The art of Bellydance has been passed down for generations, from mothers to daughters, and grandmothers to granddaughters. It's a beautiful and mesmerizing expression of a woman's self, emotions and spirituality. Bellydance can take on many forms, from the earthy and powerful tribal style, to the sassy and flirtatious cabaret act. Many of the movements in the dance are serpent-like, hence our chosen name Naya's Trance which can be literally translated "Cobra's Trance".

Naya's Trance Middle Eastern Dance Ensemble was formed in 2001 by director Jessica Jane Means in response to the growing community of skilled dancers in Portland, Maine. Naya's Trance is proud to present dancers who also specialize in prop work, including veil, fan, cane, sword, and fire dance. Since its inception, Naya's Trance has performed for a variety of audiences. The Troupe and individual members are available for private and corporate events, as well as public open-air festivals and concerts.

Who are the women of Naya's Trance?

The members of Naya's Trance come from all walks of life and range in age from their early 20's to early 40's.  Several of the members have higher degrees and all hold regular day jobs (some hold several) including teaching school, nursing, parenting,  protecting the environment, accounting and more.  

Each member has varying degrees of dance experience and their own personal style of interpreting the dance. Some members perform other styles of dance such as ballet, salsa and flamenco and often participate in other local performances including Nutcracker Burlesque and the Vivid Motion Spring Show. 

After years of dancing together the troupe has become a strong and cohesive unit allowing Naya's Trance to successfully perform both choreographed routines and improvisational pieces yet each member remains unique with her own special talents. 

Thanks to the local community!

The members of Naya's Trance are committed to their role as ambassadors of this magical dance and work diligently to share it with the local community, as well as provide a better understanding of this beautiful and natural art form. Throughout the year Naya's Trance and its individual members offer special workshops and on-going classes to teach this dance to all who wish to learn. They also perform at local festivals and benefits, often volunteering their time, so that they can provide opportunities for the community to experience the enjoyment of belly dance

Naya's Trance would like to thank the community for their continued support!