Meet Daewen, Our Founder & Director

Daewen 3/4 Tattoos Diana Bastet Dark Metal Fusion Dancer

Daewen is the founder of the Stygian Collective and the pioneer of Metal Fusion dance—a dark, powerful blend of heavy music and fusion belly dance. Drawing inspiration from metal riffs, horror, emotion, mythology, and her mentors, she’s carved a niche in the fusion world as both a performer and instructor. Since 2020, Daewen has built a thriving international dance community, producing online festivals, leading workshops, and offering a comprehensive Stygian Certification Program for dancers of all levels. She has studied extensively in the fusion style with many top-tier instructors, with the most inspiring being Ariellah, Silvia Salamanca, Michelle Sorensen, Belladonna, and her dance bestie Ami Amoré! With a background in psychology, coaching, and rune divination, she combines technical expertise, magical flair, emotional depth, and a passion for personal growth to support dancers both on and off the stage. Known as “Mama Stygian,” Daewen balances her dark, powerful performances with warmth, humor, and a deep commitment to community.

The Stygian Collective

In the chaos of 2020, Daewen founded the dark fusion dance community, the Stygian Collective, which allows dancers from all over the world to connect, share, and grow together in a unique, supportive, and collaborative online platform that feels like a true family. With her growing international community at her back, Daewen took to the virtual stage to produce fully fledged gala performances and weekend festivals online for the world to enjoy. As the Stygian Collective has grown, there have been more and more in person opportunities for these amazing humans to bond and share in their dance joy.

Stygian Group Rear Shot Metal Hands
Daewen Side Crown Killstart Black and Red Dark Fusion Dancer

Instructor & Performer

Daewen is also a star instructor, conducting workshops on request, crafting live online classes, as well as hosting an online studio for instruction in her style. She also offers a comprehensive Stygian Certification Program providing structured online learning at each student's pace, with customized feedback to promote student growth and success in the belly dance world.

Daewen's "Stygian Style" is uniquely inspired by a blend of heavy music, strong emotions, strength, mythology, horror, fantasy, magic, the works of her teachers, and her fellows in the Stygian Collective.

With a massive repertoire that includes creative and emotional choreography, improvisation, sword and veil dance, and more, Daewen is as versatile as she is deeply versed in the intricacies of each style of performance.

For a sampling of Daewen's incredible work, you can visit our social media pages and browse our site! Be prepared for a side of belly dance you’ve never seen before!

Coach, Caster, & Cheerleader

In addition to being a rockstar in the fusion dance world, Daewen is also a trained coaching professional, certified Rune Caster, and... general goofball.

Daewen holds a B.S. in Psychology from the University of Illinois. Her extensive study and training in behavioral change and motivation allows her to offer guidance and support in achieving both dance and lifestyle goals, including topics like dance business, creation, personal practice, troupe direction, show production, habit change, office skills, basic marketing, people management, wellness, self care, weight management, task management, and more!

Always inspired by ancient pagan ways, Daewen also holds a Rune Divination Diploma from the Centre for Excellence. Using her study of the Elder Futhark runes, Daewen will guide you on a transformative journey, unveiling the answers you seek and illuminating your path ahead.

Then in terms of personality, we call her Mama Stygian for a reason. She is passionate about what she does, cares deeply for those in her circles, and lives by the Stygian values of support and belonging. While she may have a dark and scary performance persona, she's naturally full of belly laughs, hugs, and generosity.

Daewen outside laughing dark fusion costume

Experience

Instruction Highlights

  • Self-hosting workshops and classes since 2013

  • 2025 Bayou Belly Festival in Lafayette, LA

  • 2025 Stone Soup Festival in Kansas City, MO

  • 2025, 2022 Indiana Bellydance Collective Annual Bazaar

  • 2024 Great Lakes Belly Dance Convention in Lansing, MI

  • 2024 Featured Instructor at Stone Soup in Kansas City, MO

  • 2023 Headlining Instructor for the First Annual Gothla Australia

  • 2021 Tribal Muse Workshops in Madrid, IA

  • 2020 Amorticious Studios in St. Louis, MO

  • 2019 Bellies for Bellies, Richland Community College, Decatur, IL

  • 2015-2017 Defy Gravity, Champaign, IL

Performance Highlights

  • Production of and participation in annual online dance festivals and performances from November 2020 onward

  • 2025 Bayou Belly Festival

  • 2025, 2022 Indiana Bellydance Collective Annual Bazaar

  • 2024 Great Lakes Belly Dance Convention in Lansing, MI

  • 2024 Raqs Obscura at Stone Soup in Kansas City, MO

  • 2024 Turning the Gaze professional production with Dance Hipnotique in St. Louis, MO

  • ongoing performances at Ami Amore’s Hard Raks Cafe and Urban Cabaret in St. Louis, MO since 2019

  • 2023 Headliner for the First Annual Gothla Australia

  • Creepshow Peepshow in St. Louis, MO

  • 2022 Performance at Fission during the Mega Massive in Las Vegas, NV

  • 2022 Curated Dead Can Dance performance solo and with my international troupe at The Artiface in Las Vegas, NV

  • 7 years at Fusion Evolution Belly Dance Festival in Chicago, IL

  • 4 years at Dark History & Horror Con in Champaign, IL

  • 3 years at Boneyard Arts Festival in Champaign, IL

  • Directed and performed in my own shows in Champaign, IL titled “Oh the Horror!” and “Tainted Love: A Valentine’s Day Special,” as well as annual troupe showcases.

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Inclusion Statement

We are devoted to a community of inclusion and all are welcome with us. We do not discriminate on the basis of age, color, disability, gender, gender expression, gender identity, genetic information, national origin, race, religion, sex, sexual orientation, or veteran status. If you have an experience that isn’t consistent with these values, we want to hear from you so we can do better!

Disclaimers

Dance is a physical activity. Stygian Dance and affiliated instructors will not be held liable for any injuries that may occur from using these videos. If you engage in this program, you agree that you do so at your own risk. Trust your body, and if needed, consult a physician regarding any concerns you may have.

Stygian Style is informed by MEHNAT traditional dance. We acknowledge and love our roots in raqs sharqi and Middle Eastern dance traditions. Many of our members dance and perform in both worlds, and we encourage students to research the history of this danceform.

Copyright Stygian Dance LLC 2025. All Rights Reserved.