Yaschica has studied Middle Eastern Dance for seven years and has a strong foundation in Egyptian dance technique. She began her studies in 2002 under the instruction of Joette Sawall, Artistic Director of the West Michigan School of MED in Kalamazoo, MI. She would later make the transition from student to troupe member in 2004. While in Michigan she pursued her Doctoral degree at Western Michigan University. After receiving her PhD in Sociology in 2006 she accepted a faculty position at the University of Memphis in the Department of Criminology and Criminal Justice. It is at the Pyramid Dance Company (PDC) under the instruction of Sadiia that Yaschica has continued her studies in Middle Eastern Dance.

Since 2002, Yaschica has had the opportunity to receive dance instruction from Morocco (New York, NY), Tarik Sultan (New York, NY), Ruby Jazayre (South Bend, IN),  Shahna (Little Rock, AR), Roula Said (Toronto, ON), Zafira Dance Company (Pittsburg, PA), Farida Fahmy (Cairo, Egypt), Jasmin Jahal (Chicago, IL), Aida AL Adawi (Pontiac, MI), Dalia Carella (New York, NY), Sonya Souk (Chicago, IL),  Karim Nagi (Boston, MA), Yasmina Ramzy (Toronto, ON),  Linda (Nashville, TN) , Samara Adell (New York, NY) and Yousry Sharif (New York, NY). Yaschica’s dance repertoire includes Egyptian Folkloric, Raks Assaya (cane/Saidi), Romani (Gypsy), Andalusian (Flamenco), Khaleegy, Pharonic and Bollywood.

Since Yaschica did not have a background in dance, she is a true testament that prior dance training is not a prerequisite to studying Middle Eastern Dance. One could argue the lack of a dance background contributed to her acclimating easily to the unique muscle movements and techniques of bellydance. Although Yaschica enjoys learning dance choreography, thus adding to her repertoire of Middle Eastern dance and technique as a dancer, she favors improvisation and Egyptian folkloric style of dance. Every time she listens to a piece of music it allows her to show her own unique, expressive beledi style that can’t be confined to choreography. Yaschica is dedicated to educating the public about this beautiful art form and assisting women in getting the best experience out of bellydance. This experience could be focused on exercise or in mastering bellydance technique to the best of their ability so through muscle memory they can develop their own style of dance and capture the emotiveness and spirit of bellydance.