Netra began dancing at the tender age of 8, taking ballet and jazz in her hometown of Falmouth, Maine. At the age of 11 she was introduced to Oriental dance when her mother started taking lessons. This memory stayed with her into her adult years and encouraged her to take classes in 2002. Layla was also an integral part in encouraging Netra to enroll in belly dance classes. Netra, now an advanced dancer, is currently taking classes with Yucy El-Banan in Clinton, MD.

Netra performs cabaret, tribal and folkloric styles of Oriental dance. Turkish spoons, dances with scarves, and the sword are a few of her specialties. She like many others feels that her style is always changing and developing as she learns more and connects it with her personality. Part of her development as a dancer hinged on being diagnosed with MS at the age of 20 and with Chronic Pain Syndrome several years later, she made a deal with herself that if she could not master the beginner level then she would stop dancing. Fortunately, she was able to perform the beginner movements and found that belly dancing helps her cope with MS by increasing her level of energy, and flexibility. She has also noticed that it helps her manage her pain and stiffness due to her on going illness. Netra believes that dancing this great dance, and connecting with other women, has undoubtedly given her a greater sense of female strength.

Class instruction from: Yucy El-Banan, Karima, Anon

Workshop instruction from: Latifa, Piper, Karima, Wendy Youssef, Nadirah Nasreen, Asharah, n.o.madic
Rakkasah “East” Workshops 2004: Aziza Raqs, Suhalia Salimpour, Michelle De Vine, Suzanna Del Vecchio, Saqra, Aneena