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 performance companies specializing in preparing students for the stage. There are two types of companies: Egyptian-inspired belly dance companies and specialty companies. The Egyptian-inspired Raqqesat 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.
Founded in 2002, Raqs Caravan East is Sahara Dance’s long-standing and most advanced student company. Raqs Caravan East is the flagship and highest level student performance company for the studio, embodying the signature style of Sahara Dance Egyptian-inspired raqs sharqi. Company members master two dances each session to perform at the end of semester Sahara Dance productions, and often represent the studio in community events.
All Raqs Caravan and Raqqesat company members are expected to exemplify high standards of team camaraderie, peer leadership, technical mastery, dance practice ethics, choreography execution and emotional expression.
For dancers interested in joining a performance company, the best ways to receive placement recommendations are to consult with current dance technique teacher(s) and receive personalized feedback through Technique Assessment(s).