Click here to view Habiba's Spring 2008 Newsletter.

    For the past twenty years Habiba has trained dancers in Middle Eastern
movement techniques and cultural traditions at her Philadelphia studio. She is a
leading researcher of the dances of Egypt and Tunisia and teaches
contemporary styles as well as the traditional folkloric dances that have
been performed and passed down for many years.

    The Habiba Studio has a regular schedule of classes personally taught by
Habiba and welcomes students of all levels from beginner through advanced
and professional.

    An acclaimed performer and accomplished choreographer, Habiba also offers a variety of dance workshops and lecture/demonstrations on the cultural context of Middle Eastern dance.

    Habiba performs regularly in the Philadelphia area and the studio schedules a number of special dance events throughout the year. For upcoming events and performances click here.

  Raqs Sharqi
Belly Dance: the Oldest Dance

   The solo interpretive dance that Americans popularly call "belly dance" is actually called raqs al sharqi in the Middle East. It means "Eastern dance." It is one of the oldest documented dance forms and can be traced back to ancient Egypt. It has a long history as a dance done by professional entertainers at weddings and celebrations of all kinds, but it also has a long history as a social dance that everyone knows as soon as they are old enough to stand. It is simply the way everyone dances throughout many countries of the Middle East. While the elements of western dance include moving about the floor and leaping, raqs al sharqi features very little movement about the floor and an earthbound quality. The dancer interprets the music through movements of the torso, hips and arms.

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