The student companies are thriving and performing at higher levels than ever before. This is fantastic! Dancers are developing within their companies, and the company levels needed to be recalibrated to match this accelerated improvement, as well as the recently revised curricula.

1. Review the Advanced Skills Level document on the curriculum page to self-assess your mastery of the Advanced movement repertoire
2. Inquire with your current company director(s) and curriculum technique teacher(s) for informal feedback on your dance progression
3. Participate in a full Technique Assessment for in depth feedback on your dance level from two teachers, and their recommendations on the best path for leveling up

Reflecting upon the 20th anniversary Under a Desert Moon show, I feel privileged to witness Sahara Dance’s growth and so proud to provide a creative home for countless dancers over the years. For this special commemorative show, I was so touched to see our tributes to life changing inspirations. The diversity of both dance styles and dancers was showcased so beautifully. The warmth of the performers and audience was moving, and I’ll hold the memory of this show close to my heart. I’m feeling appreciative of our teachers, studio assistants, students, and supporters who have worked to make this milestone possible, and all those who have kept the studio vibrant, steady, welcoming, and full of creativity.

After over two decades of watching our shows, the artistry which springs forth through the dancers is both humbling and inspiring. When the stress of producing shows and running a small business is mounting, I try to remember how lucky we are to still be able to do this together (and even through a pandemic)!

Live music is such an important part of the art form and it was especially sweet to have a band as part of our anniversary show. I want to thank Saltanah Ensemble (Chakib Hilali, Kylie Hilali, and Abderrahim Amthqal), as well as Randy and Sahara Tabla students, for making music for us, which made the show more wonderfully memorable.

I feel especially blessed that we have so many long-standing teachers still choosing to teach and grow at Sahara Dance. And, I feel equally fortunate that the studio continues to attract new talent, keeping our leadership inspired and fresh. The beloved teachers involved in making this commemorative show include Alma, Ami, Brianne, Chiaki, Crystal, Florencia, Gretchen, Jennifer Anya, Jennifer, Julie, Katy, Leilah Moon, Laura, Malina, Maria, Megan, Mohamed, Nicolette, Omoladun, Randa, Randy, and Sophianna. I recognize the tremendous energy and thoughtfulness teachers put into both providing students feedback, building community in their classes, coordinating among the team to create consistency across the school, and tapping into their creativity to produce interesting choreographies several times a year. Thankfully, teachers and helpers have really stepped up during these past few years while I’ve been raising little ones, and less active in the studio. It is because of them that Sahara Dance is thriving, and that we’re all still dancing together.

Special thanks to Maria for working so creatively and consistently to keep Sahara Dance’s social media presence relevant and compelling, which is its own craft on top of dance understanding. And thanks to Liz, and now Katie, for keeping communications flowing well through the Sahara Dance newsletter. These roles take a lot of heart and effort to do well and I’m happy we have talent and interest in-studio to keep us connected.

The studio assistants (SAs) continue to be the essential caretakers of our dance home, keeping the doors open, technology running, and everyone welcomed. We rely on their competency, patience, and good care for so much. The SA team that carried us through the show includes Bina, Bo, Erin, Farida, Kelly, Maddie, Maria, Marina, Negeen, and Tamara! The studio runs because of them and I really appreciate the many ways they pour such love into Sahara Dance.

Further behind the scenes I realize just how much of a tiny “family and friends” endeavor this has been since day one. Without countless hours of support from the Wilsons (James, Marianne and Anne), my husband (Jake), my mom (Cindy), my father-in-law (Jeff), my sisters (Autumn and Amber), and many others, there would be no Sahara Dance. We have lots of invisible hands and hearts helping to keep our dance shows and studio going, and I’m not sure how I can ever thank these loved ones enough. Truly.

At the heart of Sahara Dance I know that the relationships which blossom within the studio are most important. There is something special about the friendships forged through making art together combined with the exhilaration of dancing as a team. The bonding that happens through movement and self expression feels real and honest. The enjoyment of moving together in unison spills over to the audience. There is a felt sense of connectedness that is alive in shared steps, and a shared dance journey. For me, dancing together over years is a direct and unspoken knowing of my fellow dancers, which is comforting and grounding. I’m so grateful for the time and space Sahara Dance has given me to grow such friendships, and share in the contagious joy of others doing the same. It is a true honor.

There have been many gifts in my life because of Sahara Dance, but knowing the people who make the studio possible is the best gift. It is their good energy that makes Sahara Dance feel like home, and for this I am forever grateful. 

I look forward to seeing the studio evolve in the years to come. This summer will be especially fun with renowned guest artist, Esmeralda, headlining our Summer Caravan show! I’m glad to be able to continue growing and dancing with such an uplifting community.

Love,

Rachel 

We recommend all new belly dancers take Beginner I for at least four 8-week sessions (32 weeks). In the first round dancers are exposed to the movements and the second round dancers are able to more fully integrate the movements with attention to alignment and musicality. 

