” I can’t tell you enough how much you and the art of belly dancing have changed my life forever. Learning the art of shimmy has given me a confidence I have never experienced in my entire life.  Because of you, I have found the joy of dance.  Thank you for being awesome, amazing, beautiful and talented. You are truly incredible and I thank you sincerely.  Thank you for being the most fabulous instructor and such a graceful lady.  God bless you and yours.”

“I have never really been very coordinated at all. I have never done any exercising either, but this seems to work well for me!  I love all the soft moves (like the “snake arms” and using the veil) and I love the music that you use. My original fear of the whole idea of belly dance is gone. You teach it in a very elegant and tasteful way. I look forward to our next class. Thanks!”

Kira Morse

“I enjoy learning the art form of bellydancing with Hourglass. I have fun in class and have made wonderful friendships. Lorrie is a  very patient and methodical instructor. When we perform I benefit in confidence knowing our dances well – which makes for a positive experience.”

Tammy Umberson

“Just wanted to let everyone know that I enjoyed the Hourglass Recital, can’t wait to be performing with y’all again.  (I was standing in the back following along J).  It is always a pleasure to be around such special ladies even if it is in the audience.  I am totally one of Hourglass’s biggest fans!  Kudos also to Joe and Whitney for keeping the show running smoothly.  And Congrats Pam for your title of Bellydance Queen 2011 (You wear the crown beautifully).  I look forward to another year of learning more fabulous routines and getting to know everyone a bit more.  Take care and see y’all in class.”

Yasminda Rector

“The best ever…instructor, art, fitness, need I say more???”

Kris Meeks

“Thank you soooo much, Lorrie! And a great thank you to my beginner class classmates! This was a wonderful year – I still can’t believe that I got involved with belly dancing but I am aboslutely loving it!  And, of course, thanks to all the ladies (and gentlemen) who participated in the show in their various assignments. This was my first time ever dancing in front of an audience and I absolutely loved it! Can’t wait for the next recital!”

“Bobby and I  enjoyed the recital very much. Let all the ladies know that they were great – and looked beautiful – all of them. It really looked cool when the front row would go back and the back row would come to the front, WOW! The new numbers are really great.  You guys looked very good.  Treasure did a beautiful job as all ways.  She’s getting better and better each time we see her dance, and her costumes are beautiful. I know that Denise can dance, but she was great in the solos she did.”

“The dance that Erica did, was perfect for her, so cute, enjoyed it a lot. The Wine-OH! number was also a keeper – enjoyed it too. We enjoyed Rachel’s solo very much also Viktoriia’s dance was very nice and she looked beautiful. The dance that I was waiting to see most of the night was All That Jazz, and hats to you ladies – it was GREAT!  Monica did a great job with the HAY WADI & ALL THAT JAZZ  choreography and the other two numbers. The KISS,KISS is always a joy to see, please let the ladies know. The Middle Eastern Dance Club always does great, enjoyed it.”

“Lorrie I know that you work very hard to make it all happen and it really shows.  You were really glowing Saturday night. Keep up the good work.”

Yolanda Martinez

“So glad Belly dancing is back at the Corpus Christi Athletic Club. Lorrie is still as GREAT as ever. It is nice that Belly Dance is now a “family” class. I think this is making it more comfortable for people to give it a try. Many new faces including young girls. I think this class is foundational to self confidence in your femininity. Big thanks to Lorrie for sharing the ART of belly dancing with the Athletic club members.”

Virginia Metz

“I had a wonderful time It’s all about me, me, me! I did enjoy just about every moment of the evening. Please give everyone a big hug for me and let them know I’m honored to have performed with them.”

Tammy Umberson

“My Name is Kris Meeks and I am a retired ballerina. I started bellydancing three years after I realized it existed. Not only do my hips fit in better in bellydance, but it is a total 180 from the attitude that is widely practiced in ballet. Now don’t get me wrong I love ballet and I always will. I still teach and I believe in ballet as an art form, legitimate exercise, a means to increase self esteem and a means to further education through scholarships. Ballet reinforced hard work, perseverance and putting on a face of serenity when my body did not feel that way at all. I paid my self imposed dues in the ballet world and after going through a major car accident that put my brother and former ballet partner in a wheelchair, I always kept my eye out for something that I could enjoy without the harsh stipulations that I and many other ballerinas impose on themselves.”

“I attended an Hourglass Bellydance recital hosted by Lorrie Pierce. I enjoyed watching the ladies and was surprised at the wide age and shape range of the participants. The thing that really struck me is that no matter the specific situation of the dancer, they all looked like they were genuinely having fun.  I still did not have the courage to attend class and went back to my routine.  That Christmas, I guess I had mentioned wanting to start bellydancing to my grandmother, a spitfire in her own right, and she gifted me a tribal bellydance belt. I didn’t know exactly what it was, but I knew I liked it. When I got home, I hung it on my wall and it stayed there for two years until I called I called Lorrie Pierce of Hourglass for the class schedule; she was so accommodating and gave me all of the details over the phone. I called a close girlfriend and told her of my plan, she immediately volunteered to go with me and I attended my first class.”

“I later found out that not only did I really enjoy the fun and flirty nature of the form, but as I worked through the soreness over the next months, I also realized that bellydance was a great workout and that the ladies I danced with were awesome. Many times when we are in an all female environment cattiness is encountered, I waited for it and I have to say I have been pleasingly disappointed. Every bellydancer in Lorrie’s classes has her own story of acceptance and reasons why she dances and thus expresses a love of her fellow bellydancers.”

“Now in my 2nd year of bellydance, and wearing pants and a bikini top to every class, I have to say I love the costuming; it is so fun to acquire new pieces and put them all together, be myself on stage and show an audience what I’ve got! I have also come to understand that yes there are more mistakes in a bellydance recital than in a performance of the New York City Ballet, but that is ok, the goals are different. Bellydance facilitates the inner joy of the dancer while allowing the viewer to also be entertained as well; it is a win-win situation.”

Kris Meeks

“I just have to take a moment to thank you.  You are such an incredible “real woman” who is feminine in the most wonderful ways.  I really thank you for your encouragement every week.  You make ever woman feel “fabulous”!  You are incredibly talented and take much care and patience as you teach the art of bellydancing.  Thank you for sharing your talent and for being an elegant woman!”

Virginia R. Metz

“Dearest Lorrie, I wanted to personally thank you and Joe for the breathtaking, wonderfully smelling, unexpected flowers I received Saturday night  It was such a tremendous honor and tribute you all gave to me and I am still amazed about it and speechless (imagine that).  I am still on Cloud 9 and will remain so forever, I think.  Dennis and his mom could hardly get in our van because they were so proud of me and their heads were so big with all those lovely and caring words you said in my honor. You are such a dear and caring person and I bless the day I met you.  All my many thanks, your faithful student.”

Pam Marion