PIPER, (aka Karen), began studying dance over 20yrs ago while still living in Los Angeles, Ca in the early 1990’s. Once settled back in Chicagoland area, she began studying in Oak Park at the Academy of Movement & Music and moved on to study with a modern dance company named Deeply Rooted. Here, she spent several years studying and performing various forms of modern dance along with ballet and Dunham style dance. In 2002, she began to study American Tribal / Tribal Fusion style belly dance. After many years studying belly dance and it’s various fusion styles, Piper has grown into her own bellydance fusion. She continues to study with internationally known performer/instructor, Sabah, as well as private lessons with some of the best performers/instructors both locally and throughout the U.S. Piper herself as taught her own unique style at various workshops both here and in the U.K. Currently, Piper is the director of the tribal dance troupe, the Gypsy Queens, who perform monthly at Khyber Pass in Oak Park, as well as other street festivals, and private functions. In 2007, she also became level 1 certified with Kajira of Black Sheep Belly Dance, an international style of Improvisational Tribal Style Belly dance. In October of 2011, Piper received her AFAA group fitness certification and is currently back in school to become a personal trainer.