Meredith Gottschalk :: Dancer Profile

Oct 25, 2011 by lisazahiya

Name: Meredith Gottschalk

Professional Training: B.A. in Visual Art, UNC Asheville

Family: Meredith and her husband Tikkun have two children: Justine, 8, and Sophie, 3

Activities: Member of Squeaky Wheel Pottery Cooperative, where she makes ceramics

After Meredith Gottschalk gave birth to her first child, she started belly dancing.

“At the time it was the main thing I was doing to tend to my own well-being while mothering a young child with all the outpouring of physical, emotional and mental energy that entails,” she said.

A health scare also spurred Meredith to be more intentional about tuning into her body and emotions. “I thought belly dancing might be helpful with this,” she said. “I began to feel how energy runs through your body when you dance, akin to practices like Tai Chi.”

“I like the feminine essence of the dance,” Meredith said. “When I belly dance, I feel very at home in my body. I’ve found it to be a dance form that is intuitive and nurturing. I think this may be why it draws such a broad range of women of various ages and body types.”

Now her two daughters, ages 3 and 8, sometimes join her when she practices dance at home. They dress up in glitter, bindis and belts that jingle.

“When I’ve taken them out to see belly dancing, they seem entranced,” Meredith said. “It seems to affect them deeply. It’s such a beautiful and powerful dance among women and even young girls feel this.”

To the girls, the appreciation is simple: “I like the moves,” said Justine, 8.

Meredith is passing along an activity that she too has enjoyed since childhood, when she took ballet and tap classes.

“Through the years, I’ve tried all sorts of dance forms,” Meredith said. “I even met my husband contra dancing and have continued doing various partner dances from swing and zydeco to salsa and two-step.” She and her husband Tikkun make it out to Jack of the Woods on occasion on swing night.

“I enjoy how all the different dance forms have their own essence,” she said. “From the sweetness of a waltz to the high-energy fun of swing dancing.”

This past year, Meredith started dancing with Lisa Zahiya. “I appreciate the joyfulness and playfulness with which she dances and teaches,” Meredith said. “You get the sense that she just wants to share something vital and fun. She teaches not only technique in class but also the cultural history of the dance.

“Her classes are fun, welcoming and non-competitive.”