Biography
Jaiyana has been studying dance and movement in many forms from a very young age, including ballet, jazz, tap, ballroom, and tai chi. She finally found inspiration in movement in 2003, when she began studying improv tribal bellydance with Crimson of Troupe Shuvani in Flagstaff, Arizona.
Since moving to Maine, she has continued her study with excellent local bellydance teachers, and has taken workshops with dancers from further afield, including Carolena Nericcio, Autumn Ward, Mira Betz, Heléna Melone, Karim Nagi, the flamenco dancer La Conja, and many others. However, her first love and primary focus remains American Tribal Style Bellydance, which she has been teaching since 2008.
Jaiyana performs regularly at festivals and other events in the greater Portland, Maine area, including the University of Southern Maine's Global Block Party, the Norway Arts Festival, the Portland Farmer's Market, and many others. She has been a regular performer at several restaurants and cafés, accompanied by local musicians Okbari and others. Jaiyana is especially pleased and privileged to have been a special guest at several Naya's Trance stage productions, and to collaborate with Ayperi and Adira on recent perfomances.
Jaiyana holds a bachelor's degree from Harvard University in History of Science and Women's Studies. In her non-dance life, she is a massage therapist, allowing her to bring an in-depth, technical understanding of anatomy, posture, and movement to her instruction.
In April of 2010, Jaiyana received her certification in General Skills for American Tribal Style Bellydance from Carolena Nericcio, director of FatChanceBellyDance.
Questions? info@jaiyana.com / 207-619-4230