Events

BELLY DANCE

BEYOND THE BORDERS!

On November 18, 2023, the Raqs Salaam Dance Theater proudly presents Showcase 19, BELLY DANCE BEYOND THE BORDERS! This year’s epic presentation highlights the diversity of eastern dances as they inhabit, and cross, the borders of North Africa. From classical Egyptian dance, to American “popping and locking”, prepare to travel 16,000 miles around the globe through movement. BELLY DANCE BEYOND THE BORDERS features traditional dances from Africa, Asia and India, as well musical theater straight out of recent Hollywood and Bollywood movies. Prepare to be uplifted in joy and laughter, as well as to learn about current events in the Middle East, as they relate to women. This family-friendly and “relatable” show is both entertaining and educational for theater-goers young and old. The Raqs Salaam Dance Theater is the largest and longest running all-female performing group in the Upper Valley. Through the transformative energy of the feminine spirit, we celebrate and contribute to a positive shift in the world’s health and well-being. Please note that our show location seats 500 people. You will have an opportunity to socially distance should you like to do so.

TICKETS ON SALE!

BUY TICKETS HERE. If you have trouble purchasing on your cell phone, try on your computer. You can also reach out by clicking the Chat icon on the ticket website.

PAST SHOWS BELOW

BELLY DANCE IS BACK!

Join Us For Our First Stage Show Since 2019!

EARLY BIRD TICKET PRICE EXTENDED THROUGH FRIDAY, NOV. 18!!

Welcome to the Raqs Salaam Dance Theater's Showcase 18! After two years of virtual shows, we are excited to present BELLY DANCE IS BACK live on stage! This year's show offers a deep dive into the dances of Egypt starting with traditional fire-lit candelabras, and traveling all the way to modern Cairo street dance. Between these two, you will find folkloric dance from one of Egypt's most famous choreographers, as well as the elegant Raks Sharki from mid-20th century Egypt. From flowing veils and sassy skirts to percussive finger cymbals, this colorful performance is educational, empowering and timely in its message of peace, understanding and appreciation for the arts of the Middle East. This is a family-friendly event, appropriate for audience members both young and old. PLEASE NOTE: The Mascoma Community Auditorium is at Mascoma High School.

PLEASE ALSO NOTE: We are politely requesting that attendees wear masks inside the building in order to protect our more vulnerable audience members. Thank you! The school has a brand new powerful ventilation system specifically for the auditorium and they use electrostatic spray to sanitize the auditorium and the bathrooms. Lastly, if you are a concerned audience member, please also be aware that the 500 seat theater will likely only half fill. Thus, you will have an opportunity to social distance, should you prefer to do so.

Early bird price $30 thru November 18, $35 the day of the show.

BUY TICKETS HERE

Mother's Day Re-Release!

DOUBLE TROUBLE ...

The Roots and Rebels of

20th Century Belly Dance

All Re-Release Proceeds go to our Scholarship Fund!

"Double Trouble: The Roots and Rebels of 20th Century Belly Dance" is The Raqs Salaam Dance Theater's 17th Annual Showcase Fundraiser, streamed online through Sunday May 22.

Join us as we take a journey through Belly Dance, spanning the years from the 1893 Chicago World's Fair through the turn of the 21st century. Learn about the diversity of Victorian era dancers in America, as well as the Turkish-American dance influences found in the New York dance clubs of the 50's and 60's. Travel with us through Egypt's glamorous era of the Silver Screen, including the Reda troupe dancers who followed, into the modern street music influences birthed just before Egypt's recent revolution. Let us dazzle you with the sub-saharan African influences found in Iran's Bandari dance. Finally, learn about the impact of modern dance and western fusion on 20th century Belly Dance through the use of huge butterfly wings, menacing swords, Burlesque-era feathers and fire!

This 80 minute presentation is a diverse, colorful and educational show. It is family-friendly, and appropriate for all age levels. Thank you for supporting us during this challenging time for the performing arts!

