Dear Sahara Dance Community,

It’s always fun to look back at all we’ve accomplished as one chapter ends and another begins. This year we shared so many beautiful moments and milestones together. We’re excited to share our 2024 year in review with you. We hope you enjoy going down memory lane.

Thank you for being a part of this year in Sahara Dance’s history.

With love and shimmies,
Rachel

Sahara Dance Shows

We’d like to thank the more than 100 dancers, our in-house drummers, as well as the backstage crew who made our three annual shows such a hit! We take pride in being able to bring this art form to local stages in the Washington, DC area, and we hope you are very proud of all the hard work you put in to make each show a success.

Under a Desert Moon

In late April, we returned to the Greenberg Theatre at American University for our 19th Under a Desert Moon. Both shows featured a variety of companies and performance classes, plus special performances by Megan, Florencia, Julie and Alma, Leilah Moon, and Mohamed Ali, Raqs Sahara (Jennifer, Chiaki, Ronda, Megan, Nicolette, and Julie) and the Al Fananaat Project cast (Gretchen, An, Alma, and Liz). Reminisce with these official photos, check out our backstage Reel, or stream the full show. We hope you’re getting excited about joining us for the 20th anniversary in April 2025!

Summer Caravan

Summer 2024 was the summer to dance! In late August, we held our Sahara Dance Summer Caravan at the F. Scott Fitzgerald Theatre in Rockville, MD, with performances by faculty and student companies. The first act ended with a reprisal of “Arabian Nights,” featuring Jillina (who choreographed the piece for our epic 2023 World Culture Festival performance on the National Mall), Raqs Sahara (Omoladun, Julie, Jennifer, Ronda, and Nicolette), Raqs East, and a select group of students. After a quick intermission, the audience got to experience the professional performance of “The Jungle Book” by Jillina and Bellydance Evolution. Raqs Caravan East showcased Sahara Dance in a special proptastic “City of Gold” piece, choreographed by Julie. Check out these official photos, check out our behind the scenes Reel, or stream the full show.

Fall Caravan

We ended the year on a high note with two sold out Sahara Dance Fall Caravan shows at the Imagination Stage in Bethesda, MD. In addition to our amazing student companies, we also welcomed back student solos with Developing Choreography students showcasing their creations in both shows. The Al Fananaat Project cast, including Maria, Randa, Crystal, Nicolette, Liz, and Florencia, showcased Jillina’s Lyrical Pop Choreography as well. Check out these official photos as well as our behind the scenes Reel.

18th Annual Heart of Belly Dance Retreat

In May, we headed to Blue Spirit in Costa Rica for our annual Heart of Belly Dance Retreat, this time with the world-renowned dancer and choreographer, Jillina. We had so much fun frolicking on the beach, soaking up all the dance and life wisdom from Jillina, and relaxing to the soundtrack of rain forest showers, ocean waves, and howler monkeys. Check out this video for a day in the life of a retreat attendee.

We are thrilled to set off to Nosara once again in 2025. Next year, our guest instructor will be the beautiful Esmeralda Colabone. She will explore the theme of experience and artistry in belly dance. There are a few spots remaining!

New Teachers

This year, we welcomed Sophianna and Katy to the Sahara Dance faculty. Sophianna’s Greek background and extensive training in Greek Tsiftitelli and folk dances brings a new flavor to the studio. Katy’s warm smile and welcoming attitude aims to make beginners feel right at home in the Sahara Dance community. We also celebrated the return of Megan, whose expansion into flamenco brings new fusion offerings to the studio.

New Curriculum

In the summer, we announced our newly refreshed curriculum. This was a massive undertaking by Sahara Dance faculty and major milestone for the studio as we move into our third decade of belly dance education.

The new curriculum was implemented in the fall, and consists of 9 levels, 3 each for beginner, intermediate, and advanced dancers. The simplified system of names should help to more clearly indicate the path students should take at Sahara Dance.

We offered a few workshops at each level to help students understand the main differences and assess their skill levels. The curriculum will continue to serve us into 2025. Read the recent blog posts to learn more about determining your level.

