Sahara Dance | About - Raqs Caravan East

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.

Sahara Dance Under a Desert Moon 7 (159)

Sahara Dance Under a Desert Moon 7 (130)

Sahara Dance Under a Desert Moon 7 (138)

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

Summer 2009 Schedule

Tuesdays, May 9 - August 22, 2009
at Sahara Dance Central
9:15-10:15 pm