Two Old Bags

Sponsors of premier belly dance events in Reno, Nevada


Janie

Janie "Jenee" Midgley and Chris "T'Murr" Kelly

Some people say to us "We can't call you old bags,” but really we don't mind. It is better than where we started. Long time ago not in a galaxy far, far, away... but in Reno we became friends. We were both working as Dealers at a local Casino and found we had similar interests (like Star Trek and shopping), so we started hanging around together. Bill, Janie's darling husband, always said, "What are you old broads up to today?” When we decided to start a business, he said, "Well you are already the two old broads.” We decided to clean it up a bit, while keeping our quirky natures in mind and The Two Old Bags was born. But as to what we wanted to do with it we had not a single clue.

The local Belly Dance guild was just forming and Janie was Newsletter Editor. She wanted to do a magazine too, but the guild couldn't afford it. So one day she was home whining to her darling husband about wanting to do the magazine and he said, "So, do it yourself.” She said, "Do you realize how much time that will take?" He said, "So what!" And added, "Get Chris to help.” Chris said yes and we now had a purpose for our business, we would be publishers.

Looking for a name that would convey what the magazine was about without getting too stuffy, Janie's husband suggested the nickname he had given one of the local dancers, "wiggle hips." So the magazine, Wiggle Hips, was born and the local dancer, became the first cover dancer. Now Wiggles is in its tenth year of publication and still going strong.

When the local guild went into dormancy, our area needed workshops so Two Old Bags picked up the ball and ran with it. Workshops grew into a festival and High Desert Hip Fest was born. Hip Fest (was Spring Festival) boasts workshops with two top name instructors and a Gala Show all held in May. Along the way we also started Wiggles of the West Belly Dance Contest, which will celebrate its 10th anniversary in 2005 and is three days long.

Wiggle Hips has now been retired, it had a wonderful 10 year run and we enjoyed every minute of it. There are a lot more magazines in our community now, both on-line and printed, so we felt Wiggle Hips had run its course. We now intend to spend our time and efforts in making High Desert Hip Fest and Wiggles of the West Contest even better than they are.

Janie "Jenee" Midgley

I have been performing this wonderful art form of ours for a little over 30 years. I started Belly Dancing, Middle Eastern Dance to be more proper, back in my college days while studying for my Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice Administration at San Jose State University, CA.. I have been dancing, since I could walk - I figure it was a past life thing. I started formal dance training with Tap and Ballroom and later ventured out into Modern Dance and Hula. But my passion is and will always be Belly Dance.

I have always done all my own costuming. Being 5'8" and no runway model, if I wanted it I had to make it. Now I am a professional Costume Designer and make my living creating beautiful things. My business is Designs By Janie. Costuming is just one part of being a vender. I sell almost anything a dancer could want, but we specialize in my Comfortable Body Stockings. The company motto is, "We sell only what we believe in..” Which means we either own it, have tested it, or make it ourselves.

Besides being a Costume Designer, I also write books. I wrote the “Dancer's Notebook” for dancers that want to be more organized. My first real book was "How to Put on a Belly Dance Workshop... Without Going Crazy." It shows every step and has check lists to keep you from forgetting anything. Examples of contracts and flyers are also included as well as contact information for over 50 of the best known workshop instructors in this art form. Last year I wrote the first booklet ever written that is completely about body stockings, “Comfortable Body Stockings: How to Use, Dye, and Embellish Them.” I have two more books in the works, that I hope to have published soon.

I am have been very happily married for 30 years (to the same man). He is my partner, my nag, my advisor, and my manager. He is also our "Slave Labor" and Sound and Lights man at the Contest and Hip Fest.

In 2007 we relocated to Las Vegas and moved Wiggles of the West to Sam's Town for 2009.

Just Keep Wiggling,
Janie

Chris "T'Murr" Kelly

I used to be a quiet, rather shy person who had the time to read a lot of Science Fiction, watch storms from my deck, and play with my cats, at that time I had 11 of them. Then I met Janie... and my life has never been the same. The truth of this statement you can only begin to imagine.

I started in this art form as the best audience a dancer could have, I called myself a Belly Dance Groupie and I was happy with that. Janie decided she wanted to write a Belly Dance magazine and needed help with computer part. I became Wiggle Hips chief Computer Wiz (short for Wizard) and Co-publisher.

Next I was dragged to Rakkasah. My eyes glazed over, my heart started racing, and I began to shop (oh, that is one of my passions too). Since I now owned veils, beaded sashes, and a coin belt it was time to start learning to dance. Janie was my first teacher. She got frustrated with my body, since it all wanted to move at the same time (couldn't isolate to save myself) and said, "I was doing Too Much Rock 'n' Roll.” That's how I found my dance name, T'Murr, and being a Star Trek nut, it fit in with some of the names they used in the series.

I was happy doing Wiggle Hips, dancing a little in open floors, and going to Festivals. Then Janie got an idea, (now, to say Janie is driven is an understatement). I said yes, not really knowing what was in store for me, and Wiggles of the West was born and then High Desert Hip Fest. I hung on for the ride of my life. I have never had more fun.

Belly Dance has changed my life. I perform now at Fairs and Nursing homes, hostess a bi-monthly ’Open Floor,’ half my closet is dance stuff, and I'll talk to anyone about my dance passion. Shy little wall flower... not any more. What an invigorating experience to be around all the wonderful people associated with this art form. I have made friends will people from all over the world and hope to go to visit some of them one of these days.

In 2006 I met Craig and we married in 2008. He is fast becoming a Belly Dance husband, doing sound duties for Wiggles of the West in 2007.

Keep on Wigglin'
Chris