Bellydancing is more than a hobby for me. It's a passion. I have been dancing since 1977 (yes, I MUST have been a baby when I started!).  I have had the great opportunity to study personally with many of the great teachers of Southern California & the world.  And I made some good friends from classes, performance & as a volunteer with the MECDA org .  I am interested even more in passing the dance to the next generation. 

Now it is my daughter's turn to shine.   She grew up dancing and now teaches and performs on her own.  She has had a firm foundation in basic middle eastern movement and is expanding her knowledge in modern dance class. 

I was a child of the desert, the Mojave though, not the Sahara. Raised & still residing in the Antelope Valley, I took tap, ballet & jazz lessons at the Courson Park Bldg.  Initially I had more interest in rocks than raks....and still do as a member of the AV Gem & Mineral Club and continue to manage their AV Fair Booth volunteers.    Some of my personal photo links

Just after High school I had my first introduction to Belly dancing, through my friend Wendy Weir Johnson. (Please contact me if you see this).

First of all, " I LOVED THE MUSIC"!   Finding it difficult to just listen without moving around, I realized I better learn the appropriate movements .

Still my favorites: George Abdo, Eddie 'the Sheik'  Kochak and Harry Saroyan.  Their compositions are such classics that you still hear them at dance festivals and competitions.  

Wendy took me to see good dancers at one of the first MECDA Christmas parties. I didn't know her name then but Marta Schill was stunning, dressed in white with a huge white circular veil. It was totally inspiring.  My first real influence would have to be Jamila Salimpour through Habibi magazine (back when it was really good).  I finally got a chance to learn from her in 1982, (& later found out through a conversation with my now good friend Marta, that this too had been a MECDA sponsored event).

After many lessons and working up the courage, I began to dance on my own. During this time, I was known as "VIVA" (based on my birthname VIcky Vaughn).  I worked at EAFB, so most of my dance jobs were retirement or Birthday parties for flight test associates and the annual Test Pilot School Christmas party. At least until I became pregnant and I sort of went into retirement.   Hopefully many of you can relate to packing up the gear but knowing that you can't end your dance yet.

I continued taking seminars, watching dancers and studying every video I could get. Young children limited my time but practicing at home, office & car kept me going. You can do a lot with your ribcage while you're sitting. And running up & down stairs doesn't hurt either.  Although too busy to put a lot of time into my dancing, I always knew I would get back to it one day. Unlike others I knew, I never sold a costume or an LP (doesn't that date things). 

Once again MECDA & I cross paths. Every year the local chapter held a workshop with a really good our of the area dancer.  These were with:
Jamila al Wahid, Siwa, SeSe, Delilah.

Eventually I re-established myself as a dancer. I had changed my name through marraige, so I also adopted a new dance name, and became VICHELLE an achronym of V.Schell.

In 1995 I joined MECDA (Middle Eastern Culture and Dance Association) and soon decide to run for an office of our local chapter. Attendance at local functions & membership was low, so my goal was to promote the chapter locally. In addition we went from no bank balance to one of the richest MECDA chapters.    June Stanfield, Cheri Van, Tinah Silva & I worked hard to create a great annual event for the chapter members, "Dance in the Desert" held the first week of Feb.  We had many fundraising activities including intermission refreshments sales at IAMED's annual awards show and the BAG BOOTH at Cairo Carnivale.  Tinah created the Jingle All the Way show for a specific children's charity. These chapter officers created at least one additional workshop opportunity for members each summer.  

Over the years I have held these offices: Chapter President, Chapter Vice President, Chapter Treasurer, Central Board Treasurer, Central Board Vice President, Membership Officer, Editor of the  “Happenings” & email delivery, Happenings Assembly & US Mailings, Editor & distribution of the “MECDA only Newsletter” (the FREE one),   Webmistress & these Cairo Carnivale Chair positions: Volunteers, Admissions, Membership, Raffle, Bag Booth and Lost & Found.   Many of these offices were held more than once and some years multiple offices as well.

I received an Appreciation Award from the MECDA Central Board for work which futhered the goals of MECDA for the years: 1999, 2002, 2004 and 2005.

