About Michelle
Artist, Movement Specialist, and Stage Veteran
Michelle is what happens when a movement geek falls in love with the stage. Based in Seattle, she has spent over 15 years cultivating a style she calls Modern American Cabaret—a blend of old-school glamour, Egyptian musicality, and soulful expression grounded in deep body awareness.
The Performance Journey
Michelle’s background is rooted in the Pacific Northwest and the world of competitive performance. Before finding bellydance, she spent years in Colorguard and is a proud alumna of the Seattle Cascades Drum and Bugle Corps. This foundation in precision and large-scale performance led her to the dance in 2010, where she found the perfect intersection of her favorite elements: becoming a visual representation of the music through a soulful, personal connection with the audience.
As an award-winning soloist and seasoned professional, Michelle has become a trusted name for high-end private entertainment in the Seattle area. Specializing in weddings, milestone birthdays, and corporate galas, she is known for her ability to shift the energy of a room—building from a dramatic, captivating entrance to a joyful, interactive finale that gets the whole party moving. Whether performing a mesmerizing sword balance or a classic Raks Sharqi set, she brings a "champion-level" presence and meticulous artistry to every event.
The Science of the Shimmy
What truly sets Michelle apart is her "movement geek" heart. As a Certified Feldenkrais Method® Practitioner, she helps dancers build lifelong movement skills that feel good and look good. She doesn’t just teach "the moves"—she understands the mechanics behind them.
After using the method to navigate her own body’s habits and changes, Michelle realized that when students grasp an internal "felt sense" of their movement, they dance with more clarity and less effort. Her classes mix technique, somatics, and just the right amount of sass to help each student find their unique spark and dance with confidence that lasts.
Artistry & Craft
Michelle’s creativity extends beyond movement and into the physical construction of the dance. With a background in fiber arts, she designs and constructs the majority of her own performance wardrobe. This passion for design led to the creation of her "Costume Magic" series, where she shares her eye for detail and construction techniques with the dance community.
Whether she is performing, teaching, or crafting, Michelle’s philosophy remains consistent: Master the mechanics, honor the music, and always bring the sparkle.
"Michelle helped me develop new skills to interpret classic Arabic music in a way that both honored the culture but allowed me to show my fusion chops as well. "
—Student AJ Reardon