02/09/2026
You might know it as belly dance. Its real name is Raqs Sharqi, "dance of the East", and its story is richer than most people imagine.
Its roots reach back centuries, but the elegant, expressive form we know today was shaped surprisingly recently, in the music halls and cinema of 1920s Cairo. It was there that dancers began performing on grand stages, using the whole space, expansive arms, flowing veils, and choreography entered the dance.
Then came the golden age of Egyptian cinema, and dancers like Samia Gamal and Tahia Carioca became national icons, celebrated for their artistry and musicality. They shaped a style dancers all over the world still study today.
What makes Raqs Sharqi so captivating is its bond with the music. The dancer becomes the melody made visible, interpreting rhythm and feeling through fluid hips, graceful arms, and subtle isolations. It's a dance of expression, not of steps.
Raqs Sharqi is the theme of our new course period starting this week on the 24th of August. If it speaks to you, come and explore it with us.
