We are excited to present this 4-session Egyptian Belly Dance History Series led by the acclaimed dancer, researcher and author, Nisaa (see bio below).  The sessions will occur once per quarter on Sunday nights. The presentations will include approximately 1 hour of lecture by Nisaa, including her wonderful media presentations, followed by a robust Q & A period.  The series begins on Sunday, April 27 at 7 pm.  The following three sessions occur on June 8, 2025, September 28, 2025 and January 4, 2026. If you are unable to attend live, the recordings will be available for one month after the event. Early bird registration is $125 going up to $135 on April 21.  The class must be purchased as a full series.  If you’re on the fence, do it.  Nisaa is a living legend, a treasure trove of information and a riveting presenter.  Taking this course will mark a turning point in your dance education.

APRIL 27, 7 PM:  Ancient Origins? Unpacking the Early History of Egyptian Belly Dance 

Most histories of Egyptian belly dance start at the 19th century, with the exception of the frequent claim that belly dance originated in Pharaonic Egypt. Very little attention is given to the intervening centuries: the story begins with ancient Egypt, then skips forward to Napoleon’s conquest in 1798. However, it is in these forgotten centuries – specifically, in medieval and Ottoman Egypt – that the precursors of 19th century male and female belly dancers can be found. This lecture traces this history, exploring the evolving roles of professional entertainers in Egyptian society in medieval and Ottoman Egypt, and challenging the narrative of “ancient origins.” 

 

JUNE 8, 7 PM: Egyptian Belly Dance in Transition: The Rise of Raqs Sharqi 

The dance form now recognized as raqs sharqi was developed on the stages of Egypt’s urban entertainment halls at the turn of the 19th and 20th centuries. But how? And why? What were the circumstances that set in motion such a momentous transformation of Egyptian belly dance at this particular point in Egyptian history? This lecture traces the history of Egyptian belly dance from the late 18th through early 20th centuries, examining the unique constellation of social, political, and cultural developments that enabled and nurtured the emergence and early development of raqs sharqi. Learn how the birth of raqs sharqi reflected broader trends in Egyptian arts and entertainment, and how cultural expressions like raqs sharqi embodied and expressed the struggle for Egyptian national and cultural identity. 

 

SEPTEMBER 28, 7 PM: Revolution and Reaction: The Precarious Position of Belly Dance in Mid-to-Late 20th Century Egypt 

Egypt in the second half of the 20th century was rocked by seismic social, political, and economic changes. In this period, Egyptian belly dance found itself in the crosshairs of a government that was assuming an increasingly direct and intrusive role in arts and entertainment. Certain forms of entertainment, such as theatrical folklore, were sanctioned and supported by the Egyptian state, while others, such as belly dance, were pushed into the margins. In this lecture, Nisaa explains how a combination of government influence, socioeconomic change, and religious conservatism led to profound transformations in Egyptian belly dance and signaled even bigger changes to come. 

 

JANUARY 4, 2026 7 PM: Egyptian Belly Dance Today: The Impact of Theatrical Folklore and the Rise of the Festival Industry 

The early 21st century has been a time of upheaval in the Egyptian social and political landscape, within which Egypt experienced another revolution, followed almost immediately by a return to military rule. In the midst of these dramatic challenges, Egyptian belly dance has survived, and even thrived. However, there is an increasing disconnect between the dance as it exists in traditional settings and the way it is currently taught and performed at the international level. In this lecture, Nisaa explores these recent trends in Egyptian belly dance, focusing on how the pervasive 

stylistic influence of theatrical folklore, combined with the integration of raqs sharqi into global markets, has affected the future trajectory of Egyptian belly dance in fundamental ways. 

 

ABOUT NISAA:

 

Nisaa (Heather D. Ward) is a Middle Eastern dance instructor, performer, and researcher based in St. Louis, Missouri, USA. Nisaa has been conducting pioneering research into the history and development of Egyptian belly dance.

 

Her investigations into the transition from awalim and ghawazi dance styles to classical raqs sharqi at the turn of the 19th/20th centuries led to the publication of her first book, Egyptian Belly Dance in Transition: The Raqs Sharqi Revolution, 1890-1930, in 2018. Her latest book, Raqs in the City: The Belly Dance Landscape of Cairo, explores the historical interconnection between dance, dancers, and the city of Cairo, and was released in 2024.

 

Through excellent instruction, outstanding performances, and original research, Nisaa presents Middle Eastern dance as a living, dynamic folk art and a window into the rich heritage of the peoples and cultures of the Middle East. Learn more about Nisaa at www.bellydancewithnisaa.com.