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~The Troupe~

ORIGIN tribalbellydance was formed in the fall of 2004, and is composed of troupe members Sarah Adams, Sadie Peake, Alison Cranford Alexis Barrett and Marsha Vernoga. We form a balance of creativity, motivation, planning and beauty, bonded by a shared passion for the dance we create.

~The Dancers~

Sarah Adams-Troupe Director
Sarah began her bellydance training in high school, with Janice McCarthy in Chico, performing with her troupe. She then discovered and fell in love with American Tribal Style Bellydance, and began taking classes with Kendra McLean and became a member of her troupe, La Danza Serpentine. After moving to Arcata, California, Sarah was taught by Sharon O'Meara, and was a member of her troupe, Shaken Not Stirred, until its retirement. She then joined Astarte, led by Denise Murphy and Jaya Krupp. At this point she also discovered the joys of teaching bellydance classes, and was lucky enough to study with the amazing Shoshanna! After graduating from Humboldt State with a degree in Wildlife Management she moved back home to Chico and immediately began teaching classes again, and started ORIGIN shortly afterward. Sarah also owns Chico Chai, a wholesale tea company.

Alison Cranford-Troupe Creatographer
I moved to CA in February 2003. Before I left my home in SC I made a list of goals that I would accomplish when I made my new home in the Golden State . Third on the list was, "Learn how to belly dance." I knew that Chico would be the place because I had seen the bellydancers at the Thursday night farmers market. When I arrived in CA I had a lot of hiking and art making and exploring to do, so it wasn't until June 2004 that I took my first belly dance class with Sarah Adams . Sure enough I was at Thursday night market and I saw Sarah doing a solo fan dance in the middle of a huge crowd and other dancers. At the time I didn't know anything about American Tribal Style Bellydance, but I knew that I had found the dance that I wanted to learn. After the show I shyly walked up to the beautiful dancer I had seen (I get a little nervous around belly dancers sometimes) and took a flyer with class times. I started learning the art of bellydance the following week. Sometimes I tell people that I started bellydancing because I love putting on the jewelry, the make-up, the skirts, etc. Costume design has been another fun, creative outlet for me as well as dancing. It's a transformation into the parts of my personality that can be expressed visually in no other way. The forth goal on my list was "Learn how to sew on a sewing machine". It hasn't happened yet, but when it does it's going to be hard to slow down. Currently, I sew my costumes and other art projects by hand. I have a studio in the CRUX artist collective in Chico where I like to create. I am also interested in photography and jewelry making. It sounds like a lot, but I've been incorporating these different art forms together. Our first opening at CRUX was a portrait show, so my idea was to have Origin do a dance with a huge frame (about 3'x5'). Two dancers held the frame while one dancer created her own portrait by slowing dancing inside and through the frame. It turned out to be a really pretty and unique dance. I'm interested in taking bellydance a step further than what is the norm. I've been inspired by watching troupes like Ultra Gypsy and Desert Sin and Urban Tribal. I am very well supported by the women of Origin. I come up with some crazy ideas and they help me put that into the dance. I feel like we are a solid troupe with complementary personalities.

Sadie Peake-Party Ambassador & Troupe Cosmetologist
Sadie is a born bellydancer, she initially trained with Just Like Goddesses with Jana Hale and Kendra McLean, and later with Tanya Saahira Kieselbach. She began taking classes from Sarah in the Spring of 2004, and joined ORIGIN as one of the charter members. Sadie is a natural onstage, always rocking the amazing solos, and is currently learning to drum as well. She recently graduated from Chico Beauty College with a degree in Cosmetology!! Sadie also has two adorable boxers Aja and Xena, and one super cute cat-Buster D.

Alexis Barrett-Troupe Craftmistress & Organizer Extraordinaire
Alexis began her bellydance career in the Spring of 2004, and joined the troupe in 2005. Alexis quickly stepped up to performance level in no time, quickly picking up the sassy stage attitude that defines her style. Alexis has a degree in Child Development and has worked for several child development education programs, such as Early HeadStart. Alexis has two sweet pit bulls Ziggy and Pookie. Alexis and her partner Ross are currently expecting the next ORIGIN dancer, Sasha Lee in November!! Don't think that Alexis would stop dancing though, she's going to continue to perform as long as Sasha will let her, probably into October!

Marsha Vernoga-Rhythm Marshal
Marsha is the newest addition to the troupe, having just joined in March. Marsha was previously a member of Tribal Feat in San Luis Obispo and studied Middle Eastern Drumming in San Francisco with Mary Ellen Donald for several years. A skilled drummer, Marsha heads up the Rhythm Officers, our wonderful group of musicians, whenever we put on a show with live music. Marsha has learned ORIGIN's numerous moves, combos and quirks in record time, and has blended perfectly since her first performance. As a civilian, Marsha is a registered dietician at a local hospital.