and Veil. I also serve as the vice president for the Council of International Student Organizations (CISO), and held the position of public relations and webmaster with CISO the past two years. Belly dance is such a fun and interesting style of dance with so many diverse techniques and subtleties; we are so lucky to be able to learn this beautiful art form for free right here on campus. I have preformed in many events such as the East Coast Classic, Dance of Nations, International Week Talent Show and Street Fair, the Celebration of Diversity, Dance Potpourri, Technicon, Arts Fussion, as well as preformed several times at She~Sha and Oasis World Market. Hill and Veil is a great group of people, and I encourage anyone who is interested in learning to get over their shyness and come out and join us. I've only just begun to learn and plan on continuing for many years to come. PS. Jen come back! We miss you too much!!!!

For more information, contact Liz.
Jacqui
Jacqui has enjoyed various styles of dance since she was five years old. Her most specific dance training comes from a jazz background and color guard. However, upon arriving in Blacksburg, Jacqui joined with the Hill & Veil dance squad and fell in love with learning belly dancing. She enjoys many various styles of Middle Eastern dance, but favors modern Egyptian stylings. Jacqui also enjoys learning new styles of dance and expanding her dance vocabulary.

For more information, contact Jacqui.
Jenn
Jenn is a fun loving, free-spritited freshman that took up belly dancing as a joke from her friends. Turns out that she could actually belly dance, so she left the joking behind and became quite serious about belly dancing and joined the club. Not only does belly dancing make Jenn feel ultra sexy, its also a great crowd pleaser at clubs and its a great alternative to sitting at her computer on dancing. Although this is her first year at Virginia Tech, she looks forward to belly dancing through out the rest of her years at this wonderful school.

For more information, contact Jenn.
Samantha
Hi! My name is Samantha Won and I'm a junior who joined the Hill and Veil in Spring of 2007. I came to VT to study Animal and Poultry Sciences, and I love to interact with and help people. I had never danced in any sort of program or club before I joined, but I definitely love to belly dance, and I feel that once you overcome the initial awkwardness, it all becomes very natural. If you're reading this, you must be interested in the organization in some way, so I encourage you to come and try something new. Not only is it good exercise, but it's a great environment and a LOT of fun!

For more information, contact Samantha.
Laura
I have always loved dance even though I didn't take too many dance classes while in high school mostly because I was incredibly busy. Belly dancing I thought would be fun and a great new dance to learn. I joined Hill and Veil my first semester of college (Fall 2006) and I fell in love with it. I am a sophomore as a Wildlife Science major and I expect to continue belly dancing for a long time. I also love to swing dance and was a member of the colorguard in highschool.

For more information, contact Laura.
Mandy
I'm a second year Architecture student. I began dancing in fall 2006 when Kristin Fields told me about Hill and Veil. Eager to get out of my dorm room and move around, it sounded like the perfect pastime. I had a wonderful childhood full of happiness, sunshine, and M&Ms. Also, I get to wear an awesome hip scarf. What can I say? I'm easily amused by shiny things.

For more information, contact Mandy.
Nicole
Hill and Veil has been WONDERFUL to me; the people are more than great, it opens up an entirely new culture, and it gives you the ability to simply dance!! I first was invited by a curious friend in 05,and though she never continued, I was glued. Nothing beats a full-blown shimmy with mad jingles!

For more information, contact Nicole.
Chelsea L
I am a freshman Architecture major who is originally from Blacksburg, VA. I have always loved to dance but I became interested in belly dancing in the beginning of my junior year of high school. Shortly after that, I began taking classes for belly dancing through Jennifer Speiden here in Blacksburg. I fell in love with the dance. Belly dancing is a great stress reliever for me and I would be lost without it. I hope to continue dancing all throughout college and beyond.

For more information, contact Chelsea L.
Ellen
A.k.a. LN Macaroni
Year: Sophomore
Major: Business, HTM
Hometown: Chesapeake, "Da 757"
Favorite Belly Dance Moves: chest pop, body roll, shaking it in general, and the shuffle truffle (just kidding - but seriously) Events: Dance of Nations, Street Fair, SheSha, and soon-to-be Dance Potpourri

I was always involved in sports as a young lass, but never had the chance to satisfy my craving for dance until my freshman year of college when I joined Hill and Veil. It's fun, full of fellowship, and best of all, it's free! [Quadruple alliteration points] I highly recommend Hill and Veil for anyone interested in learning more about belly dance. It's a good workout accompanied by a great time!

For more information, contact Ellen.
Shawna
My love for dance began with partner dancing a few years ago. I started belly dancing last summer but lost touch after a few months. I am excited to be back to this beautiful art form this winter with Hill and Veil. This is a really fun and friendly group of folks. I find belly dance to be not only fun and lovely but empowering. It's muscular, yet elegant, great for body image, and fascinating to learn how to move like that! My one and only performance so far has been at She-Sha. In my professional life, I'm a self-employed speech-language pathologist. I helped found the NRV Biodiesel Co-operative and am involved in other ventures for promoting biodiesel locally. Besides dancing, I enjoy fitness, the outdoors, animal rescue, violin, and my wonderful feline family.

