I want to learn to belly dance. What classes should I take?

Do you want to learn to belly dance, but you’re not sure where to begin?

Beginner I is the class we recommend for starting a strong foundation in belly dance. No experience required!

We start a new 8-week Beginner I class every 8 weeks, and you can join the class up to 4 weeks in.

What is the Sahara Dance Beginner I curriculum?

Zeina (8 weeks) + Aziza (8 weeks) = Full Beginner I Curriculum (16 weeks)

The Beginner I curriculum is a total of 16 weeks, split across two 8-week sessions: Zeina & Aziza, named after Zeina Zeina and Aziza by Mohamed Abdel Wahab, timeless belly dance classic songs characterized by their enchanting melodies and rhythms. You can start with either Zeina or Aziza, and we recommend taking both. We alternate the Zeina and Aziza offering every 8 weeks, and all Beginner I classes follow the same curriculum each semester.

Aziza and Zeina are independent curricula and do not build upon one another, so friends are welcome to join the new 8-week session without any dance experience. However, both Zeina and Aziza are needed to learn the full Beginner I curriculum.

What brings you to belly dance?

Are you dancing for fun and fitness? Or do you wish to really master belly dance as an art form? Or both?

For dancers interested in becoming performance company members, and/or mastering the art form, we recommend taking Zeina and Aziza sessions each twice, which is the full Beginner I curriculum two times. The first time through is good for exposure to the movements and aesthetics; the second time is good for mastery. A strong foundation in the basics will serve your dance development in the long run.

For dancers joining classes for fun and fitness, you’re welcome to take Beginner I as long, or as little, as you like. Belly Dance Cardio or other conditioning classes are also a good option for a workout class.

For dancers who are unsure of their dance goals, take your time, enjoy the learning process, and get a good technical foundation in the Beginner curriculum. This way you’re prepared for performance, should it interest you.

Hybrid or Virtual?

Do you like learning movement in person? Then reserve a spot in a Beginner I class in-person by registering for the hybrid option. Do you prefer to learn at home, live-streaming? Then registering for a virtual option may be best for you. If you prefer to attend class with a mix of in-person and online options, reserve an in-person spot at the studio by registering for the hybrid option. Recordings for each class are included for both hybrid and virtual students.