Merick Yamada belly dances in the Lubbock, Texas, troupe Mystic Shimmy.

Stephanie Brown and Merick Yamada have become great friends through belly dancing together.

Stephanie Brown belly dances in the Lubbock, Texas, troupe Mystic Shimmy.

Stephanie Brown has wanted to belly dance her entire life. She was finally able to when a class was started at Texas Tech University.

Stephanie Brown loves to perform and now teach belly dance to others.

Julia Manini, originally from Paris, France, didn't start to belly dance until she moved to Lubbock, Texas.

Julia Manini has been involved in dance for awhile, but never thought she'd be belly dancing!

Marissa Gonzalez, a soccer player for most of her life, practices her moves at the Texas Tech University recreational fields.

The bike trails in Canton, Georgia, provide a rider with a wide range of difficulty levels.