2025 Dance Classes & Island Teacher List

2025 Dance Classes & Island Teacher List

Nanaimo 

Lynette 

www.lynetteharper.ca      dancetarab@gmail.com  250-797-7953   

Multilevel/Intermediate & Advanced weekly class 

6 Mondays March 3 – April 7   7:30-9 pm.   Vibrant Dance Studio

Drop-ins welcome.

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Sunday  March afternoon workshops with Lynette

  March 9    Turkish Style, Turkish Soul

  March 23  Traditions and Fusions – Finding dance joy and inspiration

Delve into traditional and contemporary dances originating in the Middle East. Each workshop explores music, moves, stylings, and choreography that can stand alone, or be integrated with your own dance. Info/register dancetarab@gmail.com

At Vibrant Dance Studios, Nanaimo    1:30 – 3:30 pm

More info/register with Lynette dancetarab@gmail.com

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Sunday Feb 23 Discover “Belly Dance” with Lynette

Learn the basics of diverse dances inspired by the Middle East – an introduction to the music, movements, traditions, and innovations that have made these dance forms popular around the world. 1:30-3:30 Vibrant Dance Studio #2. Advance registration $20, on the day $25

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Pynksy Shell aka Tania Amaral  

https://www.facebook.com/tania.amaral.1253/    pynksyshell@gmail.com 

Afro Fusion Sharqi Danceᵀᴹ  www.afro-fusionsharqidance.ca/services 

Rhythms and Movements from Africa Friday classes starting Feb.7, Level 1 6:30 pm, Level 2 at 7:30 pm  Vibrant Dance Studio #4. 

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Ramona  

ramona.passarello@gmail.com  250-616-3824  Available for private individual and private group lessons.

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Taissia  

778-269-0922  Dance and Wellness classes

Wednesdays 6:30-7:30  Thursdays 7-8        Hungarian Cultural Centre. 

We will explore the dancing styles of the Middle East, Turkey, India, Hawaii and more. Phone or text to register 778-269-0922

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Deborah Bromley 

deborahba@shaw.ca  For experienced FCBD dancers – Monday nights 7:45-8:45pm at Vibe Studios

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Other Island communities, listed alphabetically:

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Cortes Island

Meinsje      250-895-1052  

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Courtenay/Comox/Cumberland/Denman Island/Union Bay

Bridget Salas  bridgetsalasdance.com 

Beginner Indian Fusion Tuesdays from 6-7 pm; Intermediate Indian fusion Tuesdays 7:15 – 8:45; Tala, dancing to Hindustani rhythms Monday 7:30 – 8:45; at The Abbey, Cumberland

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Emily Johnston – Forbidden Dance Company  

https://forbiddendancecompany.com  778-246-3639 

Belly dance levels 1-4 Thursdays 6:30-7:30pm Cloud 9 studio, Courtenay

“So you think you can belly dance?” Levels 5+  7:30-8:30pm

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Cathy Stoyko   Call or message (250)218-0704

Available for private classes on Denman Island or in Cumberland 

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Heather Hilberry 250-898-3123 (call or text) will be teaching on Hornby,  Denman and in Union Bay  

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Linda Doerksen  halima.dancer@gmail.com    250-703-0494   Contact regarding future classes in Courtenay. 

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Duncan/Cowichan Area

Karensa Camplair   saidisistersstudio.godaddysites.com   karensabellydance@gmail.com      250.715.7541   

Facebook.com/SaidiSisters      

Classes available in studio and online: Belly Dance Basics, FCBDStyle® (Improvised Style), Sword, Fusion, and F.U.N. Belly Dance.  At Sol Centre, 5380 Trans Canada Hwy, Duncan, BC 

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Lara   https://www.facebook.com/lara.brunschot, or drop by her store Spinning Ninny at 310 Duncan St, Duncan

Classes for adults and children. 

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Parksville

Kim Hammett  raven_55@icloud.com   778-679-3082

Mix of Americanized and Fusion style bellydance at Bradley Community Centre, resuming in Spring/Summer 2025.

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Qualicum Beach

Belly Laughs Navel Academy/Elaine De Rooy 

https://www.facebook.com/BellyLaughsNavelAcademy   bellylaughsnavelacademy@shaw.ca  250-752-3750 

Contemporary fusion in-studio classes Wednesdays, Thursdays, Sundays for Beginners, Intermediate and Advanced students.

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Saltspring Island

Sarah Allen  ssisarahlouise@gmail.com 

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Victoria 

Bashirah Middle Eastern Dance Studio, Victoria    

 https://www.raksbobbie.com/classes/winter-2025-class-list.html raksbobbie@shaw.ca   

Extensive range of online and studio belly dance classes at Bashirah Middle Eastern Dance Studio, 137 Skinner St.Victoria

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Candace Aldridge   

https://harmonybellydance.com

A full fall schedule of live and online classes, featuring Bellydance for multiple levels, Yin Yoga, and more. 

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Caro Aisha Carof   carisfranco@hotmail.com  250 884 0653

Private classes and group classes from beginners to advanced levels.

