Mom and Dad always instilled their belief

in my sister and me and that is what has always given me the confidence to move forward with courage, even when I'm scared.

And yes, our Mom and Dad are amazing dancers and speakers! Dad as our ballroom dance partner has spoiled both Tanya and me.  It's nearly impossible to find anyone as good.


How did belly dancing become my life?

At twenty years old I was living in
Hollywood, going on auditions and scraping by with waitress jobs and
borrowed rent from my Dad.  What could I do that would bring in money and be fun and flexible? Something had already been with me for half my life. . . belly dancing. Belly dancing at ritzy Hollywood parties was fun and did bring in some cash.

I danced across Florida, where I had moved to in my early twenties for the exploding commercial market.  But by 1995 I wanted to be closer to family on the West Coast of the U.S., so I moved to San Diego to be near my father.




Belly dance took off!  In a city with the 2nd largest Chaldean population in the U.S. and a growing Arabic and Persian community, belly dancing became a career.  I've studied hard to learn not only about the dance but also about the music, people, culture and religions.

And the music no longer hurts my ears!  In fact, I'm in love with it--can't live without it--and belly dance is now my main source of income.  I travel all over the world as a teacher and performer while I keep a home in San Diego.

I've worked jobs from custodian to model to speech consultant.  Currently, when I'm not dancing, I work as a tour guide in San Diego and Baja, and occasionally audition for film, television, and voice-overs.  My passion is traveling, which I am blessed to do often through "on location" acting jobs and dance contracts in various parts of the world.

Dondi & Dad dance at Troy's Greek Cuisine in San Diego

Dondi & Dad dance during her show at
Troy's Greek Cuisine in San Diego




The "Girls" in Northern California. Tanya - Mom - Dondi

Me (left) and Tanya (right) with our Mom in Northern California
When spare time pops up, you can bet that I'm spending it with my Dad, my sister , or my Mom and her husband David, in various parts of the world.  Nothing is more important to me than my family.  They are phenomenal.

I sacrificed precious and happy times with them when I lived in Hollywood--and for what? Empty promises of arrogant casting directors and inflated dreams that never will come true.

My past dreams won't come true because the Hollywood I've dreamt about doesn't exist.  I'm not willing to sell my soul to the devil for the one that does.

I never want to sacrifice my family and friends again for demeaning cattle calls and a
hellish existence that breeds insecurity.  I will never do that again.  I have too good of a life! 
In sha'allah. ~ Dondi



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