World-Touring Guest Artists

This year was full of opportunities to hone one’s skills by studying with one of our many guest master instructors. We were so lucky to be able to host so many incredibly talented and fun dancers, and we’re thankful to all of you who helped warmly welcome them to our studio. Your enthusiasm and support is much appreciated, and we look forward to welcoming new and familiar faces in 2025.

Shahrzad

We started and ended the year with the one and only, Shahrzad. In January, Shahrzad held an intensive workshop as well as an advanced drum solo workshop. Dancers had the opportunity to film themselves dancing to the drum solo for the second Al Fananaat Project, which was cast for UDM in April. Our last event of the year was also with Shahrzad. Dancers had the opportunity to attend her Isolations and Undulations Intensive, Mejance Intensive, and Modern Shaabi Choreography Workshop. It’s not too late to sign up for Al Fananaat Project to receive personalized feedback!

Sahra Saeeda

In June, we hosted the incredibly knowledgeable Sahra Saeeda for a sold out Journey Through Egypt 1 and 2 as well as a Classic Reda choreography workshop. JTE 1 provided students with a captivating overview of the movement, posture, clothing, history, and cultural diffusion across different regions of Egypt. JTE 2 allowed students to delve deeper into the Dance Zones of Egypt, including a variety of dance styles, from Bambouteyya to Hagallah. Participants who completed both courses proudly received certification from Sahra. Those who attended the Classic Reda workshop learned the historic “Gharib al Dar” Muwashahat choreography, which Sahra learned directly from Farida Fahmy as Mohamed Reda choreographed it for her and the original Reda Troupe. The Al Fananat Project cast for this workshop will perform the dance at the 20th Anniversary UDM in April 2025!

Jillina and the Bellydance Evolution Cast

In August, we welcomed Jillina and the Bellydance Evolution Cast to the studio for a full day of workshops post-show. We had the privilege and opportunity to learn a Lyrical Pop choreography from Jillina, Mystical Drums from Luna, Bollywood from Shannon, Ori Tahiti from Kapua, and She’s Got Legs intensive from Sabah. We felt re-energized with new challenges after this amazing day of workshops!

Florence Leclerc

In October, we welcomed a new master teacher to the studio: Florence Leclerc. She offered a 3-day Grace and Beauty workshop intensive, touching on the pivotal role of the head, torso, and arms in expression emotion. She taught her distinct, elegant style through a workshop choreography and also drilled a variety of turns, arabesques, and traveling step combos over the course of the weekend. We had so much fun with Florence that we’re welcoming her back in June 2025 for a veil intensive workshop.

Mohamed Ali

Last, but certainly not least, Mohamed Ali, our locally-based Egyptian Folkloric dance teacher, provided students with a variety of opportunities to hone their understanding of folkloric dances. Throughout the year he taught Saidi, Bambouti, as well as his first-ever zar workshop! We look forward to learning from him again in 2025, starting with Shaabi.

Al Fananaat Project

We were pleased to offer 3 Al Fanaanat Project opportunities in 2024. This project aims to help dancers develop professional level artistry in raqs sharqi and receive professional, individualized feedback from leading dancers around the world. Each guest instructor hand selected which dancers would perform their choreographies on stage.

We are thrilled to see this project succeed and look forward to continuing with it into 2025.

Community Shows

In addition to our three main shows, Sahara Dance students and faculty also prepared for performances at the Travel and Adventure Show, Fiesta Asia, the Friendship Heights Makers Market, Tenleytown Art All Night, as well as the Fez Tones Hafla. The hafla featured Sahara Dance teachers, including Randa, Nicolette, Leilah Moon, Maria, Julie, and Gretchen, as well as live band, including a qanon, oud, riqq, and tabla musicians.

We look forward to showcasing our skills to our local community in the coming year. By performing at local events, we aim to spread the word about what we can offer those interested in learning this dance form. Please click here if you or someone you know is interested in having Sahara Dance perform at an upcoming event!

Final Thanks

We are so grateful for all who made 2024 a year of growth, friendship, artistry and fun. Please join us in thanking our teachers, studio assistants, marketing and social media team, and many volunteers. They pour so much time, energy, and love into our studio and community. Thanks also to the anonymous donors who helped us gift students with scholarships in 2024. We appreciate your generosity.

We look forward to welcoming everyone back in the new year! Let’s make 2025 unforgettable, starting with our 20th anniversary UDM!