Dance Companies
Raqs Caravan East
Participation in the student companies is for advanced students with the goal of developing performance technique, stage personality, ensemble dance experience and enjoying the camaraderie of dancing together
Directed by Rachel Kay Brookmire and Elysa, Raqs Caravan dancers progress
toward artistic, charismatic, musical dance performance while building a
strong foundation of sophisticated dance technique. The Raqs Caravan
mission is to create joy and beauty while fostering the growth of individual
dancers..

Raqs Caravan East is a Sahara Dance student company specializing in raqs sharqi for stage. Students learn ensemble choreographies for performances at student shows, community events and in other educational environments. Dancers place a special focus on soft, graceful, expressive styling.
Raqs Caravan East, and sister companies Raqs Caravan West and Raqs Caravan Folklore, are featured at
three productions annually: the Under a Desert Moon Annual Student Gala, the
Sahara Dance Summer Student Showcase and the Raqs Caravan Student Showcase.
Raqs Caravan companies perform regularly at numerous community and educational
events throughout the year.
Raqs Caravan East performs to a wide variety of music, including Arabic techno fusion, Lebanese pop and Egyptian folkloric and classical. The repertoire includes veil, drum solos, Saidi and finger cymbals.
Prerequisite: Concurrent enrollment in Intermediate/Advanced Technique and
permission of director.
View these and other photos in our photo galleries
Recent Performances
- T.S. Wootton High School
- Rockville, MD – June 2009
- 7th Annual "Under a Desert Moon"
- Greenberg Theatre, Washington, DC - May 2009
- Sahara Dance Caravan - A Belly Dance Journey
- The National Theatre, Washington, DC – March 2009
- Adventure Travel Expo
- Washington Convention Center, Washington, DC - February 2009
- NBC 4 Health and Fitness Expo
- Washington Convention Center, Washington, DC - January 2009
- From Cairo to California
- Calvary Baptist Church, Washington, DC – November 2008
- Celebration of Culture
- World Bank Group, Washington, DC – October 2008
- Rakkasah East
- Somerset, NJ - October 2008
- Senior Center Entertainment Hour
- Behrend Adas Senior Center, Washington, DC – July 2008
- Sahara Dance Salon / Hafla Dance Party
- Pasha Lounge, Washington, DC – September 2008
- Sahara Dance Summer Student Showcase
- Casablanca Restaurant, Alexandria, VA - August 2008
- Raqs America
- Joe's Movement Emporium, Mount Rainier, MD June 2008
- South Silver Spring Block Party
- Silver Spring, MD June 2008
- 6th Annual "Under a Desert Moon"
- Greenberg Theatre, Washington, DC - May 2008
- Adventure Travel Expo
- Washington Convention Center, Washington, DC - March 2008
- NBC 4 Health and Fitness Expo
- Washington Convention Center, Washington, DC - January 2008
- Sahara Dance Winter Student Showcase
- Casablanca Restaurant, Alexandria, VA – December 2007
- Sahara Dance Summer Student Showcase
- Casablanca Restaurant, Alexandria, VA - August 2007
- 5th Annual "Under a Desert Moon"
- Greenberg Theatre, Washington, DC - May 2007
- NBC 4 Health and Fitness Expo
- Washington, DC - January, 2007
- Sahara Dance Winter Student Showcase
- Casablanca, Alexandria, VA - December, 2006
- Rakassah East
- Somerset, NJ - October, 2006
- Arabian Nights
- Colony South, Clinton, MD - September, 2006
- Sahara Dance Summer Student Showcase
- Casablanca, Alexandria, VA - July, 2006
- Under a Dessert Moon
- Greenberg Theater, Washington, DC - May, 2006
- NBC 4 Health and Fitness Expo
- Washington Convention Center, Washington, DC - January, 2006
- Sahara Dance Winter Student Showcase
- Flashpoint, Washington DC - December, 2005
- Rakassah East
- Somerset, NJ - October 2005
- Arabian Nights
- Colony South, Clinton, MD - August, 2005
- SD Summer Student Showcase
- Flashpoint, Washington DC - August, 2005
- Under a Dessert Moon
- Greenberg Theater, Washington, DC - May, 2005
- Rakkasah East
- Somerset NJ - 2005
- The Fire of the Soul Tour
- Casablanca, Alexandria VA - 2005
- Arabian Nights
- Colony South, Clinton, MD - 2005
- Raqs Caravan Fall Showcase
- Flashpoint, Washington, DC - 2004
- Rakkasah East
- Somerset NJ - 2004
- "The Belly Dance Show" on Fairfax Public Access TV
- September, 2004
- Sahara Dance Street Dance
- September, 2004
- Lands and Cultures Festival
- Malcom X Park - September 2004
- Sahara Dance Student Showcase
- Flashpoint, Washington, DC - August, 2004
- Under a Desert Moon
- Greenberg Theatre, Washington, DC - May, 2004
- George Washington University
- The Mediterranean Cafe and Sahara Dance Opening Gala 2004
- The Black Cat
- The Belly Dance Benefit Show at Georgetown University
- The Anne C. Fisher Gallery
- DC Jewish Community Center
- Under a Desert Sky
- The Jack Guidone Theater, Washington, DC - May 2003
- Rakkasah East
- Somerset, NJ - 2003