For more information, contact Shawna.
Christie
Christie has always been interested in dance since she was very young, but never had any previous professional training, only practiced with friends after school and during free time. During her sophomore year of high school, she and a friend founded their high school's first step team in over a generation. Growing up in a very culturally mixed neighborhood, she became more interested in other foreign forms of dance over the years. Unlike most Hill & Veil members, Christie doesn't attend Virginia Tech, but instead a regular local to the area. She moved to Christiansburg to get away from the congested and fast-paced life in Northern Virginia, and already had friends attending Virginia Tech nearby. In Fall 2006, her close friend from Tech, Ellie, invited her to check out the Hill & Veil Beginners' class with her. Instantly, she fell in love with the class, became devoted to going every Wednesday, and made it into the Intermediate class in Spring 2007. She even joined Salsa Tech to add to her dance pastimes each week!

For more information, contact Christie.
Emily-Grace
Emily-Grace Sarver-Wolf has been an avid dancer for all her life and has had dance lessons for about 10 of those years. She has experience dancing Ballet, Pointe, Jazz, Tap, African, Hip-Hop, Broadway, Lyrical, Ballroom, Clogging and of course Belly Dance with Hill and Veil. She became involved with Hill and Veil about 2 years ago with her friend Sarah Polan and they have been shimmying ever since. When Emily-Grace is not dancing from place to place, she also loves reading, writing, rock-climbing, baking, animals, acting, pirating, sewing, painting, rocking-out, biking, yoga, pilates, hiking, gardening and spending time with her friends and younger siblings.

--"Anyone who lives within their means suffers from a lack of imagination."
--Oscar Wilde

For more information, contact Emily.
Ellie
Ellie is a biology major, minoring in chemistry and psychology. She aspires to become a pediatric nurse, but 4 years of science classes alone weren't going to be enough to keep her content. She desired something more physical and after realizing her love for dance, she looked up clubs to join in the fall of 2006 and was immediately attracted to Hill and Veil. Her Iranian heritage and strong interest in the middle-eastern culture enticed her to join the group even more. She encouraged her friend, Christie, to come along and they both grew addicted, making it into the Intermediate group the very next semester. Along with middle-eastern dance, Ellie also enjoys salsa dancing and colorguard, which have helped in her belly dancing and timing skills. She hopes to enjoy her time with Hill and Veil until graduating in 2008, and though this is her last year at Virginia Tech, she still intends to make even more memories with this amazing group of shimmying, fun-loving, charismatic girls.

For more information, contact Ellie.
Sarah
Hi, my name is Sarah Polan and I am local homeschooled high-schooler. I heard about Hill and Veil through a mention of free belly dancing classes at Virginia Tech. I googled "free belly dancing classes in Virginia" and the Hill and Veil site came up. I went to one class and was hooked, I have been going on Wednesday nights for a year now. I just moved up to intermediate and am very exited about improving my skills. Thanks Hill and Veil for giving me a comfortable place to learn!

For more information, contact Sarah.
Nancy
Hi! I love learning languages, dance and general culture from many countries. I am from Mexico City but I have friends from all over the world and I just need to have money and time to be able to visit everybody. I studied Environmental Engineering but I am now in Environmental Planning and Theater Arts. I take African dance and salsa lessons but nothing compares to the sexy feeling (and extreme work out!) of belly dance. Belly dance's moves go along with all kind of music and they even become part of every day gestures and hand expressions when talking, isn't it awesome? I'm going to keep working hard on improving my moves; this is just addictive! Come and join the club!

For more information, contact Nancy.
Heather
I was is in my General Biology class when I heard some of people talking about a local belly dancing class. I was incredibly excited because I had always wanted to try out belly dancing ever since I had seen a local performer in Spain. I am a junior transfer student majoring in psychology from Northern Virginia and trying to find ways to just relax and belly dancing has allowed me to take away the daily stress.

For more information, contact Heather.
Helen
I recently graduated from Virginia Tech with a B.S. in Biochemistry, and I had never danced before joining Hill and Veil. I started attending beginner lessons during spring 2006 after my friend (see Catherine) dragged me along to a lesson one week. After 3 performances in one weekend, I was completely sold on the art of Middle Eastern dance! It's a fun way to exercise, a great way to meet awesome people, and a good way to unwind after stressful classes. Now I'm living in Raleigh, NC with my new husband, looking for another belly dance troupe to join (although they'll have a difficult time topping the ladies of Hill and Veil: I'll miss you!)

For more information, contact Helen.
Catherine
I graduated from Virginia Tech with a Chemistry/Food Science Major in Spring 2007 and danced with Hill and Veil for a little over a year, but in that time I learned so much, performed more than I ever knew I would and met the most amazing people. I was lucky enough to perform with the troupe one (hopefully not last) time at the East Coast Classic in Virginia Beach where we won third place and people's choice in our category!!! I can't believe how something as random as looking at the Virginia Tech Calendar of Events got me to learn how to belly dance and change my life completely. I can't wait to start dancing with another troupe in Northern Virginia, where I live with my new husband.

