The Bellydance Studio

Bellydance is an amazing art form with hundreds of thousands of talented practitioners across the world - so let's show them off! This blog is a space to showcase the diversity among bellydancers and help fight negative stereotypes. Let's celebrate skill, authenticity, and respect while helping reduce appropriation and sexualization within the bellydance community. Submissions welcome. *Disclaimer: this is a personal blog, and we do not claim to speak for bellydance as a whole or for any particular group. The content here reflects our opinions.*

[bellydancevids]

Aiza Habban 

[heavenmousalem]

🌈🌞💖🎶 #sfpride #bellydance #teamshabnam

[thebellydancestudio]

In honor of the supreme court decision, a video of Heaven Mousalem, a LGBTQ bellydancer. 

If you’re also a LGBT bellydancer and want to be on this blog, post a photo of yourself and tag it #thebellydancestudio, and I’ll reblog it. 

[thebellydancestudio]

Live Online Bellydance Classes Through Powhow

 I think this website is an incredibly cool idea (it lets you take an online class where the instructor can see you and give feedback!), but I’ve noticed their organization system could use some help. This is my attempt at a comprehensive listing of bellydance classes available on this website and I plan on adding to it if needed. If you notice anything is incorrect, missing, or out of date, please let me know and I’ll edit the post. Note that some of the instructors have pre-recorded videos available for purchase through the site, I did not include those in these listings. Please let me know if this is helpful!

* = no class times listed, request a time if you’re interested

Lwr = live with recording (the instructor sees you and you see the instructor, you get a recording of the class after)

L = live, no recording

Swr = stream with recording (you see the instructor but they can’t see youo)

S = stream, no recording

Technique and Combinations

Anais Fatale: beginner bellydance (swr)

Donnajean Meyer: beginner bellydance (l)

Henna: fundamentals class* (l), intro to bellydance workshop* (l)

Karma Karmelita: beginner bellydance (lwr)

Lady Morrighan: beginner bellydance (lwr)

Mariah Parasson: beginner/intermediate and intermediate/advanced lessons (lwr) 

Nevena: multi-level raqs sharqi class (lwr)

Royah: beginner/basics review class (lwr)

Sadie Marquardt: multi-leveled class (lwr)

Sahira: beginner, intermediate, and advanced (lwr), multi-level tribal techniqe/combos/and zills* (lwr)

Queenie Dance: beginner bellydance (l) - might be partially in Dutch

Choreography

Lady Morrighan: tribal happenings choreography class (lwr)

Mariah Parasson: modern Lebanese choreography* (lwr)

Sahlah Tepess: a couple drum solos (lwr)

Drills

Henna: practice makes flawless class* (l)

Karma Karmelita: badass bellydance drills and abs (l)

Lina Schiano: shimmy drill workouts (l)

Sahira: multi-level drill class* (lwr)

Sahlah Tepess: beginner, intermediate*, and advanced* technique + drill classes (lwr)

Queenie Dance: bellydance practice flow (lwr) - might be partially in Dutch

Fitness Classes

Anais Fatale: Shimmy Chic Fitness (swr)

Karma Karmelita: badass bellydance drills and abs (l)

Lady Morrighan: strength and flexibility for dancers (lwr)

Lina Schiano: SharQui® - the bellydance workout with and w/o props, shimmy drill workouts (l)

Mariah Parasson: belly dancing cardio workout (swr)

Royah: bellydance flexibility, range of motion, strength building* (lwr)

Sahlah Tepess: 

Private Lessons

Amira of Las Vegas

Belen - in Spanish

Carolena Nericcio-Bohlman

Henna

Karma Karmelita

Lady Morrighan

Mariah Parasson

Mirabai - fan veils private lessons

Royah

Sadie Marquardt

Sahira

Sahlah Tepess

Queenie Dance:  might be partially in Dutch

Props

Belen: double veil (l) - in Spanish

Mirabai - fan veils (lwr)

Roula Said: zills (lwr)

“Soft Skills”

Mariah Parasson: business of bellydance (lwr)

Sahlah Tepess: choreography writing* (lwr), belly dance master course (package)

[linaschianodance-blog]

Hey I’m on this list! If you’re interested in checking out a class, use promo code BELLYDANCE50 for 50% off any class, package, or video.

[thebellydancestudio]

Coupons are nice! If anyone else following this blog offers bellydance related products or services and wants to share a discount, let me know!

[warriorsmurf]

TUMBLR I AM GOING TO FLAIL AND STRESS AT YOU, OKAY?

So. Hafla this weekend. That’s a bellydance-based gathering. My troupe is hosting, it’s the first one we’ve ever hosted, so it HAS to be a success.

