Raqqesat Companies

“The most regretful people on earth are those who felt the call to creative work, who felt their own creative power restive and uprising, and gave to it neither power nor time.” ~Mary Oliver

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.