Thread: Desperately Seeking....Downtown Chicago Teacher?

Hi All! Even though I live about 90 minutes from Chicago, I am in downtown Chicago (think West Loop) twice a week for school. I have a teacher in Rockford, however the class times are no longer convient for me. So I am thinking that I might take a classes while I am in Chicago. I would love to hear any recommendations bhuzzers may have. I would like to stay in the vicinity of the school, if possible. I am not all that familiar with the EL, and have to take the Metra back to Elgin anyway.

THANKS!..l;,

Someone asked this same question a few weeks ago, and there were some good suggestions in there:

http://www.bhuz.com/forum/belly-danc...a-classes.html

None of the places listed in that thread are in the downtown Chicago area. Taj is the closest at Galleria. The rest are pretty far up north or in the Chicago suburbs. It would be quite a jaunt outside of Taj's classes to get to any of the others. I work in downtown Chicago and would love to drop in to a class some time here and there but there is nothing in the Loop.

Originally Posted by laura 2

Someone asked this same question a few weeks ago, and there were some good suggestions in there:

http://www.bhuz.com/forum/belly-danc...a-classes.html

Thank you! I thought there was a thread, but couldn't find it!

PM'ing you!

I happen to have this dance school under my bookmarks-- I believe it's close to downtown, but I may be wrong.

Jasmin Jahal School of Dance

I agree w/everyone posted on here and the other thread, but also wanted to add that bhuzzer, RAKGIRL, a.k.a. Summer, also teaches in Chicago (I think downtown?).

Originally Posted by lallakahina

I happen to have this dance school under my bookmarks-- I believe it's close to downtown, but I may be wrong.

Jasmin Jahal School of Dance

I think Sonya's studio, Arabesque, is closer to downtown than Jasmine's studio. But neither is in the Loop, per se. You're still looking at a bus or el ride from downtown to the near north area.

Originally Posted by Lesgemini_Zafirah

I agree w/everyone posted on here and the other thread, but also wanted to add that bhuzzer, RAKGIRL, a.k.a. Summer, also teaches in Chicago (I think downtown?).

Maybe she'll check in, but I think Summer teaches further south of the downtown area.

Originally Posted by donnadiva

Maybe she'll check in, but I think Summer teaches further south of the downtown area.

Heheheheh..l;,Thanks, Donna-D, I have no sense of direction in the City of Chicago. I'm sooo such a suburbanite.

Originally Posted by donnadiva

I think Sonya's studio, Arabesque, is closer to downtown than Jasmine's studio. But neither is in the Loop, per se. You're still looking at a bus or el ride from downtown to the near north area.

Sonya's studio is in my area and is closer to downtown than Jasmin Jahals (I've been to both), HOWEVER, it's still not near the loop at all in my opinion. If you were to drive or take the el it would still be a 45 minutes travel time from the loop on a good day....Some one did mention a teacher that was downtown but I haven't heard much about her...her website seems to have an eclectic collection of classes offered...

Originally Posted by taobellydancer

Sonya's studio is in my area and is closer to downtown than Jasmin Jahals (I've been to both), HOWEVER, it's still not near the loop at all in my opinion. If you were to drive or take the el it would still be a 45 minutes travel time from the loop on a good day....Some one did mention a teacher that was downtown but I haven't heard much about her...her website seems to have an eclectic collection of classes offered...

When my niece worked downtown, I believe she took lessons at a place called Discovery, or Discovery Zone, or something like that. They offered a variety of different types of adult classes -- fencing, different musical instruments, all kinds of dance, including belly dance. And that was right downtown someplace. I know there is a website if you can find it. Maybe they're part of the Chicago Park District?

Summer teaches in Hyde Park (Obama's neighborhood) which is on the south side and not in the Loop. With the exception of Galleria, there will be an extensive bus ride out of the Loop. And Galleria only goes up to intermediate anyway.

Originally Posted by donnadiva

When my niece worked downtown, I believe she took lessons at a place called Discovery, or Discovery Zone, or something like that. They offered a variety of different types of adult classes -- fencing, different musical instruments, all kinds of dance, including belly dance. And that was right downtown someplace. I know there is a website if you can find it. Maybe they're part of the Chicago Park District?

Actually, Discovery Zone does sound familiar...

Originally Posted by taobellydancer

Actually, Discovery Zone does sound familiar...

There was a lady, who taught belly dance at Discovery Zone,
who came to a March Sphinx Hafla once!
Adia!
She was an amazing performer!

I think Chellcy might teach closer to the Loop than Sonya or Jasmine Jahal.

www.chellcyraks.com - Welcome!

Dahlena's daughter, Angelina, teaches at the Belle Plain studio where Dahlena has her weeklong workshops (Lincoln and Irving Park Rd). I guess it isn't exactly down town either but I thought I'd throw it out there: Angelina's Belly Dance Classes

Ooooo Chellcey has a new location!! that's really cool! I think that is a little southwest of Angelina's location....
Angelina's classes are about 20-30 min. from the loop if you take the brown line...I hope this is helping! ..g.:

Nice to see another Rockford dancers, more the merrier.... I pm'ed you!

Originally Posted by Egyptdancer

There was a lady, who taught belly dance at Discovery Zone,
who came to a March Sphinx Hafla once!
Adia!
She was an amazing performer!

Yes I teach in Hyde Park, Beverly (southwest), and the West Loop (Flirty Girl). But I'm not really looking to add any classes unless it pays really well.

Adia is great she's also one of my teacher Khalidah's former students.

Originally Posted by rakgirl

Yes I teach in Hyde Park, Beverly (southwest), and the West Loop (Flirty Girl). But I'm not really looking to add any classes unless it pays really well.

Adia is great she's also one of my teacher Khalidah's former students.

Is that the place on Randolph? Also, where is Discovery Zone?

It's Discovery Center (not Zone) at 2940 N. Lincoln, but not downtown either.

An alternative... if you want to take classes on the Elgin end of your trip, I teach just blocks from the Downtown Elgin station. ;-)

Contact Chellcy! She is my friend and a long time ago, a student. She has alot of good things going on for beginners and others plus an active performing troupe.

Wow! Thanks everyone for the great responses!