| The Graces Dance Troupe (Will perform with Key West Band on Saturday, June 14) What started as a few students taking belly dance lessons from Saphira (Teresa Dickerson) four years ago has now evolved into a professional international dance troupe. A few of the original dancers are still with the troupe, and more performers with varying dance backgrounds have since been added. The current dancers are Kitura, Yeni, Tori, Alex, Samira, Tierra, Lalita, Paola, Scarlet, Liz, and Saphira. In addition to Polynesian/Hula, The Graces Professional Dance Troupe performs various styles of belly dance, including Oriental, Cabaret, and Fusion. The dancers perform with zills, veils, a sword, and special effects lighting. Recently, making their debut at this year's Castle Carnevale with The Graces Dance Troupe, Squeeze and Jack were added to their Serpentine theme. Both delight or rather awe the audiences, as Squeeze is albino python of 14 feet, and Jack is a beautiful king snake of just a few feet. Not only have The Graces Dance Troupe traveled and performed extensively throughout North Carolina, they have also performed in other states, including New York, Virginia, West Virginia, Maryland, and South Carolina. In May, they delighted military volunteers, marines, and their families at an appreciation luau on the marine base at Cherry Point. Saphira, the troupe's director, explained, "We enjoyed performing at the appreciation luau very much. Our hosts even had personalized dog tags made for each of us who performed. We can't go to Iraq or Afghanistan, but everyone should do what they can to support the troops here at home, and what we do is dance." |