See details and register here

New in Belly Dance Technique classes:

• Chiaki’s teaching a new Advanced Technique class on Saturday mornings
• Rachel is back teaching Advanced Technique class on Tuesday evenings
• Florencia is teaching a Low Intermediate Props Technique class focusing on cane/assaya on Monday evenings
• Beginner II is back on Thursday evenings with Gretchen
• New Beginner I class with Nicolette on Wednesday evenings
• New Samba class with Sonia on Wednesday evenings
• Omoladun’s online only Intermediate Technique class will focus on props brush up (especially veil) this semester!

New in Performance classes:

• Florencia is bringing back the Raqqesat Tahia student company, which focuses on props – all students at the low intermediate / intermediate level should make sure they have sufficient prop training before moving on to intermediate and above student companies, and this is a great way to practice the prop skills learned in technique classes!
• Rachel will direct our famed advanced company Raqs Caravan East for the Winter Caravan show
• Florencia’s directing a new Shaabi Performance class on Monday evenings
• Our Lebanese Style performance group, Raqqesat Beirut, will be doing double veil, directed by Alma!

New category of classes: Conditioning!

Conditioning is extremely important to help build the strength and stamina required to make all our belly dance moves seem so effortless.  Add one or more of these classes to your dance practice!

• Belly Dance Cardio
• Floorwork & Conditioning
• Strengthen, Stretch & Flow

Don’t forget to take advantage of Early Bird prices – check out the full schedule and register today!  

Register for the Egyptian Music Workshop with Gretchen

Rachel: “What’s your favorite thing about teaching this workshop and what’s one tidbit dancers will learn at the workshop?”

Gretchen: “They can come and learn more about the musical technique of heterophony that is key to traditional Egyptian music, and my favorite thing about teaching this workshop is helping students to understand the music so that they can better embody it, but also so that they get more enjoyment out of listening to Arab music, whether or not they’re dancing.”

Gretchen directs the Raqqesat Samia Performance Company, and teaches Low Intermediate and Beginner II on Thursday evenings.

Register for the Egyptian Music Workshop with Gretchen February 11th

Lecture

The beauty of belly dance is the expression of sound through movement, so a deeper understanding of music can take your dance to the next level. This class will use lecture and listening exercises to guide students through the fundamentals of Egyptian music – the instrumentation, rhythms, structures, and genres that all belly dancers should know. All levels are welcome, no previous knowledge necessary!

Experience it Live with a Bonus Concert!

On the Friday following the lecture students can opt to put their new knowledge to use by watching a free concert of the National Arab Orchestra via live stream from the Kennedy Center.

Friday, February 17 at 8pm

https://www.kennedy-center.org/whats-on/millennium-stage/2023/02-february/taking-back-our-narrative-national-arab-orchestra/

Register for the Egyptian Music Workshop with Gretchen February 11th