For MORE ABOUT MECDA.....CLICK HERE

Vichelle's Dance studio, "The Genie's Magic Bottle" is opened for teaching as of July 2008.  I am organizing costumes & props as I  continue to settle into the space.  I love seeing the amazement in the faces of friends & visitors on their first entry into the "Magic Bottle Studio".  When I enter, I am truly in my own little world. 

I will continue to perform in local showcases, community events and Bellydance Festivals & Competitions. Especially the "Dancing Caravan" show which we plan to perform at convalescent homes in the Antelope Valley, Victorville, Mojave and Tehachapi areas.

I hope to work more as a costume creator and doing alterations.  I also have a large stock of costumes for sale and loan to students.

In 2006 I judged my first competition and totally loved this involvement with HIps of Fury.   After many years of 'work' related MECDA volunteering, this was a welcome break.   I am required to sit and watch dancers!!  Although it sounds simple, judging requires concentration and hopefully your comments help the dancer find her strong & weak points. 

Daughters of the Wind

In 1997 I created a  girls Troupe, Daughters of the Wind. Built around girls aged 7-14. One of these little gems is my daughter, Genie of the Desert.  It started with 4 girls and grew to include up to 9 girls, by adding sisters, cousins and friends.  At one time I had every girl within a half mile in the troupe.  They attended & performed at many local community events, community hospitals, MECDA Bellydance events and Bellydance competitions.   I almost think I enjoy watching my students dance as much as dancing myself, ALMOST. To know I am passing this talent along is very rewarding.  One year at the BDU Comp. I had 4 juniors competing, and I was asked why I wasn't.  My answer: "I was competing..... 4 times", as I was just as involved with their costume & choreography as I would have been for myself.

Genie of the Desert

Genie started copying my dancer at a very early age. She made her first appearance onstage at the AV Fair in 1996 & has had a performance there ever since.  Among the first to compete in BDUC "Littles" category in 1998 she has been 1st Runner-up repeatedly.

The time has come when my daughter, Genie, has become a teacher and troupe director (with my constant interference ;>). Initially she called her group the Drifting Sands Dancers.  A smaller performance group came from this and in 2006/7 were known as the "Skittles". Genie & Britt then formed "Bubbles of Ancient Emotion" which competed in the BDUC 2008 Group Category, in Long Beach.    Genie remains a faboulus 2nd generation soloist fwho continues to develop.

The seminars & classes I have attended were taught by the best. They include: Jamila & Suhaila Salimpour, Amir, George Abdo, John Compton, Vina Haddad, Jamilla Al Wahid, Siwa, SeSe, Delilah, Tonya & Atlantis, Shareen El Safy, Alexandra King, Angelika Nemeth, Sahra, Marguerite, Olu, Princess Farhana, Apadana, Marta Schill, Jillina.  I know I forgot someone...will link to complete list soon.

Middle Eastern Belly Dance (aka: Orientale Danse ,   Arabic Dance,  Beledi, & Danse du Ventre),   Egyptian (Raqs al Sharqi),  Lebanese Cabaret, Armenian Line Dances & Tribal Fusion Belly Dance.

Veils: Rectangular, Circular & specialty sizes, Zills, Sword (single or double), Basket/Jug Balancing, Cane (Stick/Assaya), Shamadan, Tambourine. 

In 2005 Vichelle was named the Bellydancer of the Universe "Divine Champion"  and  the 'Hips of Fury' "Cabaret Champion".  Vichelle has received MECDA Appreciation Awards for 1999, 2002, 2004 & 2005.  For a Complete list of awards,click..

As an early promoter of "kids in bellydance", I received a BDUC Magic Lamp award in 2001 from Tonya  & Atlantis.   Many of the Daughters of the Wind have earned BDUC Trophies as "Little" & "Junior" Competitors.    In 2002 we decided to enter the 'daughters' in the adult group dance, and they recevied the congenialty reward.   It was soon after this that Tonya & Atlantis developed the junior troupe category.   See photos of my champion students here.