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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Fall 2017 Workshops with Lynette

Fall 2017 Workshops with Lynette

Arab, Turkish and fusion belly dance in three workshops Sundays Sept.17, October 1 and 22 1:30-3:30 pm (3 sessions for the price of 2 – see below) Contemporary and traditional dance from the Middle East * Develop skills with body-friendly warm-ups, movement technique and vocabulary * Enhance your understanding of Middle Eastern music, dance and… Read more…

Fall Belly Dance Teachers Showcase & Bazaar 2014

Fall Belly Dance Teachers Showcase & Bazaar 2014

  MANY MANY THANKS to our wonderful dance community, for supporting the 2014 Teachers Showcase and Bazaar with such energy and enthusiasm! You raised almost $800 for Haven Society this year, and shared the joy of the dance with well over 100 participants, dancers, drummers, and Haven volunteers. Thank you all. ********************** FIVE half-hour dance workshops… Read more…

OPA Showcase 2013

OPA Showcase 2013

So glad that OPA is hosting this popular event again this year! Get more details on the Facebook page OPA Proudly Presents: The Vancouver Island Bellydance Showcase 2013 Saturday, November 23, 2013 • Royal Canadian Legion (411 Gorge Rd East) 10:00am ‘Spins and Turns’ with Shari Nakagawa (Victoria) Spinning is not just for ballerinas. Learn some… Read more…

Dance Vallarta 2013

Dance Vallarta 2013

Five days of dance and sun in the Yoga Vallarta studio of Puerto Vallarta, February 5 – 9 2013. Thanks to my co-instructor Debra Shields of Saidi Sisters, the beautiful dancers who attended, Alma our studio host, and the restaurants that welcomed our evening dance parties!   See our Facebook site Dance Vallarta 2013 for… Read more…

Turkish Roman music/video

Music from my past workshops All cd’s listed here are available on Amazon.com, some through Chapters Indigo, and one from iTunes.  All of them are terrific! Performed by Turkish Roman (gypsy) musicians: Selim Sesler  – Road to Kesan: Turkish ROM & Regional Music Thrace       track: Tulum 5:01 Selim Sesler and Brenda MacCrimmon – Karsılama… Read more…

Turkish dance workshops

Turkish dance workshops

Turkish Roma (gypsy) dance Celebrate the passionate and dynamic rhythms, movements, and spontaneity of Turkish Roman/Gypsy dance. Distinctive steps and sinuous movements will provide a base for exploring ornamentation, layering, and expression. Learn the meanings and role of gestures, experiment with a wide range of musical moods, and develop some powerful gypsy “attitude”.  Teaching level:… Read more…

Romani dance workshops

Romani dance workshops

Ghawazee Sparkle & Turkish Soul A short introduction to movement in two distinctive Roma styles. Strengthen your dance vocabulary, skills, and knowledge in a session contrasting the sinuous embellishments of Turkish dance styles with the quivers, shimmies and “earthquake tremors” of Egyptian Ghawazee dance. Read review. Teaching level: Multilevel (beginner through advanced) Length: 1 1/2 hours 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…

Improvisation, skills and technique workshops

Improvisation, skills and technique workshops

Discover the joy of dancing in the moment. Develop your confidence and skills in movement, improvisation and creating choreography with techniques and exercises to expand your range of movement and expression in both traditional and currently popular dance styles. Sample topics, appropriate for multiple levels: Improvisation and Expression – Warm up with basic improvisation techniques,… Read more…

April Point Retreats, Quadra Island BC

April Point Retreats, Quadra Island BC

2013 Dates TBA – Gypsy Spirit Dance Retreats with Lynette at April Point Resort & Spa on Quadra Island (3 hours north of Victoria) – Discover your “gypsy spirit” with Gypsy (Romani) style bellydance. You’ll quickly learn the basic moves to passionate music and lively rhythms.  Celebrate the informal spontaneity of traditional Romani dance styles from Turkey,… Read more…

Traditions, Tribes and Fusions – Nanaimo workshops

Traditions, Tribes and Fusions –  Nanaimo workshops

May 15, 2011 Dance with Arab Rhythms – LIVE!!!! Guest drummer Robin Shackleton of Sylvan Temple joins Lynette for a dynamic and energizing multi-level workshop.  We’ve booked a large bright and NEW studio in downtown Nanaimo, to fill with drumming and dance!  Develop your dance vocabulary and music understanding, as we work creatively with beledi… 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…

Bellydancing makes another comeback

Bellydancing makes another comeback

  April 9  2003 The Harbour City Star, Nanaimo      By Sandra Steilo  This week I joined in on a trend that has been around for hundreds of years but now is suddenly new and hot again. I took a beginner belly dancing class with Lynette Harper at the Community Service Building.  She got… Read more…