Thread: Folkloric dance teacher in DC area?

I live in Northern Virginia, and am interested in learning some folkloric dance, particularly Tunisian. Are there any instructors in the general area? Thank you!

Ahh, you're in luck! DC (in my opinion) is one of the richest areas for dance. I'm going to be bias and suggest my instructor, Faten Salama. Her website is:

FATEN SALAMA - Master Instructor of Egyptian Raqs Sharqi

She actually has a folkloric class starting in January. Email her for specific details though. It's on Friday evenings.

There is also Latifa (known as "bintbeled: on Bhuz) and many others. The more experienced dancers on here will be of more help. Hope to see you around. Oh, and Faten has alot of folkloric DVDs that are very nice. Now, I don't about Tunisian around here, but I'm sure someone does and you could do private lessons.

Take Care,

BDF

I am partial to Latifa, but I have a hard time getting to her because I live in the middle of nowhere-but also in Northern Virginia.
Latifa is AWESOME!

I just taught a North African sampler workshop -- Ouled Nail, Schikatt, and Tunisian. Love the North African dances...

Wonderful! Thank you for the tips. I've just emailed both the teachers that have been recommended, and hope to hear back soon. This is exciting!

Latifa is wonderful -- can't go wrong with her! I hope she'll give us more info on her schedule, because I'd love to take more workshops with her.

Love Faten, too. She teaches primarily Egyptian folkloric, so no Tunisian as far as I know, but I would recommend her very highly as well. In addition to the Friday class BDF mentioned, Faten is offering an introduction to Saidi cane and an intro to other folkloric dances of Egypt on Tuesday nights starting in January. Both the Tuesday and Friday classes are held at Saffron Dance in Arlington: Saffron Dance | Belly Dance Classes in Arlington
If you come on Tuesdays, I'll see you there!

Suzana Nour

Here is Latifa's website with class info, just in case she's too modest or busy to post it herself:
Latifa's School of Middle Eastern Dance. If you want to learn the art of Middle Eastern dance, this is the place to start. Located conveniently in Millersville Maryland (close to Annapolis) we offer instruction in all aspects of Middle Eastern dance,

Originally Posted by Zana

If you come on Tuesdays, I'll see you there!
Suzana Nour

Unfortunately, Tuesday is the night of my regular class. But I am hoping to make it to some of the others!

Originally Posted by bintbeled

I just taught a North African sampler workshop -- Ouled Nail, Schikatt, and Tunisian. Love the North African dances...

Will you be doing another one anytime soon? I would love to attend!

Originally Posted by Sasheen

Will you be doing another one anytime soon? I would love to attend!

I really wanted to attend that one, too.
Latifa described those dances as "pelvis freeing dances". ..g.:

Latifa is also dangerously close to the bellydancestore...

Originally Posted by Zana

Latifa is wonderful -- can't go wrong with her! I hope she'll give us more info on her schedule, because I'd love to take more workshops with her.

Love Faten, too. She teaches primarily Egyptian folkloric, so no Tunisian as far as I know, but I would recommend her very highly as well. In addition to the Friday class BDF mentioned, Faten is offering an introduction to Saidi cane and an intro to other folkloric dances of Egypt on Tuesday nights starting in January. Both the Tuesday and Friday classes are held at Saffron Dance in Arlington: Saffron Dance | Belly Dance Classes in Arlington
If you come on Tuesdays, I'll see you there!

Suzana Nour

She's going to be a busy lady next year! I didn't know about Tuesdays.

Thanks for all the nice things y'all have been saying about me! I've been busy getting my new computer broken in and haven't been haunting Bhuz the way I normally do. ;-)

I'm suspending my regular monthly workshops in 2009 because I need a little more flexibility in my schedule. But I would be delighted to teach any of my workshop topics as private or semi-private classes in my home studio -- which is 5 minutes from the Belly Dance Store, as Sandra mentioned.

Latifa

Latifa, this is really good to know. ..g.:

There's been a change as of this morning: Faten's only folkloric classes at Saffron will be on Tuesdays. Oriental choreography and live music (yay!) will be Fridays at Saffron, at least for the time being. The other folkloric class will be in Manassas.

Originally Posted by bintbeled

I'm suspending my regular monthly workshops in 2009 because I need a little more flexibility in my schedule. But I would be delighted to teach any of my workshop topics as private or semi-private classes in my home studio -- which is 5 minutes from the Belly Dance Store, as Sandra mentioned.
Latifa

As Zana said, all good to know. :)

Originally Posted by Zana

There's been a change as of this morning: Faten's only folkloric classes at Saffron will be on Tuesdays. Oriental choreography and live music (yay!) will be Fridays at Saffron, at least for the time being. The other folkloric class will be in Manassas.

