By Katherine Drye

If you are ever driving down Castle Street in Wilmington N.C., don’t forget to stop at the Juggling Gypsy. Trust me, it’s hard to miss. This Hookah Lounge and Entertainment Parlor is a stage for unforgettable talents like Marie Waters and Dawn Lewis of Wildfire Theatrics. Members of a troupe of fire eating belly dancers, Waters and Lewis make sure to pursue as many of their interests as possible.

To these performers, self-expression is everything. Belly dancing is a safe art form in which one can simply “learn and let go” of societal expectations, says Waters. We can learn a lot from these ladies. We only have one life to live. What are we going to do with it?