Julz Irion

Instructor, Sahidi Sister, Sister of the Shawl

Julz is a native New Jersey girl who moved to Vermont in 1989, but will always be a “jersey girl”. A dancer all through her childhood and pre-teen years, she took her first ATS® lesson in 2003 and was instantly hooked. She is one of the founding BBTB Tribal Council members, instructors, and principal dancers, and is still hooked! Julz is a major foodie and spends most of her non-dance time cooking, thinking about food and menus, reading and writing recipes or just experimenting in the kitchen. Being a gluten free person has re-ignited Julz’s passion for cooking and finding not only substitutes for food that she loves….but making them better!!!! Residents of her small Norman Rockwell town are not only used to her cooking and passion for food & dance but also very used to seeing her and her dance sisters running around town in turbans, tribal markings, and full costumes. She is extremely grateful to ATS for her dance “sisters” and their friendship, which was something she was looking for up here in the Green Mountains.  Julz lives in Vermont with her husband Marty and sons Noah and Sam.

Kathleen McBrien

Instructor, Sahidi Sister, Sister of the Shawl

Kathleen McBrien has danced since she was six. In 1995, she began studying ATS® bellydance with Carolena Nericcio and has been shimmying ever since. Being inept at memorizing choreography, the improvisational nature of the dance is perfect and it gives her an excuse to dress up in amazing costumes and go out in public on a regular basis. Kathleen lives in Bennington, Vermont with her husband and their cats.

Callie Raspuzzi

Sister of the Shawl

Emily Gold

Sister of the Shawl

Kat Farnham

Emeritus

Kat Farnham is one of the founding members of Bennington Beledi Tribal Bellydance. She discovered American Tribal Style® bellydance in 1999 and fell in love with this improvisational and collaborative dance form. In addition to dance, Kat is an exhibited collage artist who loves cooking, reading, and arranging flowers, and she hopes to devote more time to all of these endeavors in her retirement and to spend more time with her husband and many friends. While she is no longer actively involved with Bennington Beledi, she will always be a dancer and is grateful to her dance Sisters for all they have taught her and shared with her.