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Written by Erin Frustaci
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Thursday, 11 January 2007 |
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 In elaborately shiny costumes and dramatic make-up, Julia DiVerdi dances, belly style.
“A common misconception is that all belly dancers are fat and ugly,” DiVerdi said. “I have people tell me all the time that I can’t be a belly dancer because I’m not fat enough.”
That couldn’t be further from the truth. In fact, most belly dancers have stomachs other women would kill for.
DiVerdi, 25, of Fort Collins co-owns TribalTique Belly Dance Company, where she performs and instructs. She decided at 14 years old that belly dancing was what she wanted to do.
“Ballet was too rigid for me,” she said. “We always joke that belly dancers are drop out ballerinas.”
She started taking several classes a week and before long she was dancing professionally. There are two distinct styles of belly dancing — cabaret belly dancing and tribal belly dancing. DiVerdi originally did cabaret, but later she was blown away by tribal dance.
“I liked how the dancers held themselves,” DiVerdi said. “It’s like they were dancing more for each other than the audience.”
Belly dancing has gained more recognition in the last 10 years, with the help of celebrities like Shakira.
“Another misconception is that belly dancers are strippers or exotic dancers,” DiVerdi said.
In addition to owning her own dance company, DiVerdi, an apparel design graduate student at Colorado State University, also owns her own tribal belly dance wear known as “Tribe.”
“I was lucky I could find a way to weave the different parts of my life back to my primary goal,” she said. “Belly dancing is rewarding, because I love every minute of it. I just love performing and being in front of a crowd. I also love the impact I have on my students.”
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VITAL STATS
Name: Julia DiVerdi, 25, of Fort Collins
Company: TribalTique Belly Dance Co.
Title: Owner
How long have you worked there? My dance partner, Molly McClellan, and I started the company in July 2004.
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TRIBAL BELLLY DANCE CLASSES
On Mondays and Wednesdays at the Empire Grange, 2306 W. Mulberry St., Fort Collins. Go to www.TribalTique.com
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IN HER WORDS
What makes you get out of bed in the morning?
I love to dance! I am constantly inspired to reinvent my style.
Did you ever think in a million years you’d work here?
Yes, I’ve always known I wanted to be a professional dancer, and the best way to do that was to start my own company. I’ve been belly dancing since I was 14 years old and have never had a doubt that this was my passion.
If you weren’t doing this, what would you do?
Join the circus.
What’s the stupidest thing you’ve ever done while at work? Smartest?
Well, I have fallen flat on my butt while performing before... As I tell my students, the smartest thing I ever did was making it look intentional.
Any interesting anecdotes?
Tons! But you have to come to classes if you want to hear ‘em. My students get all the interesting stories.
What’s the one thing you wish you could do on the job that you can’t right now?
I can’t think of any limitations. The great thing about being the boss is that I get to make the rules with my partner; so if we want cookie breaks during rehearsals, we get ‘em!
What do you do during your breaks?
Hmmm... yoga and eat cookies?
What’s one thing about your job you would do even if you weren’t paid to do it?
Everything. I do this because I love it and am constantly amazed that people are willing to pay me for it.
What’s the biggest payoff in your job?
Absolutely getting to do what I love. I also get to work with some amazing dancers, including my partner, Molly, and get to travel across the United States to various belly-dance festivals and workshops.
What do you do when you’re not at work?
When I’m not dancing, I work a few days a week downtown at Life of the Party and attend weekly yoga classes at Old Town Yoga. I also try to spend a lot of time with my family and friends.
Favorite TV shows.
I’m a sucker for cartoons, especially “Family Guy” and “South Park”.
Movies.
I don’t make it to a lot of movies, but I love period flicks and am a total Bond girl (James Bond, that is).
Books.
I mostly read a lot of obscure books dealing with belly dance and it’s origins, but I’m always game for a good satire.
What Web sites do you have bookmarked?
Mine, of course (www.tribaltique.com and www.tribedesigns.com) Also, www.theindigo.net, www.fluevog.com, www.stuffonmycat.com, and www.tribe.net.
Where do you play?
My favorite “play” is going out dancing. I love shakin’ my hips at Osiris Nightclub here in town or the Shelter/Milk Bar in Denver.
Go out to eat?
I never say no to sushi and no surprise, Suhiro’s is my fav.
Favorite spot?
Spend a lot time in festivals in northern California. It’s so beautiful.
What is it about this job that makes it challenging?
My partner and I strive to challenge ourselves and take our dancing to the next level. What’s great about this art form is that it is so open to interpretation.
Things that impress you?
People who express individual style impress me in dance especially and in life too.
Things that don’t.
People who don’t express individual style. People who copy cat or conform.
How do young/new employees get ahead?
In belly dance it really takes two things, being a good dancer and being a good business person. You really have to know how to market yourself to be successful and if you don’t, you should team up with someone who does. As far as being a good dancer, it’s no mystery: practice, practice, practice! Always remember to be the student, learn from as many teachers as you can and find time everyday for your own personal practice.
Name one thing in your life that really prepared you for your job.
As far as mentally prepared me, all the experience I gained as a dancer in other companies has helped me tremendously. As far as physically prepared me, I have a background in yoga and strength training which helps my body cope with the strenuousness of the dancing.
Are you the boss? Do you think you should be?
As a matter of fact I am. Well, “co-boss” with my partner, of course.
What’s the most unusual thing you’ve ever done to make money?
Probably belly dancing.
Pets? Family?
A darling Siamese kitty and doting Italian parents. | Only registered users can write comments.
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