Jenny Helms
FCBD Teacher Certification, April 2007

Jenny began studying American Tribal Style bellydance shortly after moving to Birmingham in the summer of 2004. She had seen the members of Devyani dancing at a local venue and was immediately hooked! Jenny has always been quite athletic as a competitive gymnast and swimmer --- so dancing was a great outlet for exercise and fun.

Jenny was thrilled to be asked to join Devyani in April 2005. She is also a stay at home mother with two boys, Ryan and Dylan.

Haley Speed

Haley began studying and performing folkloric bellydance in 2003 under the direction of Liz Malcom, as well as American Tribal style with Megha in early 2004. Along with Ms. Malcom, she dedicated herself fully to ATS and became a member of Devyani Dance Company in May 2004.

She is currently a graduate student at the University of Alabama at Birmingham pursuing a Ph.D in Neurobiology, and performs frequently throughout the Birmingham area.

Heather Takahashi
FCBD Teacher Certification, April 2007

Although her mother says she started dancing in the crib, Heather began her classical training in dance when she was 11 with ballet and has been dancing in some form ever since; from ballet to jazz, high school dance line to modern dance, hip hop to ballroom.

Her bellydance career started in 2003 in cabaret and folkloric under the instruction of Penny Thomas and Liz Malcom of Birmingham's Zivah Saphirah, performing with them at an international dance performance in 2004. Shortly after Megha returned to Birmingham, Heather started taking classes with her in American Tribal Style and decided to commit herself fully to ATS in early 2004.

In May of 2004, Heather was honored with an invitation to become a member of Megha's troupe, Devyani Dance Company.

Marci found her passion for American Tribal Style Bellydance in late 1998 after attending a performance of her friend Megha in Birmingham, AL. Shortly after, Marci & Megha ended up moving to New Orleans at the same time where Marci was able to begin studying ATS.

After returning to Birmingham in 2000 Marci continued on her own and again had the opportunity for formal training when Megha returned to Birmingham in 2003.

Marci is honored to have danced professionally with Megha in April 2004 and with Devyani at its formation in May 2004, until her move to the DC area in 2005. As an ATS teacher and dancer in the DC metro area, Marci continued her studies; she now holds the FCBD "General Skills" certification and the FCBD Teacher Certification.

Marci returned to Birmingham in July of 2007 and can be found studying at the Devyani Dance Center.