Dear Sahara Dance Community,
As we approach the end of an incredible year, it’s time to reflect on the journey we’ve shared. From unforgettable performances to renewing our studio lease and welcoming new and returning teachers and performance companies, 2023 has truly been a year to celebrate for Sahara Dance.
Your dedication, passion, and artistry have made 2023 a truly extraordinary chapter in Sahara Dance history. Thank you for being a part of it. Here’s to bringing this momentum and uplifting energy with us into 2024!
With love and shimmies,
Rachel
Performances: A Year to Remember
Sahara Dance had our biggest and grandest performance season yet. To every performer who joined us for four beautiful shows—thank you! Your artistry is what makes these performances ones to remember.
Our performance season kicked off with a bang, marking the return of Under a Desert Moon in April 2023—our first major gala show back since the pandemic hit. The energy was electric, setting the stage for what would become our most significant performance season to date. Check out this lovely “behind the scenes” reel from Under a Desert Moon and get excited about joining us for this show in 2024!
The Sahara Dance Summer Caravan in August offered a sneak peek into our upcoming World Cultural Festival performance, building anticipation and excitement among dancers and audience alike and featured the debut of two new performance companies: Raqqesat Beirut, featuring Lebanese-style belly dance, and Raqqesat Indigo, featuring belly dance fusion.
Then came the monumental “Sahara Dance Arabian Nights” performance at the World Cultural Festival, a historic event on the National Mall: an epic 8-minute dance, highlighting the Middle East, choreographed by Jillina for 100 dancers and performed on September 29, 2023.
On opening night our hearts soared on stage, as we presented the dance to hundreds of thousands of people watching around the world, with the Washington Monument and US Capitol as our backdrops. This project challenged us all and we grew as a result.
We are so deeply grateful for our community and everyone that contributed their time, energy, and love to making this possible. The dedication and hard work of our dancers and teachers were truly showcased in the eight-minute performance that will forever be a source of inspiration and pride for our community. Check out the new performance photos and full video on YouTube.
We closed the year with a beautiful and heart-warming show Sahara Dance Winter Caravan in December, with each performance demonstrating the growth of every dancer at our studio post-World Cultural Festival. Congratulations to all for their stunning performances, and heartfelt thanks to our dedicated teachers for their breathtaking choreographies.
Sahara Dance also performed at local events, including Fiesta Asia and World Cultural Festival pop-ups, among others.
Studio Milestones: Home Sweet Home
We renewed the lease on our light-filled studio in Tenleytown and made it through our first year as the sole tenant—a milestone made possible by the unwavering support of our incredible community! Walk with us through our studio in this video, also known as our “happy place!”
Retreats
We continued to hold belly dance and yoga and movement-inspired retreats in locations that support our need to reset, reconnect with ourselves and others, and express ourselves through dance!
Our annual “Heart of Belly Dance Retreat” in Costa Rica in February was a soulful experience, and we’re thrilled that we’ll be bringing Jillina to this retreat in May 2024 for an unforgettable journey of dance and connection. Spaces are still available!
Additionally, our two sold-out “Dance, Breathe, and Release” retreats in West Virginia provided a space for self-discovery, self-care, community, and connection.
Special Workshops and Projects
We continued to host workshops from Sahara Dance faculty and visiting instructors throughout the year. While too many to name, some highlights include:
Mohamed Ali, a professional dancer hailing from Egypt, led multiple workshops throughout the year, ranging from oriental shaabi to bambouti, saidi, and more. Omoladun and Randy taught a dancing to rhythms class with live drumming. Alma and DJ Kimo came to the studio twice to teach a dancing to live music workshop, which offered tips and tricks for entering and exiting the stage and improvisation.
In September 2023, Virginia led two advanced workshops exploring a challenging mejanse to a classic Abdel Halim Hafez song and an earthy baladi and launched the first edition of Al Fanaanat Project. This initiative offered personal development and feedback to dancers, and provided a by-audition opportunity to showcase Virginia’s choreography on stage.
One of our most popular new workshops, Belly Dance like Shakira, taught by Florencia, resonated with our community, adding a touch of Shakira to our dance repertoire. This one-hour, all-levels workshop is perfect for friends and family without dance experience who are interested in dropping in, having fun, and giving belly dance a try!
New Faculty and Performance Companies
This year, we welcomed Florencia to the Sahara Dance faculty, whose extensive training in Argentina brings an expanded perspective to our dance community. Additionally, we celebrated the return of Julie and Jennifer, each expanding our class and workshop offerings with their unique expertise and styles.
In an exciting development, three new performance companies, Raqqesat Arabi (directed by Leilah Moon), Raqqesat Indigo (directed by Ami), and Raqqesat Beirut (directed by Alma), joined our Sahara Dance performance companies, with vibrant performances featuring belly dance fusion and Lebanese belly dance.
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As we look ahead to 2024, let’s carry the spirit of sisterhood, artistry, and making time for dance and doing what brings us joy into the new year. Thank you for being an integral part of the Sahara Dance community. Here’s to another year of dancing together!