About Alison

The Dance Story.

In 2001, Alison remembers looking at a cover of SF Weekly featuring belly dancers, falling in love with the vibrant costuming, and immediately wanting to learn that dance style. She started taking classes with Habi'ru, a baladi- and folkloric-style group that descended from the 1970s San Francisco-based troupe Bal Anat. Bal Anat indirectly shaped her perception of belly dancing without knowing how it shaped the entire industry. They were known for their theatrical dances at Renaissance Faires, and while it was based on dance moves from Egypt and Turkey, it was embellished to be exotic and fantastical.

A few years later, Alison moved to Los Angeles, where she connected with Europa Macmillan, a fellow Bal Anat and Cabaret night club dancer in the 80s and 90s. She studied with her for years, performing at local festivals. 

It was in 2009 that Alison discovered fusion belly dance and learned from Heather Shoopman. Over the years, She’s continued with fusion and has taken various styles of fusion workshops with Ariellah, Aubre Hill, Ami Sigil of Umata, Donna Mejia, and Ebony Qualls.

When she moved to Rhode Island in 2018, Alison joined the Baladi Dance Company under the direction of Kanina Hague, which focused on traditional Egyptian and Arabic folkloric dances. Returning to the theatrical, she studied Global Caravan with Neylan and Blue Moon Caravan. 

After a brief hiatus, Alison returns to belly dance and began teaching to bring fusion style to the community.

The Yoga Story.

Alison DeLapp, RYT 200, teaches two movement-based classes: yoga and belly dance. Her love of each practice started over 20 years ago when she recognized she needed to get out and move her body more. Unbeknownst then was how they would be a complimentary and long-lasting part of her life. 

Alison has been practicing yoga since 2000. Initially, Hatha Yoga was just a class she took in college to fulfill requirements, but the practice became one of the constants in her life and was something she could take with her wherever she lived or traveled. In 2018, Alison permanently moved to Rhode Island. 

In 2022, she wanted to dive deeper into her practice and the philosophy of yoga, so she completed her 200-hour Integrative Vinyasa Teacher Training with Coral Brown. Individualism is important to Alison, so her approach to yoga focuses on strength and flexibility while finding a safe range of movement for your body.