Apsara Dancers
Apsara is a student-level performing bellydance troupe under the creative direction of Kaitlyn. They study various styles of bellydance and perform at local and regional events through North Carolina and beyond. Each member of Apsara brings her own unique energy, dance experience and talent to the troupe which adds a dynamic flavor to their performances. In addition to studying and performing with Kaitlyn, members regularly attend workshops, participate in bellydance related events and co-host the annual "Down East Bellydance & Drum Fest", an event committed to promoting to art of bellydance in eastern North Carolina.
Meet the Ladies of Apsara (in alphabetical order)
Cher Burke (Assistant Director of Apsara)
Cher has been studying with Kaitlyn since her first class in Sept 2007. She is also an original member of Kaitlyn’s student troupe, the Apsara Dancers and acts as the Assistant Director. Cher found out about Kaitlyn from a news article in the Max Magazine portion of the Daily News. She had been looking for something to do in the evenings while her husband was working and was captivated by the photo of Kaitlyn on the cover. She read the article and put it aside but found herself reading it again later that evening. When she picked it up again in the morning, she figured some one was telling her something so she wrote down the phone number and contacted Kaitlyn that same day – the rest is history! Cher has taken workshops from Gina of Atlanta, Fahtiem, Blue Moon Dance Co., Mara of Cary, The Indigo, Hannan Sultan, Nahla Hamad of Greenville, Khalida Mahira, Bozenka, Myra Krien, Zafira Dance Co., Donna Mejia, John Compton, Zoe Jakes, Jill Parker, Ahava, Amani Jabril and of course, Kaitlyn. She continues to attend workshops with the enthusiastic support of Kaitlyn, as well as taking private lessons from Kaitlyn in Kaitlyn’s other passion, Indian dance.
With no previous dance experience at all, Cher had to force herself to attend that first class but has found great support, enormous love and valued friendships from her dance sisters and hopes she is dancing twenty years from now!
Kimberly Fields
A native of Jacksonville, NC, Kim first expressed interest in the art of bellydance in late 2003. However, with the lack of a local instructor, she studied tapes in her spare time. In 2007, while running a random Google search, Kim discovered that an introductory class to bellydance was being offered locally, by professional bellydancer Kaitlyn Lewis. Kim then took her first class, meeting others with the same interests. The following year, she joined Kaitlyn's student troupe, the Apsara Dancers. Since then, she has had a blast performing, and hopes to expand her knowledge of the art.
Elizabeth Hansen
Elizabeth Hansen has studied classical Vaganova style ballet since childhood. She auditioned and was accepted into the American Ballet Theatre, under the artistic direction of Mikhail Baryshnikov, but unfortunately was not able to fulfill her dance dreams due to unfortunate events at that time. She started taking belly dance classes with a friend in 2008 who insisted that trying something new would be good for a change. After her first class, she was captivated by the graceful movements and energetic expression of the dance. She has studied Middle Eastern Dance ever since, with renown Belly Dance extraordinaire/artist Kaitlyn Lewis. Elizabeth has joined and is a member of Apsara student dance troupe in 2011 and has taken advantage of the many performing opportunities in the Down East Area.
Kimberly Morton
As a former cheerleader and majorette with no real previous dance experience, Kim attended one of Kaitlyn's Belly Dance Fitness classes in the summer of 2010 after having back surgery, to assist in getting her core back in shape. She fell in love with the dance itself, and began taking both cabaret style and tribal style belly dance with Kaitlyn later that year. Since joining Kaitlyn's student troupe in 2011, her love of belly dance and special fondness for Middle Eastern dance has only grown.
Gabriela Sanborn
As a child, Gabriela Sanborn studied Mexican Folklore Dancing and has always loved dancing to the beat of music. She started taking belly dance classes in 2009 after a close friend insisted she try it. It didn’t take long before she fell in love with the graceful movements and energetic expression of the dance. She has studied Middle Eastern dance ever since with Kaitlyn Lewis. Gabriela joined the Apsara student dance troupe in 2011 and has taken advantage of the many performing opportunities in open stages in the Down East area.
Troupe Photos (click for larger view)
