I’m Misty, founder and director of Crescent Dance Collective. I discovered belly dance at a renaissance festival years before I tried it. The dancers’ grace, confidence, and diversity of body types inspired me deeply, but it wasn’t until almost fifteen years later that I finally gathered the courage to try belly dancing myself. When I stepped into my first FCBD® Style class, I immediately fell in love with it for the joy, connection, and empowerment it cultivates. Since then, I’ve trained and performed as a professional dancer and completed my FCBD® General Skills and Teacher Training certifications.

Crescent Dance Collective grew from a desire to build a welcoming, supportive space where dancers connect with others and discover their own strength, confidence, and joy through dance.

I’m grateful beyond measure for the opportunity to teach and learn alongside my dance fam.

I fell in love with belly dance in the late 90s when I saw Rachel Brice for the first time. I took a few workshops over the years and bought a bunch of videos and self-taught with them. Several years later, I took a free bellydance class and fell in love with the sisterhood and the performing. In 2019, I found Tula Tribe, a local FCBD style troupe, and I haven’t looked back since. After Tula Tribe, I was in Wild Moon, and now in Crescent Dance Collective.

I am a forever student and soak up all the advice and knowledge from all dancers. I set a goal to become a Tula Tribe member, and I became one. I set a goal to go through general skills and teacher training, and I did that. I feel so empowered and full of life when I dance. I have more confidence and feel stronger as a woman. I practice and drill just about every day or every chance I get.

“If you are the only one dancing to the beat of your own drum, go out and grab you some folks to dance that dance with you.”

Hello! I’m Alena. I have been dancing with Crescent Dance Collective for around a year now, and it’s brought me so much joy. As a tattoo artist, I’ve always been drawn to other creative hobbies. I had always wanted to learn belly dance after watching performances at RenFaires, but I never imagined it to be offered locally. One day I was looking at different types of classes to move my body that wasn’t just the gym, and happened upon Misty’s classes. I immediately signed up, and fell in love after my first class. These ladies have become the most supportive friends and are like a family to me. I believe in this world, there’s always more room for fun and whimsy.

As a working mom who spends most of my time in front of a screen, belly dancing gives me a space to carve out something just for myself away from the screen. One of the greatest joys I have found has been the welcoming support within the troupe and the FCBD community. Not only the experienced dancers, but students as well, encourage and uplift one another on our journey. Dance has the ability to bring together people of different backgrounds, ages, and body types, each beautiful and adding something unique to the circle.

I especially love the creativity of costuming and the freedom that FCBD offers—allowing us to dance with anyone, anywhere, even without a shared language. There are so few pursuits in life that can create that kind of connection and collaboration even among strangers. With Misty’s encouragement, we grow at our own pace, building strength, improving flexibility, and even let go of some of our daily stresses along the way. And best of all, it’s a workout that never feels like one.