I've always thought that almost every photo we take is, in its own way, a self portrait. It reveals something about who we are - an interest, a friend, our family, something we find beautiful or intriguing or interesting, something that makes us who we uniquely are. Sometimes those photos are more revealing than anything that might be traditionally called a self portrait, no matter how much of our face or body - or both - it shows.
So .. who am I?

About a year ago I began belly dancing. It was unusual at first, coming from a ballet background, to learn to isolate very different muscles and body parts. The only thing that really translated from one to the other was the very delicate positioning of hands and fingers. It is a dance celebrating womanhood and femininity. Dancing with veils, the fabric swirling around my face and body ... the ching sound of the zills and soft tinging of the coins of the hip scarf ... it is easy to get lost in the music and movement. I have always loved to dance. I started classical ballet training when I was four and took lessons for nearly 10 years - and even went back to it again as an adult. Any music makes me want to get up and move. Belly dancing, though, is different and even when, compared to some of the others, I am totally awkward - so awkward I make myself laugh - I still feel wonderfully female and can't imagine not dancing.
I am .. sometimes .. a dancer.

I am also ...