PICTURE

Dancing Queen February

Known as the “queen of quarters and shot glasses,” Neenah Crocker is the resident belly dancer for the Bachman Lakearea restaurant Stratos Greek Taverna, featured on our list of offbeat date-night ideas for Valentine’s Day. She’s also a government CPA and holds two master’s degrees. “For me, dancing is the best outlet for stress relief,” she says. “I sit at a desk for 10 hours a day.” Her elaborate performances often involve veils, swords and fire. Belly dancing is more than just a hobby for Crocker. The mother of three has been at it for 34 years in Dallas and jokingly calls herself “one of the old ladies” at Stratos. She runs a local belly dancing academy and recruits new performers, emphasizing the importance of team building. “You can’t learn this by watching a YouTube video,” she says. Her close bond with the Stratos owners has kept her going. “I love Nick and his family. If it weren’t for them, I’d be retired already.”