Shirin~sweet/charming.; "I had no idea of the meaning when i picked it. I just wanted something that didn't end with an 'a'. It is pronounced shee REEN. Pretty much everyone says it like they would say "sharon" but with i's."

• BECAME A GYPSY IN: I don't really know when i became an official gypsy--whenever Halima officially named us Gypsy Rhythm. I became a Desert Gypsy January 2009!!

• DANCE BACKGROUND: I took the obligatory ballet and acrobats when I was 7 or 8. I didn't really start dancing until college, where I took just about everything they offered: modern, tap, clogging, Latin, ballroom, swing, hip hop, Irish....

• YEARS DANCING: 7-8 years I suppose, belly dancing for about 5 years

• INTRODUCED TO MIDDLE EASTERN DANCE BY: when I graduated from college I desperately needed to find somewhere I could dance. I saw belly dancing in the Community Ed schedule and thought I'd try it. I have never looked back.

• FAVORITE STYLE OF BELLY DANCE: I'm too ignorant of the styles to say one or the other. Suffice it to say that I like just about everything I've seen or done so far.

• STRENGTH: Remembering choreography and generally staying on beat. I think I'm pretty good at smiling when I'm performing.

• WEAKNESS: zills--without question

• EMBARRASSING MOMENT: I don't really have one. Embarrassment is not my thing.

• FAVORITE PERFORMANCE: Forever Green--it was such a treat to dance with the entire company! I had a blast, and am still enjoying our full company numbers.

• PASSION FOR DANCING: One of the reasons I love dance is my love of music and movement. I am perpetually amazed at the human body and what it is capable of. I enjoy learning the cultural history and influences on different styles of dance. I'm not entirely sure why belly dancing is the one that stuck, but I have to say that I love the costumes, the sisterhood, the music, and the shimmy!!

• OCCUPATION WHEN NOT DANCING: Veterinary Technician at the Timpanogos Animal Hospital

• HOBBIES & INTERESTS: Reading, cooking/baking (my obsession in recent years has been PIE), collecting costume stuff (halloween is my favorite!), working at the temple, singing and writing. I also love to spend time with my siblings.