Metal music gets into your bones and, for Shyama, it went straight to her hips with belly dance. She started out mesmerized by traditional belly dancers, but quickly innovated a style all her own. Shyama focuses on using metal riffs to bring out the dark side of belly dance, pioneering the Metal Fusion style. Shyama has quickly carved a niche in the belly dance community, becoming a crowd-wowing staple on the Tribal Revolution stage and at events across the Midwest. Shyama is also the founder and director of the dark fusion dance community, the Stygian Collective, which allows dancers from all over the world to connect, share, and grow together.

Shyama is also a star instructor, conducting workshops on request, crafting live online classes, as well as hosting an online studio for instruction in her style. She regularly creates and participates in large-scale events, inspiring event-goers and participants everywhere she performs. She has studied extensively in the fusion style with belly dance greats like Ariellah, Rachel Brice, Zoe Jakes, Ashley Lopez, April Rose, Michelle Sorenson, Silvia Salamanca, and many more! She is also a certified Level One teacher in Acushla's Belly Dance Blueprint method.

With a massive repertoire that includes creative and emotional choreography, improvisation, sword and veil dance, and more, Shyama is as versatile as she is deeply versed in the intricacies of each style of performance.

For a small sampling of Shyama’s incredible work, you can visit her Facebook page and the Stygian Collective Facebook page, or look her up on YouTube. Be prepared for a side of belly dance you’ve never seen before!