Thread: DC/NoVA Post: I lost my teacher - now what?

I am one of many bellydance orphans in the DC area (in Sterling, VA to be exact). Our teacher has left us to pursue another career which has left over 40+ students without a teacher to teach intermediate/advanced cabaret courses.

Sure I could drive into DC (up to 1.5 hours away in traffic) but being a new mom makes that very hard and I also work full time near Sterling, VA so to drive to DC/Alexandria would be a huge undertaking that is just not doable at this time.

I know this is an international blog but I see many familiar names in the blogs and hope you can help.

Does anyone know of a quality teacher in the Loudoun County area? Sterling/Herndon/Reston/Ashburn area?

If not, is someone interested in teaching? If you did, you have a ton of professional dance students just waiting for a quality teacher.

Thank you :-)

I'm all the way in Canada, so am probably way off when it comes to geography... but Yasmin and Lucy are in DC somewhere - and both are FABULOUS!

Thank you. I would love to be able to take from those 2 amazing teachers but they are too far away. I know that Yasmin is in DC and Lucy I think is in Alexandria.

With baby duty and work full time, I need to find a class close to home until the little one is a little bigger.

Thank you though - I appreciate your assistance :-)

what about Bethesda or Friendship heights? Is that doable? Joy of Motion has incredible teachers at all their locations.
Are you looking for choreography or technique/improv based classes? I'm not sure where Faten Salama is teaching these days, but last I know she had classes in Manasses. Sahara dance has a Friendship Heights location.
Diana Dwyer is in the Vienna area I believe.
Maybe the Tiraz Dance Network has other teachers listed? TirazDanceNetwork

There are lots of fab dancers and teachers in DC, but unfortunately that's a real hike from Sterling. :-(

I know this is probably still too far, but Saphira's new studio (Saffron Dance) in Clarendon is wonderful, and at least it's on our side of the river!

Samira - you are wonderful.

My story is: My teacher (for 5 years) was Wendy Youssef. She has joined the Army and closed the studio. There is a big void in the Sterling area now. No Cabaret. No Tribal. I have been taking lessons at the community center in Sterling but that teacher is leaving now so there is really nothing (that I am aware of) in Sterling.

I wish I could travel to DC or Maryland but with a new baby and traffic the way it is in this area - it could take me almost 2 hours to get to DC or Maryland to get to class.

I just cannot do that now which sucks.

I was hoping that someone knew of a teacher that is maybe looking to expand into new areas.

They have a ready made class here in Sterling/Leesburg/AShburn.

Thank you all

Zana - thank you. You are wonderful :-)

What about Katayoun? I know she is a lovely and well-respected performer and teacher. I'm fairly certain that a friend of mine who works in Sterling said Katayoun had been teaching classes in the immediate area.

She is listed on WAMEDA's site: Washington Area Middle Eastern Dance Association: Teachers and troupes

On Cleopatra's Closet: Local Teachers


Lots of other teacher directories list her for Sterling, too.

Originally Posted by ravenadesigns

I wish I could travel to DC or Maryland but with a new baby and traffic the way it is in this area - it could take me almost 2 hours to get to DC or Maryland to get to class.

I just cannot do that now which sucks.

If worst comes to worst, could you maybe try to do a drop in class or private lesson every other week, or even once a month? I have to drive almost 2 hours to Chicago to get the advanced training I need, and while I can't do it every week (I have child care issues as well), getting there a couple of times a month has really worked out well. Just an idea from another busy mom. ..g.:

Katayoun is the other teacher leaving :-(

I have been with her since October but she is moving on to another teaching area :-(

I am happy for her though...

I am leaning towards the private instruction for now. Once my son is a little older, I can head out beyond my backyard :-)

Samira - I just dropped an email to Dianna Dwyer and told her that u recommended her. Thanks for the tip :-)

The area is so missing Wendy Youssef- she's awesome. I'm sorry to hear Katayoun is leaving- but I'm happy for her she is starting new adventures.
I hope you find someone soon. Dianna is a sweetie.

I've lived in an area with a dearth of experienced teachers before and I will share with you their successful method of carrying on.

All the more advanced dancers in the immediate area got together and pooled resources. They held weekly practice sessions where they rotated teaching each other on an assigned topic, each one would research with videos, books, etc to prepare. They split the studio rental between themselves, and charged lower level students for the class and pooled that money. They used the pooled money to bring in semi-regular local workshops from the nearest area with experienced teachers. They also, as individuals went out and attended workshops and brought that information back to the group as well. And when somebody with a little experience moved into the community they were quick to embrace them and take advantage of that. Eventually, some of the group really developed and became very strong dancers and teachers themselves. They continue to train with workshops, etc, and bring in local workshops regularly, but now structure the weekly classes more traditionally, with one person teaching beginners, one person teaching advanced, etc.

If you can't drive to DC for weekly classes, how about arranging privates with someone once per month? Find a good teacher that will give lots of honest feed back and correction, and structure the lessons so you can work on your own between seessions.

Thank you all! You are all beautiful and wonderful. For now, I am going to take the "private session" approach. In many ways, this may be better because focus will be placed on my "problem areas". :-)

I appreciate your kind words! There are so many great teachers in the area - I feel fortunate to live here!!

How far is Manassas from you? Faten should be back soon.