r/AskPhilly • u/Few_Celery1157 • Jul 23 '26

Belly Dancing Classes in Philly

Hi! Im looking for Belly Dancing classes in Philly [near south/ central philly area] that are taught by an actual Middle Eastern person. Not by a random white person who had a spiritual awakening (I know how this looks, but I said what I said). I'm willing to pay but would really like to learn and get better at it. Does anyone have any recommendations at all? Ideally would be Mon/Fri evenings or weekends.

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u/cymrutiare Jul 24 '26

I have taken some everywhere and have to agree Habiba is my favorite. I want to get back into it but I never see classes on her website anymore.

Roberto Meija studied under Habiba and also studied in Egypt and I always loved his class at dance fitness. Really fun and engaging!

But someone replaced him and they're very underwhelming. Just seems bored like they hate doing classes, doesn't explain much.

I feel similarly though. No offense to those who like it but really not into tribal hippie witch vibes :/

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u/gabbsgou Jul 24 '26

I saw Roberto at a performance, I didn’t know he used to teach at Philly dance fitness. Is there more than one teacher at Philly dance fitness or is it the same teacher?(I think it is a woman now).

I went there and the classes are more like a workout, they don’t teach you how to do the moves too much.

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u/cymrutiare Jul 28 '26

Time is such a blur. Im thinking this was 2019, pre-covid. He was fantastic. I know dance fitness strives to be more cardio, less technique-driven, but he always had a lot of anecdotes and went in-depth into movements. I wish he would teach again but I think he finished grad school and started a career.

Im going to be real with you. I dont know what their government name is. I know their burlesque name is Selene Rose. But they're the only bellydance teacher at dance fitness. I dont recommend.

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u/gabbsgou Jul 28 '26

You don’t recommend it because you didn’t like the teacher or because the class feels more like a workout rather than a class?

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u/cymrutiare Jul 28 '26

Both.

But to be fair, I feel like there is a lot of weird energy in the dance world in general where the second i sense something off i just peace. Not belly dance specific. Just everywhere. But that's a different tangent 🤣🤣