“We dance for laughter, we dance for tears,
we dance for madness, we dance for fears,
we dance for hopes, we dance for screams,
we are the dancers, we create the dreams. “
-Angela Monet

Debra is a fire and belly dancer; I’ve had the honor of photographing her twice now and it’s been so much fun each time! This lovely mama is a fireball of inspiration, enthusiasm, and hope! Below are a few words from her on Dancing with dreams and fire…

My Dance on Fire

I have always been compelled by music to dance. I could always feel music grab my soul and pull. Music from all over the world with its passion and authenticity. It’s roots evoking a step and sway reflective of its cultural origin. It was never an option to NOT be moved by rhythm and beat. I can say that with all honesty. I can also say honestly, I was not always carefree and confident in that movement and display. I was just like everyone else. I was insecure and self-conscious, unsure of how my expression of dance would be received or ridiculed. I had never had a dance class in my life. And then I discovered belly dance. It was an art of dance I had always been interested in but had no access to for instruction. That all changed in 2009. I began this incredible journey practically living at the studio and taking classes. Spending countless hours shimmying through my household chores or while changing diapers. It became so integral to my life as a way of not only expressing myself and my love of dance, but to the preservation of who I was so as not to be lost in the roles mother and wife at that time. It flamed my divine feminine in ways I had never connected to before. This passion evolved over time and grew to where I became an instructor, choreographer and extended into dancing with Fire. Fire in and of itself dances. To dance and play with that light and heat is an incredible privilege that I am forever grateful for. It is a true flow art that has taught me on so many deeper levels of what the word flow means and how it is applicable to my life in so many aspects outside of dance. If I could encourage and say anything to people it would be this. Flow. Breathe. Dance. Ignite your life with Passion.

You can see more on her dancing troupe as well as information on dance classes here>>> https://www.onespiritdanceandfitness.com/debra-mcgaffey