Patricia Cumbie (Katze) is a Minneapolis American Tribal style dancer who’s been a student and dance sister of mine since 1998. She is an accomplished writer, and the following essay was selected for the Art of Recovery exhibit sponsored by the Minnesota State Arts Board. The Art of Recovery exhibits feature visual and literary work by Minnesotans who have been victims of crime and have used art as a means to respond, explore, express, or heal.

The topic of her essay is how belly dance has been instrumental in helping her deal with the aftermath of a sexual assault.

Katze has recently published her new book "Where People Like Us Live", (HarperCollins 2008), and now divides her time between book promotion tours and dance. "Where People Like Us Live" is a powerful young adult novel of a girl who discovers disturbing secrets about her friend's homelife that forever alters both their lives.

Left to Right Amina and Katze