The Daughters are a group of like minded women that are working together to create a community here in Springfield Ill. Synchronized Group Improvisation is what we do under the umbrella ATS.  We study all forms of tribal dance and incorporate this into our presentations. We are available for events to educate and entertain.   We would love to show and share with every woman the power and strength of The Dance.  Here are just a few of their performance accomplishments:
                                    Ethnic Festival 2009,  '10, and '11 
                                    Pava's productions in Peoria Illinois 2008, '09, '11
                                    Down to Earth BellyDance in Peoria 2009, '10
                                    Tribal Fest 10 & 11, Sebastopol California  
                                    Bellies for Life, Champagn Ill, 2009, '10 & '11
                                    Belly Boo 2009, '10
                                    First Night Springfield 2008
                                    LLCC Demonstration 2008, '09, '10 & '11
                                    Bellies for Bellies 2010, '11 
                                    LLCC International festival 2010 & '11 
                                    UIS Multicultural Festival 2010 & '11
                                    Tribal Revolution 2010 & '11  
                           
                              
Therese retired from teaching SCUBA after 15 years as a Master Scuba Diver Trainer with 7 specialties and started studying Oriental style belly dance. 9 years later she started teaching again, Belly Dance this time. It's difficult here in the Midwest so she travels to find the teachers. "My first seminar was 2 days of Hadia. Then I was hooked and went to EVERYTHING I could afford and could find- Virginia, Yousry and Nourhan, Vashti, Suhaila, Amel Tafsout, Karim Nagi, Kay Hardy Campbell, Rachel Brice, Kami Little, Laurel Victoria, Artemis Mourat, Daveed Korup, Raquy Danzinger, Tempest, Amy Sigil, Lee Ali and I'm sure I'm missing a couple.  When I found ATS, I looked into 3 different formats by buying and studying their dvd's.  I settled on Kajira Djoumahna's.  In 2007 I received my Level 1 certification from Kajira of Black Sheep BellyDance in American Tribal Style group improvisation and have studied it like crazy. After completing my Level 2 with her she invited me to be a featured dancer on her instructional DVD's, what an experience! Now I've started the dance troupe Daughters of The Dance of Springfield Illinois and am blessed to always have a full classroom. We want to bring American Tribal Style Synchronized Group Improvisation to the Midwestern Great Corn Desert! I look forward to sharing the strength and balance that this format brings to every woman that studies"

Therese taught the Black Sheep Format of ATS at Tribal Fest 11 in California to a full classroom of dancers from several different countries and will be teaching there again in 2012 !

Therese also dances for the hand drumming group Rhythm Spirit and is a very much in demand hairstylist for 30 years as a salon owner.

 
My belly dance journey started in May of 2007. I had a husband, a 1 year old daughter, a 6 year old step-daughter, and a 14 year old step-daughter at home at the time. I was looking for a chance to bond with a friend of mine and to have something for myself outside of my wonderful family. My friend suggested taking a Bellyrobics class with her. Since beginning that class so long ago, I have discovered much more than I was ever expecting. I now teach my own beginner's class in Jacksonville, IL at Inner Harmony Day Spa, as well as continuing to attend the Black Sheep Belly Dance class in Springfield, IL. I have experienced such joy in teaching, learning, and performing that I have never looked back. The bond between my friend and myself has grown, in addition to the bond between my family and myself. I've also been fortunate enough to gain many other dance sisters along the way. This journey I have started has a path, but no destination. My only hope and expectation is to better myself physically, mentally, and emotionally through the expression of The Dance and the creation of new and lasting friendships and sisterhoods.

 
    Erin started dancing in Springfield after a dramatic life change. Dancing with Daughters of the Dance has given her renewed confidence and joy which shows in all aspects of her life as a teacher, student, mother and now a wife. For four years she has been dancing in the Springfield area in different styles but now she focuses her energy on the Black Sheep format. For her the format is like a language spoken with the body. Each sister brings their energy to the dance floor, and our bodies speak the language of the dance. They never know what will happen and that is the beauty of ATS.

    Arikah Peacock is the creative director of Ees’aBella BellyDance, certified teacher of ATS and ITS formats, a Reiki Master Teacher, a wife, friend, and daughter.  Arikah has been teaching Tribal Style in the Mid~West community for over a decade and finds it more than a hobby.  Arikah sponsors the annual event Bellies for Bellies which raises money for a food pantry and orphanage.  Arikah loves performing, dancing, and spending time with Daughters.  “Daughters inspire me to be a better dancer and have been supportive of me in my dance decisions and I am blessed to be a part of the crew.  I love to be able to communicate with my sisters in dance through verbal and non-verbal communication.”  ~A.Peacock

Membership in Dof TD is limited to dancers dedicated to investing the time in learning the technique's required to move as one unit. This includes ongoing classes, weekly rehearsals and a dedication to practicing on personal time. The reward for this dedication is a marvelous network of strong beautiful women that are always available to help heal, push each other to they're next level, and hold each others hands when needed. Real Namaste!