Except like…weather. We’ve got some threatening weather. This is a purely outdoor event. Reeeeally hoping we luck out. A lot of the things bought for the event will still work should we hold an event a month from now, but it’s still a financial hit until we can do that. 

So I’ve chopped literally 20lbs of vegetables, plus however much chicken. Thursday was largely spent shopping for things with people, and chopping. so much chopping. My hands are sore. Really hoping I didn’t do all this for nothing.

[thebellydancestudio]

Best of luck to you and hopefully everything will turn out well!

[fuckiminmytwenties]

So I saw this advice

[papasfritas]

Find three hobbies you love: one to make you money, one to keep you in shape, and one to be creative.

I kind of like it.

[thebellydancestudio]

For some people, bellydance can be all three!

[katerinaraqs]

Elektra ( Tasha Forrest ) by  The Dancers Eye - Fine Art Bellydance Photography

[thebellydancestudio]

Live Online Bellydance Classes Through Powhow

 I think this website is an incredibly cool idea (it lets you take an online class where the instructor can see you and give feedback!), but I’ve noticed their organization system could use some help. This is my attempt at a comprehensive listing of bellydance classes available on this website and I plan on adding to it if needed. If you notice anything is incorrect, missing, or out of date, please let me know and I’ll edit the post. Note that some of the instructors have pre-recorded videos available for purchase through the site, I did not include those in these listings. Please let me know if this is helpful!

* = no class times listed, request a time if you’re interested

Lwr = live with recording (the instructor sees you and you see the instructor, you get a recording of the class after)

L = live, no recording

Swr = stream with recording (you see the instructor but they can’t see youo)

S = stream, no recording

Technique and Combinations

Anais Fatale: beginner bellydance (swr)

Donnajean Meyer: beginner bellydance (l)

Henna: fundamentals class* (l), intro to bellydance workshop* (l)

Karma Karmelita: beginner bellydance (lwr)

Lady Morrighan: beginner bellydance (lwr)

Mariah Parasson: beginner/intermediate and intermediate/advanced lessons (lwr) 

Nevena: multi-level raqs sharqi class (lwr)

Royah: beginner/basics review class (lwr)

Sadie Marquardt: multi-leveled class (lwr)

Sahira: beginner, intermediate, and advanced (lwr), multi-level tribal techniqe/combos/and zills* (lwr)

Queenie Dance: beginner bellydance (l) - might be partially in Dutch

Choreography

Lady Morrighan: tribal happenings choreography class (lwr)

Mariah Parasson: modern Lebanese choreography* (lwr)

Sahlah Tepess: a couple drum solos (lwr)

Drills

Henna: practice makes flawless class* (l)

Karma Karmelita: badass bellydance drills and abs (l)

Lina Schiano: shimmy drill workouts (l)

Sahira: multi-level drill class* (lwr)

Sahlah Tepess: beginner, intermediate*, and advanced* technique + drill classes (lwr)

Queenie Dance: bellydance practice flow (lwr) - might be partially in Dutch

Fitness Classes

Anais Fatale: Shimmy Chic Fitness (swr)

Karma Karmelita: badass bellydance drills and abs (l)

Lady Morrighan: strength and flexibility for dancers (lwr)

Lina Schiano: SharQui® - the bellydance workout with and w/o props, shimmy drill workouts (l)

Mariah Parasson: belly dancing cardio workout (swr)

Royah: bellydance flexibility, range of motion, strength building* (lwr)

Sahlah Tepess: 

Private Lessons

Amira of Las Vegas

Belen - in Spanish

Carolena Nericcio-Bohlman

Henna

Karma Karmelita

Lady Morrighan

Mariah Parasson

Mirabai - fan veils private lessons

Royah

Sadie Marquardt

Sahira

Sahlah Tepess

Queenie Dance:  might be partially in Dutch

Props

Belen: double veil (l) - in Spanish

Mirabai - fan veils (lwr)

Roula Said: zills (lwr)

"Soft Skills”

Mariah Parasson: business of bellydance (lwr)

Sahlah Tepess: choreography writing* (lwr), belly dance master course (package)

[rosabelleblogs]

Drum solo belly dance performed by me 

Check out more videos here https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCmrID0m34qonfZ5OMnTgcow

[pruningthisbranch-deactivated20]

I fux with this

[imdemetrialynn]

nude

[thelingerieaddict-deactivated20]

These are by Nubian Skin, by the way. They’re a black-owned brand in a notoriously difficult sector to break into (lingerie), and they will only succeed if people know they exist and buy from them. Here’s the link: https://www.nubianskin.com/

Bluestockings (a feminist, LGBTQIA lingerie boutique) also stocks them: http://www.bluestockingsboutique.com/collections/nubian-skin

Support the businesses who support you.

