Pandorium Belly Dance Company

Jacqueline Lemoine began her belly dance career in 2000, when she began studying under noted international dance instructor and performer, Maria Barannco. Jacqueline gained an instant appreciation, talent, and what some might call an obsession, with Middle Eastern dance.

She has trained extensively in Egyptian, Turkish, Lebanese, American Cabaret, and Fusion techniques. Jacqueline teaches her students not only the rich history and various styles of belly dance, but also the physiology behind the dance’s serpentine moves.

Additionally, Jacqueline began studying Polynesian dance in 2009, which she now teaches and performs, as well. She continues to train daily as she believes a truly great teacher should never stop learning.

To date, she has studied under many notable stars in the world of Middle Eastern, Tribal Fusion, and Polynesian Dance, such as Ansuya Rathor, Ruby Beh, Zoe Jakes, Dusty Paik, Mira Betz, Mardi Love, Rose Harden, Khalima Sirosky, Moria Chappell, Cory Zamora, Kami Liddle, Petite Jamila, Tamalyn Dallal, Amar Gamal, April Rose, Michelle Sorensen, Bozenka, Sahira, Eva Cernik, and Rebecca Manadic.

In June of 2008, she formed the belly dance troupe, Pandorium, composed of her most dedicated students. Jacqueline and Troupe Pandorium perform frequently around the Gulf Coast region.

Kristi has been dancing with Pandorium since 2008. She is an artist and freelance graphic designer. She is also head artistic director for Pandorium Belly Dance Company, as well as Head Assistant to Jacqueline. She enjoys the confidence and comradery that dancing brings to her life. She also dances with Pandorium’s Polynesian troupe Sirenes de la Mer.

She has trained with many notable dancers such as Zoe Jakes, Mira Betz, Mardi Love, Rose Harden, Moria Chappell, Cory Zamora, Petite Jamila, Tamalyn Dallal, Amar Gamal, April Rose, Bozenka, Sahira, Eva Cernik, and Michelle Sorensen.

In the Spring of 2015, she completed an herbology certification based on the teachings of noted herbalist Rosemary Gladstar.

Liz has been dancing with Pandorium since 2016. She fully enjoys the fun and comradery the troupe brings. She is a mom to a future Pandorium dancer/drummer, Loki, and her mom KatheeJo also dances in the troupe. 

She has studied with notable dancers such as Zoe Jakes and Kimberly Larkspur.

Alane has been dancing with Sirenes de la Mer Polynesian troupe since 2017 and with Pandorium Belly Dance troupe since 2020. She is an energetic woman with a love for life. She is also a  Louisiana Licensed Florist.

Alina has been dancing with Pandorium since 2021. She is the mother of two beautiful and supportive young women and a Certified Therapist.  Her passion for natural mind/body healing practices and general baking and healing foods has shaped her path for many years and led her to putting her therapy practice on hold. Dance has always been part of her daily life. When she came across Pandorium Belly Dance she fell in love with the energy, the sense of community, and connection the group has and she had to experience it for herself.

Amy has been dancing with Pandorium since 2020. She started taking ballet when she was three years old and has continued to study various dance forms through the years. She is an accomplished seamstress and enjoys crafting her own dance costumes.

Andi has been dancing with Pandorium since 2019 and is thrilled to be sharing her love of dance with new friends. She has been teaching fitness and dance for more than twenty-five years, and is a firm believer that movement is medicine. As a yoga instructor, fitness studio owner, and Master Trainer for BUTI Yoga, she gets to combine her love for fitness, dance, and inspiration every day. When Andi is not dancing, you can find her teaching at the LSU Law school, where she has been a professor of family law for the last two decades. She also has two teenage kids who keep her on her toes daily! 

Andrea has been dancing with Pandorium since 2018. She has studied dancing for many years in various styles such as ballet, tap, modern, pom and hip hop. Belly dance has given her more ways to challenge herself through dance. She is a UDA All-Star and was invited to perform at the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade.

