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 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.
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. |