• “Touring with Taaj is like touring with a well-connected native. ~Brianna”

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• “I can see why your students progress and become such great dancers. ~Serena Jones”

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• “Your approach is paramount in so many ways. You are a true pioneer.” ~ Eshta”

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• “You really know the music, and that is the most important thing for any dancer.” ~ Issam Houshan”

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• “Your workshops truly are THAT GOOD! ~Zenilla”

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• “Your experience level is not available anywhere else, in my opinion. ~Zuleika”

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• “I learned a lot from you. ~Melina”

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• “After her class, you’ll know what you're doing!” ~Sharon”

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• “Your teaching style just makes sense. ~Ruby Armstrong”

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• “Everything you covered is exactly what has been lacking in my training. ~Pam Wolfe”

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Teaching

• Ethics: Treating Colleagues With Respect

  One of the items in the BDT Code of Ethics says, “Colleagues: Instructors shall treat dance colleagues with professionalism and refrain from public defamation.” Let’s take a look at what that means. “Colleagues” are associates. “Dance colleagues” are students, other teachers, dancers, employers, fans, vendors, musicians and sponsors. When put that way, it’s easy to [...]

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  Playing The Beledi Pattern on Zils

  If you are trying to play the beledi pattern, I assume you are already familiar with basic zils, but here goes the pre-zil stuff. The zils go on the middle finger and thumb with the elastic sitting just below the nail bed. MAKE SURE YOUR ELASTIC IS TIGHT ENOUGH TO TURN YOUR FINGERS BLUE AFTER [...]

• No D.U.Is (Dancing Under the Influence)

  It should go without saying, but every so often I see students who have had a bit too much to drink who are in a performing environment. Ladies, please don’t drink and dance. You might think that no one can tell, but we can smell you and we certainly can see you. While it may [...]

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  Keep Your Private Stuff Private

  There are as many reasons for dancing as there are dancers. Most of us know that belly dance can be very healing from things like sexual assault, domestic violence, heart ache, lack of self-love, and loneliness. If healing is what brought you to dance, be sure to maintain professional boundaries in class and your performance. [...]

• Hiring a Professional Belly Dancer

    A friend just passed along this youtube link. I think anyone who is considering hiring a professional belly dancer or is embarking on a dance career should watch it. It will save us all some time and headache. Pass it along if you want to combat stereotypes. (function() {var s = document.createElement(‘SCRIPT’), s1 = [...]

• Giving Credit Where Credit is Due

  I have seen a lot of stealing in the belly dance world. I think most of it is due to ignorance. If teacher model appropriate behavior when it comes to property rights, this would go a long way in giving credit where credit is due. Did you know that choreographies that you learn at workshops [...]

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  Preventing Dance Injuries

  Did you know that dancers in professional dance companies have a 67%- 95% injury rate PER YEAR that keep them out for a week or more? The best way to deal with that is to prevent the injury from happening in the first place. Here are some tips to keep you injury free. Adequately Warm [...]

• Ethics: Treating Colleagues With Respect

• Playing The Beledi Pattern on Zils

• No D.U.Is (Dancing Under the Influence)

• Keep Your Private Stuff Private

• Hiring a Professional Belly Dancer

• Giving Credit Where Credit is Due

• Preventing Dance Injuries