Ashley has been dancing with Pandorium since 2010. She is a Dietetic Technician currently working as a Health Coach for a local hospital in Louisiana. She loves experiencing all that life has to offer – the good, the bad, the ugly, laughing, crying, dancing, helping people, lifting spirits and ALL the living things! She believes that ALL things are possible and that there is NOTHING she can’t do.

She has trained with notable dancers such as Zoe Jakes, Ebony Qualls, and Michelle Sorenson.

Becca has been dancing with Pandorium since 2014. Becca’s belly dance journey began when she met Mistress Jacqueline while working at a local bookstore. It wasn’t long after she convinced herself to take a class “just for exercise” that she became a member of Pandorium’s performing troupe.

Becca has trained with such belly dance notables as Mardi Love, April Rose, Petite Jamilla, Ebony Qualls, Bozenka, Tamalyn Dallal, Pixie Fordtears, Amar Gamal, and Lisa Zahiya and has completed Zoe Jakes’ DanceCraft Key of Diamonds. Becca also enjoys Polynesian dance as a part of Sirenes de la Mer.

Carrie has been dancing with Pandorium since 2018. Mesmerized by the veils and captivated by their smiles, the Pandorium Belly Dance performance has always been a favorite show for Carrie and her family to watch at the Louisiana Renaissance Festival. When her husband gave her the gift certificate “that keeps on giving”, she was hooked. She started taking classes in January 2018 and excelled quickly to performance level. Carrie is an avid gardener, homeschool teacher, mother of 4, and is married to an amazing pirate.

Damien has been dancing with Pandorium since 2014. His love of dancing and live music inspired him to pursue and eventually perform belly dancing.

Gina has been dancing with Pandorium since 2016. After seeing Pandorium perform at the Louisiana Renaissance Festival for many years, she decided to sign up for classes. She remembers the first year she laid eyes on the beautiful costumes and mesmerizing movement of belly dance. That’s when she said out loud, “I’m gonna be up there one day.”

When she is not belly dancing, Gina is the owner and operator of Tall Tails Pet Sitting Service in Slidell, Louisiana. It took 8 years to build a great team to run her business while she dances, but she finally made it. Her favorite color is yellow after her business logo.

Jann has been dancing with Pandorium since 2015. She always second-guessed herself and feared stepping out of her comfort zone. As a wife and mother, she spent most of her adult life focusing on the needs of others while losing herself along the way. After turning fifty, she decided to do something for herself- belly dancing. Jacqueline has helped her reconnect with the graceful creature hiding inside of herself. She now has the confidence to step forward and be seen. She often thinks of her Mother who loved to dance, but never had a chance to shine. She states, “I know she’s dancing right along side of me.”

“There is freedom waiting for you, On the breezes of the sky, And you ask “What if I fall?” Oh but my darling, What if you fly?” -Erin Hanson

Jeanette has been dancing with Pandorium since 2014. She was first introduced to the troupe at the Louisiana Renaissance Festival in 2010. The dancing sparked her interest, but not enough to pursue lessons at the time. Years later, following the loss of her sister, she started taking lessons as a healing method. The dancing helped and she decided to continue dancing with the troupe.  She says, “Just when I needed a sister figure in my life, I gained an entire troupe of them. With some brothers too!” To her, dancing is a good stress reliever and a fun way to express herself. She hopes to return to school soon to finish her degree in Veterinary Technology. In her spare time, she enjoys reading, drawing, sewing, needlepoint, and archery.

Katheejo, AKA “mama belly”, has been dancing with Pandorium since 2017. A dancer since 2009, she found her troupe when she joined Pandorium. She is the mother of four, grandmother of five, and her youngest daughter Liz also dances with the troupe.

She has studied with various notable dancers such as Ansunya, April Rose, Kimberly Larkspur, Michelle Sorenson, and Bozenka.