Before moving on to Beginner II, dancers make the most progress when they’ve fully internalized the foundational movements from Beginner I into muscle memory. Because the Beginner II curriculum adds lots of layering movements, it’s easy to practice movements incorrectly without a strong and clear foundation. I like to remember and apply one of my favorite sayings from mediation, “no time to rush”.

This condensed Beginner I class is ideal for new students to belly dance, or those seeking to refresh the belly dance foundations.

After you have completed the first 8 week session, you should definitely also consider trying the Intro to Performance class (check the class schedule for start dates)!  You’ll be able to show off your new skills in a simple Beginner level choreography at a Sahara Dance show in front of family and friends… But this opportunity isn’t just about performing in front of an audience; it’s a chance to forge new friendships and play with beautiful costumes and makeup. Whether you’re an absolute beginner or have completed several sessions of our Beginner I (or Beginner II) technique, you’re welcome to participate. In this program, you’ll learn and perform a fun several minute-long choreography that draws upon the foundational skills covered in Sahara Dance Beginner I. It’s an excellent choice for those seeking the thrill of group performance, the beauty of artistic expression, and a chance to refine their fundamental dance technique.

1. We’re having TWO shows!   

That’s right! You’ll get to perform your company piece twice! Didn’t feel great about the first run? No problem, we’ll do it again at 7:00 pm! Want a family-friendly time for your guests to come? Invite them to the 4:00 pm show! Get your Sahara Dance Caravan tickets today!

2. We’re debuting an all-cast, 8-minute masterpiece, choregraphed by Jillina! 

All the company members will be invited to learn, and perform, a new master piece choreography by Jillina. We will also have the opportunity to perform this piece in preparation for the epic showing at The World Culture Festival, also referred to as the cultural Olympics.

Learn more about how joining a Summer Student Company qualifies you to perform on the stadium stage for the epic, World Cultural Festival. Not only is this a special Sahara Dance Summer Caravan, it’s a summer and fall of unforgettable performances.

Additionally, Jillina will be returning in 2024 or 2025 to offer her Belly Dance Evolution Experience. Summer is a great time to get to know her teaching style, train with her, and consider auditioning for her theatrical belly dance show “Alice In Wonderland” when we host it in DC! Many of her BDE training techniques will be used to create the 8-minute WCF masterpiece!

3. New Venue: Imagination Stage, Bethesda!

Be part of the inaugural Sahara Dance performance at the intimate and elegant black box theater at Imagination Stage in downtown Bethesda. This theater is wonderful for families. We’ll have a complete dance studio rented to practice and prepare backstage, in addition to dressing rooms. And, given the prime location in downtown Bethesda, we have lots of fun and yummy places to choose from for after show celebrations!

4. Raqqesat Beruit and Raqqesat Indigo make their debuts!

Be part of the inaugural performances for Sahara Dance’s two newest student companies, Raqqesat Beruit and Raqqesat Indigo!  As a founding member, you can help to set the company culture, costumes, and dance wishes for the year ahead.

Perform this summer! Register to join a Sahara Dance Company today!

Hope to see you on stage Sahara Dance Summer Caravan Shows!

Thank you all for show your support by attending or performing in this special show. We appreciate seeing smiling, familiar faces in the audience, and enjoying the magic of the big stage together.

Check out the Behind the Scenes UDM Reel on Instagram!

If you missed performing and would like to join us for our Summer Caravan show, and / or the World Culture Festival, classes begin May 6th! And, early bird discounts end May 1 (today!).

Sign up for classes now!

Stay tuned for photos and videos to be posted soon!

Meanwhile, on behalf of all the Sahara Dance teachers, thank you for performing and attending this special show. We’re so happy to be back! Special thanks for all the support in producing the show to Cindy, Marianne, Bo, Katalina, Hala, Aaron, Joe, and the Greenberg Crew! 

Be part of a Sahara Dance Performance Company to join in on the fun! And, don’t miss this once-in-a-lifetime, open call opportunity to train with Jillina and your Sahara Dance teachers for the global stage!

Summer company performance opportunities:

• Sahara Dance Summer Caravan (Two shows!) – August 26th
• World Culture Festival (WCF)- September 29 or 30th!! Learn more about this epic event.
• Fiesta Asia – May 20th
• Other Summer Festival performance opportunities, as they arise

There are several performance companies from which to choose (check out the blog post…), and we start rehearsals and classes the week of May 6th!

Sign up by May 1st for early bird discounts!

Sahara Dance Resident Performance Companies:

Summer company members are invited to perform in these events, including the World Culture Festival this fall on the National Mall! Students of all levels are welcome to join. Find the right Sahara Dance performance company for you!

