Lori Savory

Lori discovered bellydance the year she turned 40. Looking for a fun new way to exercise, she took a beginners bellydance class with a member of the Neighbourhood Strays, and her passion for bellydance was ignited. She continued her training with the Neighbourhood Strays, learning gypsy-style bellydance from Andrea Kitta, Kristine Nolte and Jennifer Miles, and was invited to join the troupe in 2007. Since then she has performed with the troupe at numerous events, shows and fundraisers and has choreographed numbers for the Neighbourhood Strays, and is currently their artistic director

In addition to continuing her training with the troupe, Lori has trained with Audra Simmons of the Dark Side Studio in Toronto, Ontario. She has taken tribal fusion workshops from Mira Betz of San Francisco and Monique Ryan of Halifax and ATS from Diane MacDonald of Vancouver. In October, 2010, she will be taking workshops in ATS from Carolene Nerriccio of Fat Chance Bellydance of San Francisco.

She began teaching workshops in February, 2008 and began teaching Beginners Bellydance in September 2008. Her passion for teaching is as strong as her passion for bellydance overall. Her teaching philosophy is that strong technique and artistic expression are the keys to reaching one’s greatest potential as a dancer. Learning to do the movements properly helps students avoid injury, and allows them to better use their bodies to convey their emotions through dance. Opening Wild Lily with Vanessa has allowed her to put this philosophy into practice.

Lori has seen first-hand how self-esteem and confidence blossoms in her students and her teaching is based on a belief that bellydance is accessible to women of all ages and body types. She looks forward to giving her students the gift of bellydance each semester.