Our Instructors

Joyce Young is the owner of Space for Movement Studio, founder of Tribal Wallah and principal instructor for Tribal Style Belly Dance classes in Fairbanks. She offers weekly classes, private lessons and workshops. Regular weekly classes and larger groups are hosted in her new studio, or for more individual attention, smaller groups of up to three students may have private lessons in her home studio.

Joyce teaches Improvisational Tribal Style, a fusion of belly dance styles, with a specific language and set of cues so that it can be performed as a group dance in a highly structured improvisation. When she first started teaching, her vision was, and still is, to give students an opportunity to dance with each other in a structured yet spontaneous fashion, and provide them with opportunities to educate and entertain the public. Joyce is a patient and giving instructor, with academic background in teaching that has helped to facilitate the ability to teach any student, regardless of what their style of learning is.

Joyce initially found belly dance in the early spring of 2000, and has been teaching since 2004. In August of 2008, Joyce made a dream come true and moved to Alaska and was delighted to find a large dance community in Fairbanks. In just the few short years she has been in Fairbanks, she has built a student troupe with her current students and has performed with them at various local events such as the Tanana Valley State Fair, The Midnight Sun Festival, local halfas and the annunal community receital, Cymbal Salaam. She is also the director for the newly formed Interfolkloric Fusion Troupe Raqs Bohemia

Joyce also teaches the Stretching Class. This 45 minute stretching class respectfully borrows movements and poses from Yoga and Pilates in order to increase flexibility and teach core awareness. Perfect class for anyone looking to gently increase flexibility.

Email: info@tribalwallah.net
Website: www.tribalwallah.net
Phone: (907) 888-8578

Lara Lotze, founder of Alaska Awalim, began studying Middle Eastern Dance in 1991 and has been teaching since 2002. She has studied folkloric, traditional and contemporary forms of Middle Eastern Dance, tho her focus has been on Raqs Sharqi, or Classic Oriental style, Belly Dance.

Lara's foundation level classes are designed to give students a firm grasp of the movements and concepts which will allow them to pursue any form of Belly Dance in the future, while the advanced classes rotate through a wide range of special topics and regional styles.

In 2007, Lara, herself a mother of 3, became a licensed prenatal fitness instructor and brought the internationally recognized Dancing Thru Pregnancy program to Alaska. DTP is a clinically tested fitness program which uses strength and flexibility training, relaxation techniques and aerobic exercise, specifically designed to prepare women for birth and recovery.

In addition to her regular classes at Space For Movement Studio, Lara is also available for private and small group instruction for Middle Eastern Dance, prenatal and post partum fitness. Post partum home visits are also available.


Email: alaskadancer@alaska.net
Website: www.alaskaawalim.com
Phone: (907) 590-3449

Melodee Morris is a 39 year old mother of two and wife of 14 blessed years. She is a UAF graduate student, earning her masters degree in Community Mental Health this December 2010.

Melodee began her instructor journey as a dance teacher when she was 18 years-old, in Colorado.

In 2003, after giving birth to her 7 year-old, Melodee began selling memberships at The Alaska Athletic Club. Soon thereafter, Melodee was approached by the club's fitness director, asking her to consider participating in their upcoming certification in group cycling. Melodee began to teach cycling in 2004 and a few months later she was approached about teaching Core Strength classes as well. Core Strength quickly became Melodee's passion. Her Core classes grew rapidly, adding more Core onto the group fitness schedule. Melodee continues to teach Core classes at The Alaska Club today.

In October 2009 Melodee was certified in Group Centergy. This class is a mixture of yoga and pilates, owned by the Nation-wide, Body Training Systems fitness team.

In February 2010, Melodee expanded her Core Classes, branching outside of the athletic club. She continues to find great success while offering "Simply Core" classes Thursdays and Saturdays at The Artisan's Courtyard.

In May 2010, Melodee earned her Zumba certification, which is a beautiful combination of core and Latin inspired movement to a variety of music.

Melodee is very excited about expanding even more, as she is bringing "Simply Core" and Zumba classes to The Space for Movement Studio as well this September 2010!

Email: simplycoreak@gmail.com
Website: www.simplycorealaska.com
Phone: (907) 388-7255

Laurie Miller moved to Alaska as a teenager, living on a wilderness farm for years before heading to New York to get married. Laurie and David started their family in Texas and moved back to Alaska for good in 1980. Raising their four children as a stay-at-home mom and home school teacher gave her the opportunity to live an organic and fulfilling life in Delta Junction until the family moved to Fairbanks in 2000.

After working for several years with special needs children within the Fairbanks Resource Agency, Laurie helped start a new coffee business, Sunrise Bagel & Espresso. After eight years of building the business and sharpening her customer service skills she decided to step back from that venture and take a much needed respite.

In the past year she discovered the excitement and physical challenge of Zumba! With a little free time on her hands and a love of exercise and music she decided to become a certified Zumba & Zumba Gold instructor. Laurie loves people and really enjoys helping them achieve their goals of improving their physical and mental well being through the joy of dance.

Email: lauriesuemiller@yahoo.com
Phone: (907) 322-1382