Juli Downum’s life took an unexpected turn in her second year of college when she bumped into a belly dancer in her collegiate place of employ, Banana Republic. Juli did not know the woman was a belly dancer or what the pending conversation would hold for her. If she had she may not have asked, but she could not resist the temptation to satisfy her curiosity regarding this peculiar style of dress. One simple question, “why are you dressed like that?” not only changed the course evening, as Juli was given her first rather painful and public impromptu lesson, but the course of her life, as the dancer, hereafter referred to as Susan Yates, so prophetically said it would. Since her first belly dance lesson in a Chattanooga mall to this very moment, Juli (aka me, you don’t think we really get someone else to write these do you) has not stopped belly dancing.  After being so responsibly directed by Susan to Zanzibar Studio, where Juli discovered Andrea Perkins, and the wonderful classes there Juli began dancing every day and finally teaching at Zanzibar in 2004. Shortly thereafter, Juli moved to Memphis, TN where she began teaching classes at Theatre Works, Pyramid Dance Studio, and First Congo. When given the opportunity to return to Zanzibar in 2006 and teach full time, Juli just couldn’t resist.

In addition to her full time job as instructress, Juli is a founding member of Dandasha Dance company and has worked with the group since 2004. She is a principal dancer and principal choreographer for the company and yet no matter how many times she types choreography she spells it wrong.  Her lifelong, on again of again love affair with dance began at the age of 3 with ballet and tap. Although she continued in these disciplines for several years, around the age of 10 her poor mother got very tired of making her go and let her play sports instead. (children listen to you mothers, Juli was terrible at sports) Juli has a colorful dance history that allows her freedom to to fuse other movement disciplines with belly dance as she is inspired to do so. This allows for her own unique take on the art form. Her dance history includes ballet and tap as previously mentioned, Ballroom, Jazz, Musical Theatre, Modern and Flamenco. Juli has a particular passion for ethnic dance and In 2005 she travelled to Quito Ecuador to study latin dance for 6 weeks. She continues to be an active student of Middle Eastern dance and has studied with some of the most influential dancers of our time including Jill Parker, Heather Stants, Mira Betz, Liz Strong, Rachel Brice, Mardi Love, Zoe Jakes, Tobias Roberson, Onca of Baraka Mundi, Devyani, N.O.madic Tribal and Sonya of the Bellydance Superstars.  In the world of “Middle Eastern Dance” she has studied Egyptian Cabaret, American Tribal Style, folk dances including Moroccan Shikat and Turkish Rom, and Tribal Fusion.