A visual anthropologist, dance scholar, and field ethnographer, Jaynie is also a professional belly dance artist and has performed in nightclubs, celebrations, and staged public events around the world. She is a continuing student of the renowned dancer Aisha Ali (www.aisha-ali.com) from whom she learned the value of artistic heritage, authenticity, and performance centered research. In all of her teachings Jaynie acknowledges the connections between dance, culture, and identity and emphasizes awareness about contemporary and historical performance traditions. She is known for her improvisational performance ability, Egyptian drum solo technique, and Turkish athleticism.