Al Wadi Dance Company

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Portland, OR
Al Wadi Dance Company

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Al Wadi Dance Company is a raqs sharqi (belly dance) education and performance collaborative from Heather Louise and Ella Moore.
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We offer joyful, engaging, and culturally connected instruction grounded in Egyptian traditions in Portland, Oregon.

10/30/2026

❄️ WINTER CLASSES ARE LIVE!

Swipe to see our full schedule ➡️ Next session we are offering choreography courses and multiple levels of technique.

🌺 Students in the choreography classes have the option to perform in our Spring Showcase on April 18.

All classes at Studio Datura Datura Style

10/12/2026

Big warm thanks to all who participated as a dancer, musician, or audience member at our first live music immersion weekend, Sawa.

Here are a few photos from workshops at Studio Datura, the perfect place for us all to come together and do this thing we love.

We are building the community we want and it feels so special that you all are here for it! The music is the heart of it all and we couldn’t have had better leaders at the helm: Jim Grippo and Faisal Zedan.

The weekend was kicked off with a performance by Portland MidEast Ensemble led by Daniel Moltke, who also graciously assisted in dance workshops.

Our resident drum teacher and rhythmic riffer Jason Ramirez also played in both shows and for our dancers in workshops.

Our vision was to bring those priceless conversations we’ve been privy to as dancers working with / living with / collaborating with musicians over the years.

We’ll be posting more from the shows, but for now, here are some from the daytime.

For the record, we kept asking Jim and Faisal if we were working them too hard and they insisted that they were fine. Now we know that it’s all about power naps in the sun beams Jim Grippo 😆

Datura Style Faisal Zedan Jason Ramirez Daniel Shaheen Moltke Portland Middle East Ensemble Ella Moore Heather Louise | Raqs Sharqi (Belly Dance)

10/08/2026

Dancing for Hope 🕊️
SAT Dec 5, 2026
7:00 PM
Studio Datura
116 NE Russell St, Portland OR 97212

Join Al Wadi Dance Co. for an evening of raqs sharqi to benefit Rose Haven. This evening includes solos, duets, and small group performances by Anna V, Morgan Fay, Heather Louise, Ella Moore, and Madraset Al Wadi. Each ticket includes one entry into the raffle.

Anna_Verkh Morgan Fay

09/07/2026

Thanks to the Arab American Cultural Center of Oregon - AACCO for having us at the Mahrajan this year. What a beautiful day!

09/02/2026

We have 2 distinct shows as part of the Sawa Live Music Immersion weekend here in Portland, OR. Featuring guest musicians Jim Grippo & Faisal Zedan.

Both shows are at Studio Datura
7PM
$15

SAT Sept 26 The Sawa Band features traditional instruments and the classic songs we all know and love! Guest PNW all star musicians joining Jim and Faisal to play for performers from Al Wadi Dance Co. and guest dancers participating in the weekend.

SUN Sept 27 The Ritim Egzotik Revival band plays classic Arabic and Turkish music with a rock edge. This powerhouse band is joined by our guest musicians for one epic night. Al Wadi Dance Co. and guest dancers perform.

Guest musicians include Daniel Moltke, Jason Ramirez, Sean Daly, Brett Pitner, Stephen Elaimy, and Dave Kelsay 💫

Tickets at the link in our bio or
alwadi-dance.com

Jim Grippo Faisal Zedan Daniel Shaheen Moltke Sean Daly Stephen Elaimy Brett Pitner 🔪🌸🌲🌿Jason 🌿🌲🌸🪓

08/01/2026

Only 4 spots left in Sawa for the full weekend + dance performance option. Today is also the final day for early bird pricing!

"Sawa" means "together" and not only will dancers and musicians be together all weekend, but dancing to live music is the organic place for technique to merge with expression. If you've been "missing something" in your dance, it may emerge naturally through the music this weekend.

More info, schedule, and regsitration:
https://www.alwadi-dance.com/workshops

06/24/2026

How we do things around here -
Step 1: Create some drama
Step 2: Build suspense
Step 3: Bring the party 💃🏻 🪩

From the Al Wadi Dance Company spring showcase at Multnomah Arts Center Association 🌷

🎶 “Bahiya” by Tony Mouzayek Arabic Singer
🎥 by Phoebus-Foto

05/29/2026

“Sawa” means “together” in Arabic, and we believe that dance and music are best experienced in community. These arts have always been intertwined and we hope to continue to foster this tradition. This will be an intimate weekend, limited to 30 dancers at the beautiful Studio Datura. Limited performance spots are available!

Join Heather, Ella, and our musical friends for a weekend of dance and live music immersed under one roof. Jim Grippo & Faisal Zedan join us from the Bay Area to root us in the melody and rhythms of Middle Eastern music. Together we’ll guide you through exercises, exploration, and discussion to feel the music move more freely through you.

🗓️ September 25-27
📍 Studio Datura in Portland, OR
💃🏻
🎶 .moltke
🔗 in profile to register!

05/07/2026

Join Khadijah and Al Wadi Dance Company for a jalsat-style hafla: a Khaleeji party! Everyone is welcome, no dance experience required.

💃🏻 Social dancing
🌴 Music from the Khaleej (area surrounding Persian Gulf)
🍰 Refreshments
🪬 Henna by

🗓️ Saturday, May 9 | 7 - 9 PM
📍

Tickets at alwadi-dance.com

05/02/2026

Post photo shoot reel trend shoot (we are delirious)

Thanks to for many years of laughs, art, experiments, and sharing a love for Arabic music. We will miss you!

Today we talked a lot about our common values, dream projects, and making the most out of this one precious life.

👗 Eman Zaki

♥️

Address

Portland, OR
97212

Telephone

+19712580132

Website

http://www.alwadi-dance.com/

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