Annie aka Mama Dea can be best described as the mad scientist of Dea. Her journey through dance began in 1991 at the age of four dancing Polynesian, Maori, Tahitian with a local U.K. children’s dance group. She spent her time performing at many gatherings and local schools with the group until her family moved to Las Vegas in 1997. She moved in hopes that she could find dance once again.
In 2001, she joined a local Polynesian/Tahitian group Keiki O’ Mokiao and resumed her training with Kumu Pikake and Kumu Lopaka Mokiao. During this time, Stephanie was also the first freshmen at VoTech High School to become a member of the school’'s Hip Hop dance group, usually consisting of their senior dancers and choreographers.
Stephanie was hospitalized a year later with pneumonia. Afterwards, her dance journey went on a hiatus for six years.
That is until 2007 where Stephanie first witnessed the beautiful Tanya belly dancing during her 19th birthday at Marrakech restaurant. Afterwards, Stephanie began purchasing and dancing to a few DVD’s. After a couple of plays, Stephanie yearned for proper training and more technique to hone her skills properly. She went on a search for an instructor who could deliver and found Marissa Harris that same year at Studio Ohm. She then began her training in the Suhaila Salimpour belly dance format.
Over that year, Stephanie was one of seven girls invited to become a member in Marissa and Britt Sheflin'’s debut company, Cabernet Dance Company. Stephanie was also soon after a member of Kobra Ghodsi’'s former tribal fusion troupe Mystic Eyes who performed locally around the Art’s District and First Friday events.
Today, Stephanie is still a regular guest artist with Cabernet Dance and a member of Fuse, Britt's debut Bellydance/Gogo fusion troupe.. She also lead Choreographer and Artistic Director of her own troupe, Dea, established alongside Jennifer Machado in 2010. She also remains training with Marisa and Britt in the Suhaila Salimpour format, Raven Sumner in American Tribal Style, spinning glow poi, and is training in Hip Hop/Pop n Lock stylizations. She has also taken workshops with one of her favorite dance crews, Jabbawockeez.
As for November 2010, she has earned her American Tribal Style GS certification.
