This is who we are. . . Jacqui Chandler

Today’s post would have been the first in a series of posts that centres around our Rusty Belly Dance students. Unfortunately Mother Nature had other plans for our exciting photo shoot planned for this weekend, but I couldn’t not post something. So today I present to you “This is who we are. . . Jacqui Chandler.”

We know Jacqui as our teacher and mentor, a woman with roots in ballet who carries the same principle of discipline into her Belly Dance teaching, but there is much more to her than meets the eye. She describes herself as a “Mother, Life Partner, Dancer, Teacher, Choreographer, Costume Maker, Life Liver, and Happiness Seeker.”

Born in the small Free State town of Welkom, Jacqui started her dance training at the tender age of 6 in ballet. With the loving guidance of her dedicated mother, it soon became her life. After graduating from high school, she chose to study Graphic Design at the Technicon of Bloemfontein, but transferred to the Technicon Natal and changed her major to Stage Management and Technical Theatre. Thanks to her dancing experience, she joined the Natal Performing Arts Council (NAPAC) and performed in various productions at the Durban Opera House. She also furthered her studies in ballet and obtained her teachers’ certificate. 

After completing her studies, she moved to Zululand in 1991 and started teaching ballet for six years. Her life took her in many different directions and she studied every available dance form including Belly Dance. After spending two years in Mozambique, she returned to South Africa in 2006 and started taking belly dance more seriously. After being a student of the dance form for four years, a couple of friends came to her asking if she wouldn’t consider teaching classes for them and that is how her teacher role developed.

For Jacqui, the allure of Belly Dance is that it is an ageless dance form. For dancers in ballet or contemporary dance, the lifespan of your career is quite limited, but Belly Dance can be danced by all ages, from very young to very old. She says that her biggest challenge in her life as a Belly Dance teacher is that there are just not enough hours in a day. Jacqui has a full time day job that she’s lucky to be able to do from home, but she also needs to find time to choreograph dances, teach five or more classes a week, make her own costumes and still have time to spend with her loved ones. She would love to be able to further her training in Belly Dance, but given her geographical position in Rustenburg, finding time to attend classes in bigger city centres are also challenging, but she attends every workshop she can to make sure she learns as much as she can.

Tribal Fusion is the one genre that Jacqui would like to master and her inspiration for dance is the amazing Ms Rachel Brice (a past Stalkee) If she could learn from any dancer in the world, it would be Rachel because she has a way of dance that mesmerizes her audience. Tribal Fusion as a dance style also appeals to Jacqui because of its versatility. Any other dance form can be fused with classical Egyptian style to create something new and for a dancer with classical ballet, contemporary, jazz and even cabaret (the sequins and feathers!) training, this is right up her alley!

Jacqui (back, right) with her Rusty Belly Dance students

With her teaching, Jacqui finds inspiration in working with her students, learning new steps, challenging each other and becoming better with every class. She credits the Rhythm Divine Hafla, held in last year October as one of her proudest moments where her students displayed their new-found skills to family and friends. To see their own spiritual and emotional growth alongside their mastering of the skill of Belly Dance inspires her. She also finds the Sisterhood of Belly Dance to be a source of encouragement and inspiration as her classes are filled with great laughs, an exchange of ideas and amazing people.

In 2014 Jacqui will obtain her formal teachers accreditation with Ajsa Samia, attend workshops and hopes to take her group of students to the stage of the V&A to dance in The Palace of the Wind’s annual International Oriental Dance Festival. There will also be various showcases and events planned for this year.

Remember to join Jacqui on Facebook, the Rusty Belly Dance page and follow her on Pinterest for more insight to this amazing woman.