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Mira –  Asmira Dance  

mirabellydancer@gmail.com

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Negma  

negmadance@gmail.com   https://www.negmadance.com 

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Taiya Curle 

Chakra Awakening Bellydance Fusion with Taiya

January 27th- March 24th 2025

At the Victoria Truth Centre 2815 Cedar Hill Road. Victoria BC

For details taiyacurle@gmail.com   250-361-5122 

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ReOrient present Ghawazee dance at the Duncan Showroom, 2019

The dance in these videos is an interpretation of an historical style of dance and costume common in Egypt in the late 1800’s and into the 20th Century. Our choreography is based on historic photos and travellers’ writings about the Ghawazee, and our studies with Aisha Ali, Banat Mazin troupe members, and others.  The Ghawazee… Read more…

1001 Likes – July 2014

Lynette Harper rediscovers a DVD treasure. Reprinted with permission from the Middle Eastern Dance Association newsletter, Sahda, July 2014. Read more…

Belly Dance Fact & Fiction: References

Belly Dance Fact & Fiction: References

OPA Showcase Lecture/seminar, Victoria BC – presented by Lynette Harper Ph.D. November 2013 References – Books (*specific articles cited) Belly dance around the world: New communities, performance and identity. 2013. Caitlin E. McDonald & Barbara Sellers-Young, editors. Jefferson NC: McFarland & Company. * What is Baladi about al-Raqs al-Baladi? On the survival of belly dance in… Read more…

More books for dancers

More books for dancers

Four essentials for a dancer’s bookshelf, published in the last two years:  Belly dance around the world: New communities, performance and identity – The belly dance reader – Global moves – and You asked Aunt Rocky: Answers & advice about Raqs Sharqi & Raqs Shaabi.  Each book offers powerful ideas, analysis, and inspirations – and they’re… Read more…

Bekaa Valley Girls

Bekaa Valley Girls

Several excerpts from Bekaa Valley Girls, Lynette’s full-length collaborative creation with Rahma Haddad, presented in the Noon Dance Seriesat Vancouver’s Dance Centre, November 2009.   Duet with Rahma Haddad (part 1) This segment recalls when Lebanese cousins Lynette and Rahma first met.  Though raised in different parts of Canada, they shared a family history of… Read more…

Nanaimo dancers & teachers

Lynette  250-753-1659  laahper@gmail.com Genya  250-739-0589  genyasdancing@gmail.com Ramona  250-616-3824  Ramona@bellydancer.ca Giselle Jacob – Drum & percussion classes available  – see her Facebook page   Crimson Coast Dance Society  Artistic Director Holly Bright, Nanaimo, BC – Develops and supports contemporary dance creations, productions, performances and educational opportunities at both grass roots and professional levels in Central Vancouver Island. Read more…

Arab music understanding

Arab music understanding

Egyptian music appreciation and practice for bellydancers by George Dimitri Sawa A must-have for dancers, teachers, and students who wish to develop their understanding of Egyptian music!   The quality of the package is awesome – exceeding my already high expectations of  creator George Sawa, an Egyptian born historian, musicologist, qanun virtuoso, a true master… Read more…

Arab dance workshops

Arab dance workshops

TARAB – Arab music and spirit of the dance Explore the soul and vitality of Arab music as inspiration for dance improvisation and choreography. Teaching level: Multilevel; works well for mixed levels beginner through advanced. Read review. Length: 2 or 3 hours From Countryside to Cabaret: Egyptian Saidi and Raqs Sharqi styles Build your technique, movement vocabulary,… Read more…

Dance is in their blood

Dance is in their blood

  Gilded Serpent June 2007          by Kevin Potvin A reluctant visitor to a multicultural arts show comes away with a new appreciation for how art entwines with ordinary life for ordinary people. . . . (click here to read article) Excerpt: That doesn’t mean I don’t understand dance at all –… Read more…

Lynette Harper Workshop Review

Lynette Harper Workshop Review

  OPA! News, Victoria Spring 2008 by BOBBIE BARRY Lynette is the quintessential teacher. After 30 years of teaching and performing this art form, she knows her stuff! My first meeting and experience of Lynette Harper as a teacher was back in July 2003.  At that point I had been studying Middle Eastern belly dance… Read more…

Arab Women Arab Dance

Arab Women Arab Dance

Arab Women Arab Dance Opening of Arab Women Arab Dance, presenting life histories with dance. Featuring Lynette, Rahma Haddad, Salma Ferchichi, Rabab Ward, and Emily Basha. Produced by Vancouver’s Dance Centre. Excerpt from a Vancouver Dance Centre production, interweaving life history narratives with demonstrations by five Arab women. Read more…

Books for dancers

Books for dancers

READ THIS BOOK!!!! Belly dance: Orientalism Transnationalism and Harem Fantasy edited by Anthony Shay and Barbara Sellers-Young   For over a century, solo improvised dance, especially belly dance, has had enormous popularity, and by the 1970s and 1980s in the wake of the feminist movement, over a million women in the United States, and many… Read more…

Unveiled: Performing identities in the Arab diaspora

Unveiled: Performing identities in the Arab diaspora

On Canada’s west coast, a large and active bellydance community has grown and thrived distinct from Middle Eastern ethnic communities.  Orientalist fantasies and Egyptian stylings regularly appear onstage alongside western tribal and other ethnic bellydance fusions.  These performances do not challenge popular media stereotypes about the Middle East; they comfortably coexist with ideologies linking veiled… Read more…

Arab Women, Arab Dance

When most people think of Arab music and dance they usually think of bellydancing, the North American dance craze based on an ancient tradition. These two presentations at Vancouver’s Dance Centre (2004 & 2005) provided a personal and cultural context for understanding the dynamic and evolving art of Arab dance.  Five diversely accomplished Arab women,… Read more…

Exploring Tarab with Lynette

Exploring Tarab with Lynette

  Spring 2007  OPA! News, Victoria      by Sidona On February 18th members of Women of Widad piled into a van to take the trip up to Nanaimo to attend a workshop with Lynette Harper.   We were excited and all felt that we needed a burst of dance energy after the long winter and… Read more…