1. To perform in these events, and learn the WCF choreography, students need to be enrolled in a summer performance company, as well as a concurrent technique class.
2. Additional rehearsals outside of class time will be held and attendance will be encouraged, though not mandatory. Video submissions demonstrating knowledge of the choreography may be required to perform.
3. Students may need to purchase simple costume pieces, and/or props, for the WCF performance.
4. Jillina will be providing clear video tutorials for learning the 8 minute WCF choreography, which will also be performed in the Sahara Dance Summer Caravan show on August 26th. WCF choreography will be reinforced in company classes, but the majority of company class time will be spent on company specific choreography for summer caravan.

Additional information is available in this post about the World Culture Festival performance.

Register for a Summer 2023 student company to be part of our grandest performance season yet!

Want to perform bellydance on stage?  Join a Sahara Dance Performance Company!

There are several student performance companies from which to choose. Check the Classes Schedule to see what’s currently available! More on each company below.

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 their dance lineage 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 and folklore.

Sahara Dance Resident Performance Companies:

• Raqqesat Arabi – folkloric student company
• Raqqesat Badia – Beginner I / II student company
• Raqqesat Beirut – Lebanese style student company (Low Intermediate and above)
• Raqqesat Indigo – Fusion style student company (Low Intermediate and above)
• Raqqesat Kitty –  Intermediate student company
• Raqqesat Nadia – Intermediate / Advanced student company
• Raqqesat Naima – Intermediate / Advanced student company
• Raqqesat Samia – Beginner II / Low Intermediate student company
• Raqs Caravan East – Advanced student company
• Raqs Sahara – Professional company

Join a student company today!

While providing a strong learning environment for students, from beginner to 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.

To participate in a dance company you must simultaneously be enrolled in the corresponding technique class. Beginners may enroll in Raqqesat Badia along with a beginner technique class. More specific information about prerequisite levels is here.

If you are a current student wondering whether you are ready to move up, consult with your current teacher for feedback about your appropriate level. In this process, please be gentle with yourself – remember everyone grows at their own pace, and there is not a preset amount of time to spend at each level. Please note, Raqs Caravan East and Raqs Sahara are by invitation only.

If you are not yet enrolled in any Sahara Dance classes but have previous belly dance experience, just email us about recommendations on levels – info@saharadance.com.

What is it?

This is a huge event. The World Culture Festival brings together thousands of performers from diverse cultures on one stage, showcasing our shared humanity and rich cultural diversity, and sending a message of peace and harmony to the world.  The event will have thousands of people in attendance each day, and will be globally live-streamed with an estimated viewership of millions of people. The event will be attended by political and societal leaders around the world and will also have a representation from the UN.

You can get a glimpse of the past events and the vision of this event through this video:

The festival was officially launched in February 2023 along with the DC Mayor: The Mayor’s message and invitation video for WCF.

Where is it?

They are building a massive stage at the National Mall and it will be live streamed globally, and on jumbotrons.

When is it?

The festival is Sept 29 – Oct 1, 2023

The Sahara Dance performance will be either Sept 29 (or possibly Sept 30), after 4pm.

Who is it?

The event is produced on a volunteer basis by the Art of Living Foundation, and performers from around the world. We’ve invited Jillina to help choreograph and lead the Sahara Dance portion, along with Sahara Dance teachers. All summer student company members will be invited to learn the choreography and participate. There will be additional light costuming and rehearsal requirements to perform the piece at WCF. Additionally, we will likely do a version of the choreography, or some portion of it, as an all cast opening and/or closing number at the Summer Caravan Show on August 26.

Why?

The event is to promote peace and understanding through world cultural arts. It’s a wonderful honor and opportunity for Sahara Dance to share the joy and beauty of Middle Eastern dance on a global stage, and it will be broadcast widely. It will likely be a once in a lifetime event, uplifting and energizing for performers and attendees.

What Do I Need To Know If I’d Like To Perform?

All summer student performance company members will be invited to learn a second choreography for performance at WCF. This second choreography is in addition to, and separate from, company choreography for the performance at Summer Caravan on August 26th. There will likely be additional costume and/or prop requirements to perform at WCF.

If students want to participate:

1. Sign up for a summer performance company or the WCF Performance Intensive (not sure which company? Check out this post…)

2. Fill out the WCF Participant Interest Form (for security clearance)!

3. Fill out the WCF Casting Form (for us to set formations)!

4. Save the Dates below:

The Sahara Dance performance will be either Sept 29 (or possibly Sept 30), after 4pm.

Rehearsals will be 2-3 hours on two of these four dates (TBD) Sept 9, 10, 23, and/or 24 at the DC Armory. There may be additional rehearsals as well.

5.  Stay tuned for more info!

Jillina and I are really excited for this unique opportunity, and I hope you are too!

And, we’ll be brining Jillina and the Belly Dance Evolution experience to Sahara Dance & Washington DC in 2024 or 2025 for Alice in Wonderland! Prepare to audition for this special show by training on Jillina’s choreography, performance tips, and directorship this summer, as part of WCF!