tracy

BY LIZA STROUT - From the tiny town of Lowndesville (population: 166), S.C., Tracy Bowe has traveled to a whole new world. The distribution manager for the Beacon moved to the area when she was 19, and has been an island fixture ever since.

Tracy grew up on a farm, surrounded by family. It was a three hour drive to the nearest “real” town, but the community was self-sufficient.

“I was right in the middle of three girls,” she said. “My mother managed a shirt factory while we were growing up, and my dad was a motorcycle stunt man. He jumped through hoops of fire, that kind of thing.”

Tracy was 5-years-old when her father put her on a motorcycle for the first time. Her father’s sense of daring and showmanship runs strong in his daughter.

“I love to be on stage, performing for a crowd of people,” Tracy said. “I’ve been bellydancing for about 10 years now, and the group that I’m a part of does shows at restaurants in the area, or we have haflas, bellydancing parties, where we all get together and just dance.”

Tracy discovered the art almost by accident.

“Sometimes, I just like to take a day and explore, go on a local adventure, to see what is nearby,” she said. “One day I hopped in my car and was driving through Port Charlotte. I ended up at Star Child, and I saw the dance costumes. They also had free classes every Thursday night. That’s how I got started. My first teacher was Sandy Anastasi.”

The dancing is more than just a show for her, though. It is a way to express herself.

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