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Upcoming Events
January 31st, 2026
3:00 - 5:00 pm at the Karate Church.
Hafla, an Arabic word, translates to celebration, gathering, or party.
In the belly dance community, a hafla is an event where students and professionals can perform and socialize in a supportive and casual atmosphere. This is a great place to try out a new routine or dance just for fun.
No shop and swap this time.
You can email me your music ahead of time or bring it with you on a device.
For any questions or to get involved email Jessica at bellyhamdance@gmail.com.
We hope to see you there!
This is a family friendly and free event open to all.
Teachers remember to bring hand outs about your classes and events to share.
This hafla's flyer features the dancer: Naima Akef.
Each event we feature another amazing dancer.
Let me know if you have favorite we should feature!
This hafla's flyer features the dancer: Naima Akef
For more information about Naima, click HERE.
Want to dance with us? Awesome! Email me at: bellyhamdance@gmail.com
Past Events
Who is this dancer?
Samia Gamal!
Zainab Khalil Ibrahim Mahfouz, better known as Samia Gamal, was born on 5 March 1924 in Beni Suef. She became a household name after enduring a difficult childhood. Gamal’s mother passed away when she was young, and she ended up living with her father, and his wife, who made her taste all the colors of suffering.
In an attempt to escape, she took on diverse professions to support herself and become independent, working as a tailor, a factory worker, and a nurse.
Her love for dance grew after watching the film, ‘The Queen of Stages’ (1936), featuring Badia Masabani, the oriental dancer. She joined Masabani’s dancing troupe where she was trained by Masabni herself, who also helped her choose her stage name, Samia.
With her beauty, charming personality, and skills, Gamal stood out to the audience, establishing herself as a dancer. Her unique blend of traditional techniques with modern elements set her apart from other dancers of her generation and earned her widespread acclaim.
Her fans and audience felt a great connection to her and her performances, to the point where she created a distinguishable ripple effect in the world of oriental dance, choreographing new dance moves that transformed the art form, inspiring countless dancers around the globe in the mid-20th century. Keep Reading .... click HERE.
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Who is this dancer?
Mata Hari. At the age of 29, the Frisian girl Margaretha is an outright media hype in Paris. As Mata Hari, she captivates society audiences with her exotic dance, slowly baring her body. The newspapers can’t stop writing about this sensation. For ten successful years, her name has been synonymous with sensuality and glamour. But her numerous affairs with men in uniform and her travels through Europe during World War I make her suspicious in the eyes of the French secret service. In early 1917 she was arrested on suspicion of espionage for the Germans. Mata Hari dies on October 15 of that year before a French firing squad in the woods near Paris. Keep reading... click HERE
Who is this dancer?
This is a photo of Sahary Djeli in "Salome," 1920's.
This image, of Sahry-Djeli, is lovely and dates back to 1910-1913, and I use it as part of ongoing research on Salomania. Sahry-Djili was more than just a dancer. She was also a famous contortionist, with extreme flexibility and extension through her body. Her lithe limberness was her unique claim to fame and made her stand out when compared to the numerous other Salome’s gracing the stage of theaters around Europe. Look at this amazing position she could get into and hold for the length of time required for studio images at this time.
Excerpt from Studio Davina.
