HOLLIE (Halleyah) WILLIAMS

(Tribal Fusion Belly Dance)

Hollie Williams is a native of Louisiana and has resided in Conyers since 1992.  She has studied Middle Eastern Dance since 1990 and became an assistant instructor in 1991.  She began teaching on her own in 1992.  Her own instructors have included: Isabel Crunk at Emory University, Rayne Kerrigan who danced professionally with Ouzel’s Company in Germany during the 1970’s, Aegela of Atlanta, and Zhaleh Ferreshta of Augusta. Over the years she has taken workshop classes with many wonderful instructors and continues to regularly attend workshops in order to maintain her skills and learn new things. In 2007 she received her ATS General Skills certification from Carolena Nericcio of Fat Chance Belly Dance.

Hollie has studied a wide variety of Middle Eastern dances over the years including: Central Asian, Egyptian, Nomadic North Indian, North African, Persian and Turkish.  Her areas of specialty are Egyptian and Persian.  Her dance training is primarily in Middle Eastern Dance, but she has also studied: Ballroom dance, Flamenco, Folk dance, Line dance, Modern dance, Renaissance dance and Square dance.  She holds a Masters degree in Education, a BA in Sociology, with a minor in Theatre.

Hollie is a long time member of the Society of Creative Anachronism.  The Society is a historical reenactment group which originated in California in the 1960’s, but which now has a large membership worldwide.  The Society studies and recreates the medieval time period.  Her membership in the Society is where her interest in dance research, performance and teaching began.

Hollie has been married since 1987 to Lester Williams, a hydrogeologist for the U.S. Geologic Survey in Atlanta.  They have one son.  Hollie has been with the Dominy School since 2001.

Visit Hollie's personal website!

Also find Hollie @ myspace and tribe.net!