The founding members of Talisman Dance Company have been dancing together since **** in various ensembles with styles ranging from tribal fusion to folkloric to Raqs Sharqi. In **** Heather, Elizabeth, and Laura decided to form their own dance company, drawing from their diverse dance experience and training and years of performing together. Talisman Dance Company is the result of that collaboration.

Heather
Heather has been studying Middle Eastern dance forms since ****. Early in her dance career she focused on tribal fusion styles, studying extensively with Heather Stants of Urban Tribal Dance Company, and performing with UTDC's student troupe and with the tribal fusion performance troupe Atash Maya. In **** her focus shifted to Raqs Sharqi “cabaret” styles of belly dance while studying with Jim Boz. She shortly thereafter became a founding member and assistant director of the troupe Sandstorm.

Elizabeth
With a dance background in jazz and hip hop, Elizabeth discovered Middle Eastern Dance in **** at a local community center in Mountain View, CA. She was immediately hooked. After moving to San Diego in ****, Elizabeth joined Sandstorm, the Jim Boz Dance Company, as one of the original members. She has also won acclaim as a solo performer, dancing in both large stage productions and in smaller venues such as Claire de Lune café. One of Elizabeth's favorite performances was dancing for the Brothers of the Baladi show at the Kava Lounge.