In The Pink is a group of women who have all been touched by cancer. Learn more about these beautiful women below!
Fran, dance name "Sahda"
Pat, dance name "M'eisha"
Donna, dance name
Jane, dance name "Zizi"
Pat, dance name "M'eisha"
Donna, dance name
Jane, dance name "Zizi"
PERSONAL BIO'S OF IN THE PINK TROUPE MEMBERS:
Pat
PAT ”Meisha”
I have been dancing for 8 years and am the mother of 5 sons and grandmother of 9 (so far). When I first started belly dancing, it was because I wanted to get healthy. I was diagnosed with COPD and exercising helps open the lungs. Seven months later, I was told I had nodules in my left lung, diagnosed as lung carcinoma. I don’t talk about my condition because that is not what makes me the person I am.
Right now my dancing abilities have become limited, not do to my lungs, but due to a motorcycle accident in July 2010. I have been through two surgeries and one year of physical therapy. With all that, I still have limited movement in my shoulder and arm. I do believe, however that I have a mission in life, so I will continue to dance.
I thank God for my family and the support of my “Pink Sisters” and although I may dance with a broken body, I have love in my heart.
I have been dancing for 8 years and am the mother of 5 sons and grandmother of 9 (so far). When I first started belly dancing, it was because I wanted to get healthy. I was diagnosed with COPD and exercising helps open the lungs. Seven months later, I was told I had nodules in my left lung, diagnosed as lung carcinoma. I don’t talk about my condition because that is not what makes me the person I am.
Right now my dancing abilities have become limited, not do to my lungs, but due to a motorcycle accident in July 2010. I have been through two surgeries and one year of physical therapy. With all that, I still have limited movement in my shoulder and arm. I do believe, however that I have a mission in life, so I will continue to dance.
I thank God for my family and the support of my “Pink Sisters” and although I may dance with a broken body, I have love in my heart.
Fran
FRAN "Sahda"
I have been performing and teaching Oriental Belly Dance for over 30 years. When I started, the furthest thing from my mind was Breast Cancer, Belly Dance, and Me. During that time, I have known 10 women, including myself, who were diagnosed and treated for breast cancer. They came to my classes and dance troupe for healing, support and camaraderie that this dance form provides.
Waiting is the hardest part of a diagnosis of cancer. After a biopsy in December 1996, it was waiting for results. Then a lumpectomy with questionable margins. Waiting again.
In September 2009, 1 was diagnosed a second time with breast cancer in the same breast, another lumpectomy and waiting. Then, 33 radiation treatments and waiting. During all this time, I continued to teach and perform.
I also have been a caretaker. In May of 2009, my husband was diagnosed with prostate cancer, again waiting for results of his surgery. He is also a survivor.
Because I am a belly dancer, teacher, and choreographer, it made all the waiting bearable. From the music that uplifts your soul and makes you feel alive and feminine, to the actual dance that speeds healing both physically and mentally. It has inspired me then, as it does now to feel good about myself and my future.
I have been performing and teaching Oriental Belly Dance for over 30 years. When I started, the furthest thing from my mind was Breast Cancer, Belly Dance, and Me. During that time, I have known 10 women, including myself, who were diagnosed and treated for breast cancer. They came to my classes and dance troupe for healing, support and camaraderie that this dance form provides.
Waiting is the hardest part of a diagnosis of cancer. After a biopsy in December 1996, it was waiting for results. Then a lumpectomy with questionable margins. Waiting again.
In September 2009, 1 was diagnosed a second time with breast cancer in the same breast, another lumpectomy and waiting. Then, 33 radiation treatments and waiting. During all this time, I continued to teach and perform.
I also have been a caretaker. In May of 2009, my husband was diagnosed with prostate cancer, again waiting for results of his surgery. He is also a survivor.
Because I am a belly dancer, teacher, and choreographer, it made all the waiting bearable. From the music that uplifts your soul and makes you feel alive and feminine, to the actual dance that speeds healing both physically and mentally. It has inspired me then, as it does now to feel good about myself and my future.
Jane
JANE “ZiZi”
My name is Zi Zi (Zhee Zhee) and I am an "In the Pink" belly dancer and a breast cancer survivor for eight years. (Amen!) I started to belly dance for a year before I was diagnosed at age 45 with potentially aggresssive breast cancer. I thought that my dancing days were over as fast as they had begun.... and maybe even my life! I was shattered. It
seemed like a cruel joke to finally find something like belly dancing that was helping me in so many ways, only to have to abandon it...... But I fought hard, "like a girl" as they say, and was given a new life! (Amen and Amen!) My days as a belly dancer AND a cancer survivor had just begun..... My friend Karen led me to Liz who led me to Fran and well everything and everyone just started happening around me! And here I
am! My survivor message includes something I heard in my head one day during the fight of my life..... "No matter what happens, you're going to be O.K."
I am of Eastern European heritage and I chose the dance name of ZIZI because it comes from the word "zivot" which in Serbian means "life", and in Russian, means "belly". So "Zi Zi-Belly Life"......... that's me!
My life is a joy, a blessing and a miracle to me. As the Serbs say, "Go with God"! Just be you....keep moving.... and LIVE!
My name is Zi Zi (Zhee Zhee) and I am an "In the Pink" belly dancer and a breast cancer survivor for eight years. (Amen!) I started to belly dance for a year before I was diagnosed at age 45 with potentially aggresssive breast cancer. I thought that my dancing days were over as fast as they had begun.... and maybe even my life! I was shattered. It
seemed like a cruel joke to finally find something like belly dancing that was helping me in so many ways, only to have to abandon it...... But I fought hard, "like a girl" as they say, and was given a new life! (Amen and Amen!) My days as a belly dancer AND a cancer survivor had just begun..... My friend Karen led me to Liz who led me to Fran and well everything and everyone just started happening around me! And here I
am! My survivor message includes something I heard in my head one day during the fight of my life..... "No matter what happens, you're going to be O.K."
I am of Eastern European heritage and I chose the dance name of ZIZI because it comes from the word "zivot" which in Serbian means "life", and in Russian, means "belly". So "Zi Zi-Belly Life"......... that's me!
My life is a joy, a blessing and a miracle to me. As the Serbs say, "Go with God"! Just be you....keep moving.... and LIVE!