Thread: Talk to me about teachers in Chicago

Can you tell me about teachers in chicago and what style they teach? egyptian, amcab, tribal??
Some youtube vids would be nice

Thanks in advance!

Blue Lotus Tribe is a fantastic group and Christina and Audrey are fantastic teachers. I had them at Shimmy this year and asked them back for next year. Their Egypto-Tribal fusion allowed you to take what they taught into either Cabaret or Tribal.
Amirah taught a fantastic veil piece too and she is such a joy to watch dance.
Zoh'ra and Donna Diva are also both wonderful dancers/instructors from the Chicago land area:)

Sonya of Arabesque and Danielle of Aleph (don't know if Danielle is still teaching) were my teachers when I lived in Chicago. Sonya does Egyptian-based cabaret and Danielle does what she calls world fusion. Sonya also runs a studio that hosts tribal dancers. I would recommend these two in a heartbeat.

Erika of Pineapple Dance studio is in Forest Park. I haven't taken from her, but I believe Fotia has and has been pleased. She's very nice from all the events I've met her at and is a good dancer from what I've seen

If you are looking for advanced instruction, I can't say enough wonderful things abut my teacher, Sabah. She's a member of the BDSS, has lived and worked in Cairo, and I travel 2 hours each way from Milwaukee for privates with her when she's off the road.

But in addition to her, Chicago is an embarrassment in riches. In addition to the dancers mentioned above, there's Jawhara, Magda, Mahira, Cat & Kara, Zayna and many more!

Being just outside of Chicago...

I've heard Sonya is fab and am looking forward to a winter workshop with her.

I've had the pleasure of watching Mahira, Magda, and Donna Diva and enjoyed all of them!

I study with Z'ohra right now, and I love her!

And depending on what you are interested in there is also Piper who teaches at Pineapple Studio (tribal/fusion), Mae the Bellydancer at Arabesque (Gothic/tribal fusion) and way up north, Nilaja (our very own Calico Garden). Of course, it would depend on what part of the Chicago area you would be in (*scratching head* uummm, wasn't there a thread several months ago about the ahem, boundaries of Chicago???).

One more to add...Hanan (tribal).

Thanks for the recommendation, AmiraStar! Currently all five members of Blue Lotus Tribe teach classes in the Chicagoland area. Wendy and I are in the 'burbs and Audrey, Laura, and Andrea are in the city.

Andrea teaches at the Jasmin Jahal School of Dance which is also an excellent school for Egyptian Oriental style dancing. I can't recommend Jasmin's school enough!

Thanks Laura & Shady. I teach in the "burbs". I also travel for private lessons.

Originally Posted by sharifeh

Can you tell me about teachers in chicago and what style they teach? egyptian, amcab, tribal??
Some youtube vids would be nice

Thanks in advance!

Sharifeh, I think a big question is: What dance style do you prefer to embrace? Reda Troupe? Oriental? Tribal? Old-style American? Something else? I think different teachers excel in different things, and recommendations can be meaningless if they lead to a teacher who might be fabulous in certain things but doesn't happen to be the style YOU personally are looking for!

Why do you ask? Are you thinking of moving to the Chicago area?

My friend and former (way former) student Chellcy Reitsman teaches there too. Im proud to say she will also be an instructor at Rakkassa East this year! www.chellcyraks.com - Welcome!

I second Shira.

On the south side there's my teacher Khalidah North African Dance Schedule- Khalidah's North African Dance Experience for Egyptian style. I also teach Egyptian style as well. There's also TJ and a bunch of others. What are you looking for and what part of the city?

Thanks for all the recs. They are super helpful. I've heard of Sonya before, she is on here right? Sorry for not being clear. No this is not for me, this is for someone else. I don't want to push a particular style or teacher in this person's face, I just want to make sure that she learns from someone known. I don't want them to take a class with a 6 week wonder...so you guys can pm me names to look out for if there are any.
I just wanted a feel for the chicago belly dance scene, it seems really nice and I would love to live there one day!

I'l figure out what neighborhood SamarDahab.

@Laura- I totally forgot Sabah was in that area. I wonder if she teaches beginner classes as well.

Originally Posted by sharifeh

@Laura- I totally forgot Sabah was in that area. I wonder if she teaches beginner classes as well.

She doesn't do privates with Beginners, but I think she teaches an all levels class at Pineapple Dance Studio Our Mission Statement Erika Ochoa is the owner and primary BD teacher there, and she's fabulous as well!

Sonya I know occasionally reads Bhuz (she's mentioned it to me), but I don't think she posts unless it's the Swap Meet.