About Darshana Tribal

Darshana Tribal is an American Tribal Style® troupe from three states under the direction of Terri Allred.

Members are
Terri Allred (Rochester, MN)
Cindy Hopkins (Eau Claire, WI)
Dana Dachel (Eau Claire, WI)
Krista Spaeth (Eau Claire, WI)
Gaia Sophia (Pine River, MN)
Dawn Grey (Des Moines, IA)
Patti Chiarini (Rochester, MN)
Dawn Grey (Des Moines, IA)

Terri Allred

Terri came to study belly dance after a head injury left her unable to work or take care of her family.  Her physical therapist suggested taking a dance class to help with dizziness and balance.  When she walked into her first belly dance class, she knew she was home.  Having grown up dancing ballet and jazz since Kindergarten, she was immediately drawn by the control and fascinated by the abandon of belly dance.  She has studied Egyptian, Turkish, Lebanese, Persian, Indian, Hula and Polynesian dance ultimately landing firmly in American Tribal Style®.  She is a FCBD® Sister Studio, the owner of Third Eye Tribal in MN, the Business Consultant for FatChanceBellyDance® and the Project Manager for The ATS® Magazine.  She has recently published a book, “I Belly Dance Because: The Transformative Power of Dance,” and an instructional DVD, “ATS® with Props: Veil, Fan and Basket.”  She is the Director of Darshana Tribal.  




Cindy Hopkins

I’m the Grandmother of Darshana! I have 3 children, 2 grandsons, and many dancing sisters! I have been belly dancing since January 2009 and teaching since 2012. I’ve taken General Skills training with Carolena Nericcio and Megha Gavin twice and teacher training with them once in 2012. My local dance troupe is Lasa Anahata Tribal in Eau Claire Wisconsin. It is a pleasure and honor to dance with the talented ladies of Darshana.

I had no previous dance experience to speak off before starting ATS®. I did have a few years of ballet under my belt as a grade-schooler, but what little girl didn’t try that? I always loved sports, drama, and music in high school. This dance certainly involves all of those things in one fell swoop. In college I started taking Tae Kwon Do, a Korean martial art. I attained a black belt in 1985 and finally had to stop in 1988. I was just too busy with all the kiddies at home and working part time as an RN. It was by pure accident that I found myself in a belly dance class some 21 years later and it was love at first shimmy! 

I’m so looking forward to Homecoming in San Francisco. It was so much fun and informative last year. The teachers and the dancers brought so much excitement and enthusiasm to the event. It is so special to have the opportunity to meet and dance with all the lovely dancers from around the world. ATS® at its best!

Dana Dachel

By casual invite of a friend, I had no idea what opportunity lay ahead of me when I entered my first American Tribal Styel® level 1 belly dance class in 2011. This was the perfect time in my life to embrace this dance and all it has to offer. While raising 2 young children, establishing a more than full time career, and coaching athletic teams for my children, a little 'me time' was much needed. At first, I hoped for stress relief, then realized I am gaining so much more; sisterhood, creative movement, food for my soul, and international connections I never anticipated in my life. The perfectionist in me almost quit.  In the end, after significant self reflection, I realized this is exactly the balance I needed! With my husbands full support, I've discovered connections to both past and present parts of my life that motivate me to continue on this beautiful journey!  One of the treasures I have loved from this experience is connecting with my daughter in new ways and watching her explore a connection to ATS® that has the opportunity to blossom into so much more.  With another unexpected turn of events, my long term goal to have a troupe became reality after only 2 ½ years of dancing.  As of 2014, now an owner, director, instructor, and performer of Lasa Anahata Tribal, I have loved every exhilarating moment of blending my joy for dance with my professional business experience, and believe this the best hobby job on the planet (for me)!  What’s more, I have the pleasure to dance as one of seven of the most amazing women I could ever have envisioned in my life!  Darshana Tribal is forever a blessing of sisterhood beyond the boundaries of a conventional troupe; a dedication to the beauty of ATS®

Krista Spaeth

I took my first American Tribal Style® belly dance class on August 2, 2011, as a way to set aside some ‘me time.’ I had no idea just how much it would change my life. Through this amazing, transformative dance form and incredibly supportive dance community, I have developed a genuine appreciation for the beauty in ALL women. The connections and sisterhood I’ve been welcomed into is beyond compare. This dance is a release, a mode of self-expression…it has become an integral part of who I am, as have the relationships I’ve formed through the dance. I am honored and proud to be a member of Darshana Tribal. I am truly lucky to be able to call the women of Darshana Tribal my dance sisters and my dear friends.

ATS® General Skills certified, April 2013
ATS® Teacher Training & Business Training, October 2014
A FatChanceBellyDance® Sister Studio®, October 2014

Krista began teaching America Tribal Style® belly dance in 2013, and is a member of Lasa Anahata Tribal (Eau Claire, WI) and Darshana Tribal (regional troupe directed by Terri Allred).

Amber Hunt (Gaia Sophia)

Since 2001, I have studied and trained in the healing arts of yoga, massage, reiki and shamanic healing and in 2009 added American Tribal Style® Belly Dance and performing arts to my list of passions and professional pursuits. In 2012 I received my FatChanceBellyDance® ATS® teaching certification and Sister Studio status and took a second round in 2014.  I take FCBD® workshops and trainings as often as my busy homelife can accommodate. In addition to dance I am a homesteading homeschooling married mama of four.

I teach and perform throughout Minnesota, North Dakota and Wisconsin specializing in Dancing with Fire for ATS® and Yoga for Dancers as well as specialty workshops. I am the host of Roots and Wings (formerly Tribal Wonderland), an annual all ATS® belly dance workshop retreat held in Crosslake, MN. I am also the director of World Tree Dance and a member of Darshana Tribal. I am inspired by inspirational movement, heartfelt community and love where life takes me!

Dawn Grey

Dawn Grey is an American Tribal Style® belly dancer, certified instructor, Fat Chance Belly Dance® Sister Studio, and director of Blissful Sunrise Belly Dance. Originally from Wisconsin, she has relocated and is teaching and preforming in Des Moines, Iowa with Blissful Sunrise Belly Dance's performance troupe Seize the Sway.  Her passion for all dance has existed from the time she was very little, starting with tap, jazz, and ballet, but this particular improvisational style of belly dance has truly inspired her and she is honored to share her love of ATS® with others and has found a tribe of kindred souls and amazing friends in Darshana Tribal.



Patti Chiarini

My name is Patti Chiarini.  I am a 43-year-old, single mother of two teenage boys.  I am also an ATS Bellydancer.  I started bellydance after my divorce as a way to meet new people and get myself out of the house when my boys were with their dad.   Little did I know at that time that bellydance would change my life.  It has helped me through many hard times in my life.  Need to exercise, go to dance class.  Need to get rid of frustration, go to dance class.  Need to get away from the boys, go to dance class.  Need non-judgemental female conversation, go to dance class.  I have met several amazing women in my bellydance journey and am proud to call them my sisters.   I was fortunate enough to have been asked to join some of them on the journey to the first ATS Homecoming.  Darshana Tribal was founded by Terri Allred in 2014 and we started our journey of bringing three states together to perform at ATS Homecoming 2015.  I had never been to California and had a blast seeing the sights, spending time with my sisters and learning from some of the best ATS instructors there are.   I am grateful that I am able to attend ATS Homecoming 2016 with the same awesome group of dancers and perform again.  I look forward to continuing my dance journey and meeting more amazing dancers.