Our Featured Sponsor of the Month: Maysameh!

Maysameh (Candy Heafner) has been belly dancing since 2000.  In 2003, Rhythmic Essence was started in her basement with 10 girls.  Over the years, Rhythmic Essence has grown into a thriving studio located in historic downtown Newton, NC!

She received her American Tribal Style General Skills Certificate in October of 2007 and in June 2009 she was awarded Middle Eastern Dance Leaders Society (MEDLS) "Star Belly Dance Teacher of the Year."

In 2011, she successfully completed Keti Sharif’s international A-Z Original Personal Techniques Course and was one of 8 girls chosen to appear in Keti Sharif's Pulse8 Belly Dance Fitness DVD series recorded in Los Angeles, CA.  In June of 2012, she was featured in Keti Sharif's latest choreography DVD featuring 30 belly dancers world-wide.  She mainly follows under the teachings of Keti Sharif involving concentration in A-Z, A-Z Advanced, AstroBelly and Pulse8 Belly Dance Fitness. 

She takes pride in her studio rules that have kept her classes going strong through the years:  No negative energy, no competition and no drama are allowed.

Prior to owning her belly dance studio, Candy was a certified Personal Trainer and certified in Cardio Kick Boxing, Stability Ball, and other fitness programs. She instructed various aerobics classes, toning classes, Women on Weights and pre-natal. 

She is a mom and a full time nursing student at Lenoir-Rhyne University, Hickory, NC.

To find out more about the studio and class offerings, log onto www.rebellydance.com

Here's what Maysameh had to say about NCBellydance.org:

"This site has helped so many people explore the art of Middle Eastern Dance here in North Carolina.  Haala and helpers have invested so much time and effort into making sure the belly dance communities in NC have the most up-to-date information on classes, events, workshops and shows.  I want to express my gratitude for everyone who helps make this site the number one place to go for NC belly dance events!"