For more information, contact Catherine.
Parul
I'm a senior HNFE student who has been dancing since I was in diapers. I wanted to try something new but cultural at the same time and belly dancing sounded like fun so I went for it. After the first few lessons I was hooked! I love belly dancing and the Hill and Veil girls are awesome!!

For more information, contact Parul.
Rosa
I have been interested in belly dance for 4 years now. At high school, I had many international friends, one of them from Egypt, and that is how I first got the opportunity to learn to belly dance. It was never so serious; I mean I would perform in front of an informal crowd, mostly friends, but never in shows. Then, it was time to grow up and go to college, and the first club I looked for was a belly dance club. I thought wasn't going to find one, but I did, and that's how I met JEN, and I have been a member of the class permanently ever since, always encouraging new people to learn about the joys in belly dance.

For more information, contact Rosa.
Rebecca
I'm a second year graduate student in Urban Affairs and Planning. I love to dance and listen to all styles of music. My interest in learning to belly dance began when I was an undergraduate at the University of Texas. My sister invited me to see her friend belly dance on several occasions. When a friend of mine invited me to join her at the belly dance classes at Tech, I couldn't resist. I've become addicted to improving my belly dancing ability. I plan to continue to belly dance after I graduate.

For more information, contact Rebecca.
Bevin
Under Construction

For more information, contact Bevin.
Reema
Reema has been dancing since she was 2 years old. She has been classically trained in ballet, jazz, modern, hip hop and has had experience in many other styles. Her love for belly dance came from her Lebanese heritage and she has been exposed to it from a young age. She has taken classes, attended workshops and has performed for her Church's Middle Eastern Food Festival and in front of her high school. She won best individual performance in her school's talent show her senior year. She is very excited to be part of Hill and Veil and looks forward to learning and choreographing with her fellow members.

For more information, contact Reema.
Chelsea C
Chelsea began belly dancing in the Fall of 2006; she has very little prior experience in dancing, just some jazz classes when she was little. She found the class in the college events and wanted to get involved; she's been hooked ever since!

For more information, contact Chelsea C.
Tara
I have always been fascinated by other cultures and I am particularly captivated by Middle Eastern music and dance, which is why I decided to add belly dancing to my list of talents. I?ve been belly dancing since fall of 2006. I hope to travel the world and continue to shake it like Shakira after I graduate this spring.

For more information, contact Tara.
Megan
Megan joined Hill and Veil in the Fall of 2006. She danced competitively as a young girl but had to give it up as she focused on travel soccer in her teenage years. Megan has always enjoyed moving to the music, and now that she has found time to try new things, began bellydancing with a friend to stay in shape after soccer and learn to shake it like Shakira. In everyday life, she likes to practice her moves to any songs that may be playing within earshot :).

For more information, contact Megan.
Triana
I have had immense fascination in traditional dance since I was very young. I started to dance various Indonesian traditional dances when I was 4 years old and continued to perform before public until I was 11 years old. Interesting enough, I found there are similarities between Indonesian traditional dance and belly dance: the muscle coordination that unites with the music rhythm, the strength of being feminine, and the attitude are all parts of the beauty of both type of dances, and I truly enjoy each and every one of them. At the beginning, I only recognized belly dance as a way to have fun and to release the stress of the dynamic life in college. However, as I keep learning in belly dance, as well as learning in discovering my own self, not only that I view belly dance as a way to stay being sane and feminine in engineering world that I am studying, but also as an activity that I can relate to my own as I am not native to this country; an opportunity to maintain my identity of being different than most people.

For more information, contact Triana.
Jennifer
Jennifer began bellydancing in 2000 with Donna Thorneberry. In the following years, Jennifer has trained under southwestern Virginia's best dancers, such as Samra (Galax, VA), Amira (Roanoke, VA), Yvette (CA), Johonna (Roanoke, VA) in addition to keeping her apprenticeship with Donna in Blacksburg, focusing on cabaret style bellydance.

Since 2001 Jennifer has performed for numerous on-campus events such as International Week Street Fair and Talent Show, as well as community venues such as She Sha and the Nerv. Her style has been described as being filled with vitality and sass, a mix of a high energy feel and subtle execution that earned her 2nd place in the Rising Star division of the East Coast Classic Bellydance 2005 competition.

Jennifer is a member of Southwest Virginia Middle Eastern Dance Association (SWVAMEDA) and co-founder of Virginia Tech student group Hill and Veil. She no longer acts as advisor and leads Wednesdays Intermediate/Prop sessions, but her heart will always be with Hill & Veil.

For more information, contact Jen.
Erin
I have been dancing with Hill and Veil since January 2006. I also do karate-do with Bushin Kan of Blacksburg. I am in my last semester as a psychology major and I hope to travel to Norway sometime after I graduate!

For more information, contact Erin.