Amy Andrews joined the Peace Corps in 1991, extended her tour to four years, and worked in northeastern Thailand. Amy began ballet training at age 4 and studied native dances while in Thailand
Dance speaks to polyglot
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William Hermann
The Arizona Republic
Jun. 27, 2004 12:00 AM
Amy Andrews speaks five languages, including Chinese, Laotian, Thai and the Thai dialect Putai.
She also speaks the language of dance.
Andrews, 39, of Chandler, teaches English as a second language in the Mesa Public Schools adult education program but also teaches belly dancing and performs.
She says there are important similarities in learning to speak a new language and learning to dance.
Andrews got a degree in Chinese studies from Wittenberg University in Springfield, Ohio. Then she went to China for 18 months, where she mastered Mandarin.
She joined the Peace Corps in 1991, extended her tour to four years, and worked in northeastern Thailand.
But this woman, who began ballet training at age 4, also studied native dances in Thailand and other countries.
When she finally came home she added belly dancing to her repertoire. She said the American belly dance she performs and teaches is a combination of Egyptian, Turkish, Palestinian and Lebanese styles.
And she says she loves it.
"It speaks to me, it sets me free," she says. "When I dance I am doing something very spiritual. I feel like I am doing the right thing at the right place. It's pure joy. I feel like a star in the night sky."
Andrews dances every Thursday, Friday and Saturday night at Sinbad Middle Eastern restaurant, at Baseline and Price roads in Tempe.