[thebellydancestudio]

In my opinion when it comes to dancewear undergarments are a must. Even when wearing a costume with tight spandex shorts built in, a good pair of underwear adds extra safety and is hygienic. I like skin toned undergarments under all costumes and practicewear so if a bit of the underwear ride up and show under the costume, it's less distracting. This awesome brand sells undergarments in nude colors beyond the pasty beige that most department store selections are limited to.

[lostinworlds]

just a tip for women who are newer (less familiar) to belly dancing

I wanted to say a couple of things for any women who are getting involved in belly dancing, just to enlighten with insight, that’s all!

Belly dancing descended from ancient Egypt, and in the Middle East, early as 1000 BC. It was for women who were pregnant, used to help women prepare for labor.  Oriental paintings and the Media  gave the …

[ohdeerqueer]

I just really want to add this little bit. Just because it is not a dance of seduction, does not mean you are not allowed to use it to seduce someone! If you want to use it to look and feel sexy, do it. That doesn’t make you any less of a “good” or “proper” dancer! 

[this-is-not-belly-dance]

The ‘ancient Egypt’ ‘fertitility ritual history of the dance is not confirmed at all, here’s a link more info on that.

Belly dance: fact or fiction?

as for the second comment by mightymynx, gross gross gross gross gross. read the following and please don’t make such ignorant comments about a traditional dance again. 

Is Belly Dance Provocative?

“Isn’t That Like Stripping?” (Why They Ask)

How can I dispel the Hoochi-Coochi image of belly dance?

Why stereotypes about belly dance are slow to die

Regardless of your intent, associating this seduction with belly dance is not only harmful to hobbyist and professional belly dancers but to Middle Eastern, North African and (because of the misconception that belly dance comes from India) South Asian women. It reinforces harmful, negative stereotypes which leads to negative consequences to these people.

So congrats for reinforcing harmful stereotypes that lead to sexualized racism against Middle Eastern, North African, and South Asian women.

[idanceitarotiart-deactivated201]

Ahava Rakkasah 2011 (by ahavadance)

[bellydancersofcolor]

Ebony Qualls

[thebellydancestudio]

Ebony Qualls is a goddess

[thebellydancestudio]

Belly Dance China

Belly Dance For Unity Event from Belly Dance China. I got a message from someone asking to promote this, and it seems like a cool event. If you’re anywhere near Shanghai at the end of August think about checking it out.

[katerinaraqs]

Sumatra Belly Dance All Rights Reserved / The Dancers Eye - Fine Art Bellydance Photography — with Carrie Meyer and Sumatra Belly Dance.

Neat costumes. Love how they coordinate.

[thebellydancestudio]

Really nice costumes

[cumaeansibyl]

Everything Known About Charleston Church Shooting Suspect Dylann Roof

Seen wearing apartheid flags.

They arrested him, so that’s good, but I wanna draw attention to what a former classmate said:

“I never heard him say anything, but just he had that kind of Southern pride, I guess some would say. Strong conservative beliefs,” he said. “He made a lot of racist jokes, but you don’t really take them seriously like that. You don’t really think of it like that.”

But now, “the things he said were kind of not joking,” Mullins added.

I tell you what, if you “don’t really think of it like that,” you need to START thinking of it like that, because it IS like that. It is ALWAYS like that. White people who tell racist jokes are not joking about their hatred of PoC. They are fully serious and we need to recognize that their overt racism is a sign that they’re potentially dangerous.

Roof’s uncle provided us with the standard “quiet and soft-spoken” take – and no doubt he was, around older white men – but I hope that Mullins’s comments get the attention they deserve. This is how we need to be talking about it: Roof was a racist fuck, and he decided to commit mass murder because he hated black people, not because he was “troubled” or whatever. 

[bana05]

And this is also why WHITE PEOPLE need to speak out and call it out when it happens. Put your white privilege on the fucking line and save a fucking life.

[thebellydancestudio]

Not bellydance, but important

[thebellydancestudio]

Has anyone taken an online bellydance class through Powhow.com?

This website has a cool concept - live online classes where you can see the instructor and the instructor can see you, all via webcam. I haven't used it personally but there appear to be a huge variety of bellydance classes available. If you've taken or taught a class through this website, I'd love to hear what you thought of it! If this website works as well as it claims, this could be a fantastic way to get quality bellydance instruction to dancers who can't always get to in-person classes regularly, or who live in areas where a toxic teacher is the only option. I'm also thinking about working on a masterlist of the powhow classes being offered for various bellydance levels/styles/props/etc, would anyone find this helpful?