Dance Companies

“To dance, put your hand on your heart and listen to the sound of your soul.” ~ Eugene Louis (Luigi) Faccuito 

While providing a strong learning environment for students, both beginner and advanced, Sahara Dance also provides a creative outlet for faculty and students alike with our performance dance companies.

Participation in the student companies is for students with goals of developing performance technique, stage personality, ensemble dance experience and enjoying the camaraderie of dancing together.

RAQS SAHARA

The award-winning Raqs Sahara is the featured dance company at all Sahara Dance productions. Raqs Sahara performs regularly throughout the DC metro area at private parties, weddings and festivals.

RAQS CARAVAN EAST

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.

RAQqEsAT COMPANIES

The Raqqesat companies are Sahara Dance student companies specializing in preparing students for the stage. There are two types of Raqqesat companies: Egyptian-inspired belly dance companies and specialty companies. The Egyptian-inspired companies are named after famous Golden Age belly dancers, and are designed for students of raqs sharqi. We chose to honor these influential dancers to help students connect with the dance and gain a deeper understanding of the history and evolution of belly dance. The specialty Raqqesat companies are named for style-specific dances. Members train in a specialized branch of belly dance, such as fusion, Lebanese, and folkloric.

Interested in joining a performance class?  See additional requirements and levels in the table below and check the Classes schedule for what’s available.

Performance Company or Class Level Style Additional Requirements
Beginner I Performance Beginner I Raqs Sharqi Simultaneous enrollment in any Sahara Dance Beginner I or Beginner I/II Technique class
Raqqesat Badia Company Beginner I/II Raqs Sharqi Previous completion of 32 weeks of Beginner I or Beginner I/II Technique class and simultaneous enrollment in Sahara Dance Beginner I/II or Beginner II Technique class or above
Bollywood Performance Beginner/Low Intermediate Bollywood Simultaneous enrollment in any Sahara Dance 16-week Technique class
Raqqesat Samia Company Beginner II/Low Intermediate Raqs Sharqi Previous Completion of Beginner II Technique class and simultaneous enrollment in Sahara Dance Low Intermediate Technique class or above
Baladi Performance Low Intermediate Baladi Previous completion of Sahara Dance Low Intermediate Technique class and simultaneous enrollment in Sahara Dance Low Intermediate Technique class or above
Raqqesat Arabi Company Low Intermediate Folklore Previous completion of Sahara Dance Low Intermediate class and simultaneous enrollment in any Sahara Dance Low Intermediate Technique class or above. Strong encouragement to take Folkloric Technique class
Raqqesat Indigo Company Low Intermediate Fusion Previous completion of Sahara Dance Low Intermediate Technique class and simultaneous enrollment in Sahara Dance Low Intermediate Technique class or above. Simultaneous enrollment in Low Intermediate Fusion Combos Class strongly recommended and meets this requirement.
Belly Dance Fusion Performance Low Intermediate Fusion Simultaneous enrollment in Sahara Dance Belly Dance Fusion Technique Class
Raqqesat Kitty Company Intermediate Raqs Sharqi Permission of Company Director. Previous completion of Sahara Dance Intermediate Technique class. Simultaneous enrollment in Sahara Dance Intermediate Technique class or above, with company director’s class strongly encouraged.
Raqqesat Nadia Company Intermediate/Advanced Raqs Sharqi Permission of Company Director. Previous completion of Sahara Dance Intermediate/Advanced Technique class. Simultaneous enrollment in Sahara Dance Intermediate/Advanced Technique class or above.
Raqqesat Naima Company Intermediate/Advanced Raqs Sharqi Permission of Company Director. Previous completion of Sahara Dance Intermediate/Advanced Technique class. Simultaneous enrollment in Sahara Dance Intermediate/Advanced Technique class or above.
Raqs Caravan East Company Advanced Raqs Sharqi Invitation Only by Company Directors. Previous completion of Sahara Dance Advanced Technique class (or equivalent as assessed by directors). Simultaneous enrollment in preceding Sahara Dance Advanced Technique class with minimum 80% live attendance required. Attendance of biweekly rehearsals required.
Al Fanaanat Project Advanced/Professional Raqs Sharqi By audition. Mandatory attendance of coached reherasals, if audition is selected for the performance project.
Raqs Sahara Company Advanced/Professional Raqs Sharqi By invitation.