Katie has been dancing with Pandorium since 2019. After many years of admiring the troupe’s performances at the Louisiana Renaissance Festival, she decided to take lessons. She enjoys making music and is pursuing a career in computer information technology.

Kayla has been dancing with Pandorium since 2017. She had admired belly dance from afar for years, and after her father lost his battle with cancer in 2016 she finally mustered the courage to do something for herself. Learning belly dance has been a very healing and freeing experience for her. Her favorite styles of dance are Turkish and Tribal Fusion. When Kayla isn’t dancing, she enjoys helping heal people naturally as a Licensed Massage Therapist.

Christy, also known as Kiki,  has been dancing with Pandorium since late 2022. She had attended the Louisiana Renaissance Festival for many years and watching the Pandorium Belly Dancers was always a must! With no formal dance training she decided to contact Mistress Jacquline to sign up for lessons. She quickly shimmied her way up to performance level!

When Kiki is not dancing she is a legal assistant for her local government, a member of Spanish Town Ladies Auxiliary, a wife, a mother to three, and a grandmother to three. She has found her tribe within Pandorium and found the perfect way to express her soul.

Madison, a.k.a. Retrograde, has been dancing with Pandorium since late 2022. She has always been interested in the performing arts. From flow, to fire, to burlesque, she loves to explore new art forms. She fell in love with belly dance after watching a Pandorium performance and desired to dance alongside them. Now she carries the grace and presence of a belly dancer into all aspects of her life.

Monica has been dancing with Pandorium since late 2019. Monica was so excited and mesmerized when she first saw Pandorium perform at the Green Room in 2017. After struggling with a fear of public speaking in her career as a government accountant she decided to give it a try to see if belly dance would help her overcome her stage fright. After two years, it has! Dancing has greatly improved her confidence, creativity, quality of life, health and well-being. It fuels her interests in DIY costuming, sewing, jewelry making, thrifting, working out, hair, makeup and nails and she gets to be around so many creative, kind, talented and beautiful people whom she greatly admires. Belly dancing has made her life more colorful and sparkly!

Rhonda has been dancing with Pandorium since late 2015. She had her eye on the troupe at the Renaissance Festival for many years before finally taking a dance class. Prior to Jacquie’s classes she had no rhythm or moves, but now she loves performing every chance she gets.

Solange  has been dancing with Pandorium since 2022. She had an unconventional introduction to the world of belly dance. Her first class with Jacquie was in 2022 on a ship in the middle of the ocean on a troupe cruise vacation. Being a plus one on this trip gave her this unique opportunity and she has been dancing ever since! 

Taylor has been dancing with Pandorium since 2016. She has studied both theater and visual arts. She graduated from the New York Conservatory for Dramatic Arts in 2009, and is an active member of the Screen Actors Guild. She has always had a passion for stage performance and belly dance has always been something she was drawn to. The culture and creativity it brings inspires her to dance more, and think later! 

Taylor has been with Pandorium since late 2017. She had friends who were in the troupe and for the longest time she was hesitant to join but secretly always wanted to take that chance. Finally she went to a class with her friend and she drank the bellydancing koolaid. Pandorium and the women involved have taught her to love herself from within and to be a strong spirit. Taylor adores every moment she gets to perform with these ladies. To this day, she tells people that belly dancing is one of the greatest treasures in her life.

Steven has been drumming with Pandorium since 2008. He has been training in Arabic drumming since 2003 and has studied with notable percussionists such as Dominic the “Drum Doc,” Tobias Roberson and David Hall. He is the proud father of Pandorium’s future drummers.

Todd has been playing guitar with Pandorium since 2013. He is a singer/songwriter with over 20 years of experience. He performs solo and in the bands Acoustapunks and Quicksand Caravan Band. He is also a music teacher offering lessons in guitar, ukulele, bass, and piano.

Ray has been drumming with Pandorium since 2014. He has been studying Middle Eastern drumming since 2008 and West African drumming since 2014. He occasionally likes to join the dancers onstage for a quick shimmy.