Devon Belly Dance Classes and Lessons
Last Updated on February 4, 2024
Afra Al-Kahira, Bideford Belly Dance
Location: Bideford, Devon, England. Also some workshops and events throughout England, Scotland, and Wales.
Level: All levels.
Time/Cost: Costs vary. Contact Afra for further information.
Type taught: Egyptian Oriental and Saiidi styles and forms.
Experience & style:
Afra has been in the oriental dance and belly dancing business for more than twenty years.
Now teaching and based in Bideford, Devon, UK, Afra (in between traveling and organizing workshops in various countries and around UK) teaches belly dancing to different levels.
She also sometimes holds talks on Arabic culture.
Afra is also a qualified make-up artist.
For Bideford belly dancing, classes, and lessons in Devon Afra is a good teacher.
Afra’s website can be found here.
Dawn and Valerie, Exeter Bellydance
Location: Devon (including Exeter, Broadclyst, and Bradninch)
Level: Beginners.
Venue: The Guildhall, Bradninch, Exeter/Cullompton.
Time/Cost: Class times vary and it is best to contact Dawn for the latest lesson times and costs.
Normally though, lessons take place in Broadclyst (Clyst Vale Community College) and Bradninch, Cullompton (The Guildhall, Bradninch).
Type taught: Classes are primarily based on the Turkish style.
Experience & style:
Our dance is based on the Turkish style and is energetic and lively, we aim to get people dancing and having fun as quickly as possible.
Turkish belly dance is lively and energetic, no partner is needed, just a group of women enjoying dancing, so come along and have some fun.
Anara Ashwood, Exeter
Location: Exeter, Devon
Teaches beginners, improvers, and advanced.
Venue: St Leonard’s Primary School in Exeter, St Leonard’s Road, Exeter, EX2 4NQ, England, UK.
Times vary, Contact Anara for the latest details.
Type taught: North African and Middle Eastern dance.
Experience & style:
Anara has been dancing since childhood and has been trained in many dance forms, including contemporary, jazz, flamenco, and Latin dance.
Anara Ashwood also has formal qualifications in dancing, acting, film, and drama.
At the age of 16, Anara discovered Northern African and Middle Eastern shamanic and ritual dances and was fascinated by them.
She then spent years studying the effects of dancing on the mind and the subconscious and researching the fields of dance therapy, hypnosis and psychology, and dance.
Anara believes in the positive effects of belly dance on fertility and giving and birth.
She has used belly dance to help women during childbearing and birth. For Anara dance is a form of self-discovery and meditation.
If you are looking for Exeter belly dance classes, Anara’s classes are very inspirational.
Teacher: Katerina
Location of classes: South Devon College, Paignton, Torbay, and Westlands School, Torquay.
Levels taught: Beginners and intermediate.
Time and cost: Contact Katerina for the latest information.
Types taught: Egyptian and cabaret-style and a mixture of Egyptian and North African with a hint of ballet.
Other additional information:
Katerina has 20 years of teaching and performing belly dance. She introduced belly dance to Torbay.
She began dance training at the age of five and has ISTD and IDTA qualifications.
She is also a member of Equity.
Her style is a mixture of Egyptian and North African with a hint of ballet. Her classes are relaxed and friendly.
Interesting information:
Katerina discovered belly dancing while she was working in London.
Since the age of five she had trained in ballet, tap, modern, and national, but belly dance was a new challenge for her.
She instantly fell in love with belly dance and has traveled extensively performing and teaching. “It is such a fulfilling dance.
As well as excellent keep-fit benefits, it does wonders for your self-esteem and confidence.
And it is ideal for all ages and all body shapes,” she adds.
For more information check Katerina’s dance site for Paignton belly dance, classes in Torbay and Torquay.
Teacher: Raziye Ahmet
Location: Sidmouth, Devon, England, UK.
Classes venue: Kennaway House.
Level taught: Beginners and Intermediate.
Styles taught: Turkish/Greek, Egyptian.
Dance teacher’s experience and style
Raziye has been dancing from a young age as it has been a very important part of her family’s culture.
She first started taking formal training 15 years ago where she discovered she had the natural ability to deliver the moves danced in Egyptian style belly dancing.
She has also trained with Sema Yildiz, a very famous dancer from Turkey.
As well as her weekly classes, she frequently teaches workshops in various areas such as Saidi cane, veil, and Egyptian Golden era.
Raziye feels that belly dancing is a way of enhancing a woman’s femininity which has a positive effect on self-esteem and boosts confidence. Her classes are delivered in a way that your dancing appears graceful and sensual.
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Dr Valeria Lo Iacono is a belly dancer and a dance researcher with a PhD in dance and heritage. Valeria also teaches and performs as a belly dance but also enjoys learning ballet, jazz dance and other dance genres.
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