Nerissa: Escape to the Exotic
by Zahirah
Nerissa is the powerhouse behind Baltimore Bellydance. Always extremely organized with lists of things to do in her Palm Pilot, she makes sure that the newsletter is put out by the deadline and sends out emails when things need to get done.
She is brilliant, and keeps the ideas coming, whether in the organization that she co-founds, in her career as a photographer, as a bride to be, or as a Middle Eastern dancer. It is amazing that this woman finds the time to sleep!
It seems that Nerissa was destined to be a bellydancer. With a beautifully unusual name from Greek mythology given to her by her parents, and a mother who had dabbled in Middle Eastern dance, it was only a matter of time before Nerissa began to dance herself.
It was the discovery of some interesting items in her parents' attic that led Nerissa to the world of bellydance, an art form that would take on a very important place in her life. She came across some old Middle Eastern records, and an old tarnished coin belt that was once used by her mother.
These treasures sparked Nerissa's imagination, and she decided to take bellydancing lessons to supplement her yoga and kickboxing routines. She was mainly looking for another exercise outlet when she purchased the Dolphina Goddess Workout video. But that just wasn't enough.
In August 2000, she began to take classes in York, PA with Candra Sareen. However, it wasn't until a workshop in 2001 where she witnessed a performance by Piper that Nerissa began to take bellydance more seriously.
"Before seeing her dance, I had no idea how amazing bellydance could be... She changed my life that day", Nerissa remembers.
It was at that moment that she decided that she was no longer "dancing for exercise"-- she wanted to be a performer.
Nerissa began taking classes with Piper in Baltimore, and not long after that, began lessons with Antonia and eventually Lotus Niraja.
In February 2002, Nerissa gave her first performance at Vivian's student hafla at Parsa Kabob. Although she had spent months training for it, when the day came, she was very nervous and to make matters worse, as she performed, there was a guy at the very front table that kept yawning and looking out the window as his dining companion poked at her food and looked down the entire time.
True to her determined nature, Nerissa did not let these spectators discourage her and by the end of her performance, she got a hugely positive response from her friends and family at another table. All of the time and energy she spent preparing had paid off in a fabulous show.
It wasn't long after this performance that Nerissa began performing regularly at restaurants. First, at the Nile Cafe, where she was loved by staff and clients alike. She had an amazing way of coming into the room and grabbing everyone's attention immediately.
She usually begins her performances swathed in veils with only her eyes visible, creating an exotic sense of mystery. Her eyes scan the room and flash and dance on their own, even before her body movements begin. The audience is immediately mesmerized.
"I think bellydance should transport the viewers to a place of desert sun and sandstorms and smoky rooms with exotic characters. It should be an escape even for just a few minutes from the grind of daily life in the city," she said.
She strives to create this image, and as her show unfurls, it becomes obvious what a marvelous performer she is. She is able to make a connection with every person in the room as she frequently stops at each table to joke, to flirt, to pull unsuspecting men and women to dance with her and create countless special memories with every performance.
She is driven by the music, it speaks to her and she has no choice but to move to the rhythm of the drums. It is truly a joy to witness a performance by Nerissa.
Through her years of countless performances, Nerissa has become quite seasoned and lived through many experiences, some more pleasant than others.
She always sites a time when her long tassel belt landed in someone's food as one of her more awkward but laughable experiences.
"The woman was looking at my face, so I just kept smiling, and when I twisted my hip back, food went everywhere," she laughed. Luckily, the restaurant owner was amused and replaced the meal for free.
Nerissa was faced with some obstacles in her dance career. She was forced to overcome two summers of serious GI illness in 2002 and 2003. Both years she spent a great amount of time in the hospital with an ulcer, food allergies and a gall bladder removal surgery.
"Let me tell you about set backs as a dancer!" she exclaims "Not being able to do much at all with my torso and having my belly cut open in four places made it very hard to start dancing again. It was even painful to laugh or sit upright for awhile."
Nerissa faced these challenges head-on and got right back to dancing once she healed. She found the drive and determination to keep improving her dance and she plans to continue improving her technique, building up strength/endurance and working on her music interpretation.
Her goals are also to become a much more proficient zil player and even learn tabla.
She never takes her health for granted, and strives to take very good care of her body. "I am so happy to be healthy! Good health is a true blessing".
At the moment, Nerissa has started taking a pilates program to stregthen core muscles, as well as studying tribal dance with Sara Sathya, and takes privates with Piper.
In addition to her regular classes, Nerissa also takes workshops with great dancers such as Artemis, Fahtiem, and recently, Neena and Veena. She especially enjoyed the Neena and Veena workshop in South Carolina because they taught in tandem with one facing forward and one facing backward so that students could see the movements from all angles, which made it easier to absorb. She also sites a workshop that she took with Cheri Berens from Massachusetts as being very effective. Although the hip- work drilling was difficult, it paid off.
Amazingly, with all the dancing that is going on in Nerissa's life, she also makes time for her very full time job at the Baltimore Sun as a picture editor, developing her own freelance photography business and even planning an October wedding! At times it all becomes overwhelming, but she manages to stay organized and have the will power to manage her balancing act. Plus, she admits that her amazing support network helps her through it, especially her adoring fiancé, Nathaniel.
Nerissa thinks big, and she is one of the few people who are able to accomplish all they set out to do. Although she is young, she has already done so much in her life and will continue to do more and accomplish all of her dreams. She is an inspiration to all that know her and we are so lucky to have her as part of the dance community -- the true driving force behind Baltimore Bellydance.