Michelle Joyce started her professional bellydance career while living in Istanbul, Turkey. She studied under Sema Yildiz, the Turkish dance legend, and became the headlining act at The Orient Nightclub in Istanbul in 1998.
Michelle has won several belly dance competitions including People's Choice Bellydance Awards (2004), Star Cabaret Performer (2006), Live Music Soloist (North Valley Compeition 2006), and East Coast Classic Champion (2006).
In 2007, she edited and produced her first belly dance performance DVD, By Dancers For Dancers, a collaborative project by local dancers who had decided to stop waiting for someone else to "discover them" and took matters into their own hands. The success of this DVD launched Cheeky Girls Productions, a company that produces and distributes belly dance instructional and performance DVDs internationally.
Michelle has a Masters in Counseling, and though she belly dances full-time, she uses her counseling skills to help dancers overcome stage fright and to improve their performance skills.
Visit Ranya at: www.ranya.net
MICHELLE JOYCE
JUDGE/INSTRUCTOR
PRODUCER: PROJECT BELLY DANCE