I'm sure this is a great class. Who is playing?

Originally Posted by Zana

Latifa, this is really good to know. ..g.:

There's been a change as of this morning: Faten's only folkloric classes at Saffron will be on Tuesdays. Oriental choreography and live music (yay!) will be Fridays at Saffron, at least for the time being. The other folkloric class will be in Manassas.

Folkloric class in Manassas? That's the one I go to and it's just regular BD technique, oriental mostly. Or is there another one? Zana, you keep me up to date!

BDF

I'm sorry Zana! She told us about this afternoon. This is really exciting because I wanted to do the one in Arlington, but am just too lazy to go out there. I hope to see you there.

Shasheen, where do you live in the No Va area? Manassas is about 20-30 minutes from D.C., and it sounds like Faten's class is going to be filled with folkloric!

BDF

Originally Posted by Bellydancefanatic

Shasheen, where do you live in the No Va area? Manassas is about 20-30 minutes from D.C., and it sounds like Faten's class is going to be filled with folkloric!BDF

I live in McLean; Manassas isn't too terribly far, but isn't that the class that will be on Tuesdays? (That's when my regular class is, can't miss that!)

Originally Posted by Sasheen

I live in McLean; Manassas isn't too terribly far, but isn't that the class that will be on Tuesdays? (That's when my regular class is, can't miss that!)

Nope, the one in Manassas is on Sundays at 12-1 p.m (folkloric). Then she has her regular technique and choreo class from 1 p.m. to 2 p.m. Let me know if you need directions or help. Love to see a new face!

BDF

I know you were particularly interested in Tunisian... but how about Saudi? I'm teaching a Saudi workshop for Sahara Dance on Jan 24th.

Really? Do you have a link, Latifa? I may be interested too! And I haven't forgot about the Melaya lesson either. I just need to find the time and money!

BDF

Nevermind, I found the info. I missed your workshop at Raqs D.C. this year, so I'm going to try to be at this one. Sounds awesome!

Originally Posted by Bellydancefanatic

I'm going to be bias and suggest my instructor, Faten Salama. Her website is:

FATEN SALAMA - Master Instructor of Egyptian Raqs Sharqi

She actually has a folkloric class starting in January. Email her for specific details though. It's on Friday evenings.

Take Care,

BDF

I went to her website, but could not find an email listed. Does anyone know how to contact her?

Originally Posted by Bellydancefanatic

Really? Do you have a link, Latifa? I may be interested too! And I haven't forgot about the Melaya lesson either. I just need to find the time and money!

BDF

Nevermind, I found the info. I missed your workshop at Raqs D.C. this year, so I'm going to try to be at this one. Sounds awesome!

It would be great to have you at the workshop! ..g.:

Originally Posted by Sasheen

I went to her website, but could not find an email listed. Does anyone know how to contact her?

I'll PM you.

BDF

Faten and Latifa! Cant get any better!!!

Originally Posted by Sasheen

I live in Northern Virginia, and am interested in learning some folkloric dance, particularly Tunisian. Are there any instructors in the general area? Thank you!

Or you could come with us to Tunisia for our Khamsa Holidays 2009 in June! ,r:; My husband and I specialize in Tunisian dances...g.:

I would recommend Khadejah's Tunisian Khamsa Holiday to everyone. It's a "Cannot miss!" event!

Sasheen! If only you could come up to Lodi, NJ (close to NYC). We can give you a Tunisian drum & dance intensive for the weekend. You can even stay at our place!

Thank you so much for your interest in Tunisian dance!! Similar to Dujah & Mostafa, my husband (who is Tunisian) & I are promoting Tunisian dance in the US. We just relocated to be closer to New York.

you need to take her saudi workshop, her khaleegi is lovely!

Originally Posted by dujah

Or you could come with us to Tunisia for our Khamsa Holidays 2009 in June! ,r:; My husband and I specialize in Tunisian dances...g.:

Don't I wish!! I love to travel. Finances do not permit it though; just got married, and that ate into our savings. ..g.:

Originally Posted by nbahri_rhythms

I would recommend Khadejah's Tunisian Khamsa Holiday to everyone. It's a "Cannot miss!" event!

Sasheen! If only you could come up to Lodi, NJ (close to NYC). We can give you a Tunisian drum & dance intensive for the weekend. You can even stay at our place!

Thank you so much for your interest in Tunisian dance!! Similar to Dujah & Mostafa, my husband (who is Tunisian) & I are promoting Tunisian dance in the US. We just relocated to be closer to New York.

Thank you so much for your invitation! I'll see what I can do; I may just have to work that out! It would have to be later in the year though, after I finish my Master's Degree. (Why did I want to get more education?? Why?! -- can you tell I'm almost done and am just desperate to get the $#@! thing finished?)