BUY TICKETS HERE

PAST SHOWS BELOW .....

2020 'S

CARAVANSERAI :: TRAVELING HOME
VALENTINE'S DAY WEEKEND SHOW FOR YOU OR A FRIEND
7 PM, FEBRUARY 12 - MIDNIGHT, FEBRUARY 14

* OR *

ADOPT-A -SENIOR AND GIVE THE SHOW AS A VALENTINE'S DAY GIFT

10 AM FEBRUARY 14 - 10 PM FEBRUARY 17

Join us for a Valentine's Day weekend presentation of The Raqs Salaam Dance Theater's 16th Annual Middle Eastern and American Belly Dance Showcase, CARAVANSERAI 💗 TRAVELING HOME.

Did you miss the opening of this year's show? Do you know someone who would love a Valentine's weekend gift? Would you like to see our show again? Choose the Feb 12-14 show. Two-for-One! Every purchase will trigger an extra show to be given to a senior!!

Would you like to "adopt a Granny, Grampy or Senior" and gift the show to an elderly person who could use some joy during covid? Both purchaser and recipient names will remain anonymous. Choose the Feb 14-17 show. Two-for-One! Every purchase will send shows to two seniors!!

This year's virtual 75 minute showcase is a studio fundraiser celebrating the dance and cultures of North Africa, the Middle East, Asia and beyond. Through colorful sojourns along the migration trail, you will be dazzled with dances from Algeria, Egypt, Lebanon (and Columbia!), as well as stops as far away as India and Russia. This family-friendly show is both educational and entertaining featuring Raqs Sharki (Belly Dance), as well as many folkloric/regional dance styles. See Russian Romany dance with skirts, Algerian Kabyle dance, Indian Bhangra, dance with veils, with fire and more! New England's Middle Eastern Band, Zaatar, will also be joining us, offering accompaniment with melodies from Lebanon, Egypt and Turkey. This year our show was filmed in over a dozen different locations and represents a triumph of creativity, resilience and the human spirit. Relax as you "travel home" with us, and enjoy the fun, entertainment and celebration of our 16th year of shows! This show makes a great Valentine's Day gift for anyone who would like some inspiration and uplift in to carry them into the New Year! All proceeds will fund the production of Show 2021.

Each "ticket" will allow a single IP address (household network) access to view the performance. If you are watching in multiple locations, you will need to purchase additional tickets.

THE RAQS SALAAM DANCE THEATER
15TH ANNIVERSARY SHOW
Saturday, November 23, 2019, 4 pm
Lebanon Opera House

BUY LEBANON OPERA HOUSE TICKETS HERE

Come celebrate “The Best of the Raqs Salaam Dance Theater” as we perform in our 15th Anniversary Show. This year features our favorite Belly dance pieces, from Egypt, Turkey, and the western world. Over 70 performers, live music by Middle Eastern music ensemble, Zaatar, and special guests will entertain with silk fans, flowing veils, sword balancing and much more. The Raqs Salaam Dance Theater showcase is an Upper Valley tradition – family-friendly, entertaining, educational, inspirational and timely in its message of empowering women and celebrating the cultures of the Middle East. It is directed and produced by Gina Capossela.

Buy Lebanon Opera House tickets here!

QUECHEE BALLOON FESTIVAL PERFORMANCE
Saturday and Sunday, June 15 and 16, 1 pm

It’s the Raqs Salaam Dance Theater’s 5th Balloon Fest performance! With over 30 performers, we will be presenting the dance styles of Morocco, Algeria, Egypt, Turkey and India, as well as American Belly Dance. This is a great show for kids and families as well as connoisseurs of our beloved art form. We will teach a bit of our dance at the end too!

LEBANON PARKS AND RECREATION SHOW ON THE GREEN
Monday, June 24, 2019, 7:00 pm

Miss us at the Balloon Fest? Come see us on the Green and bring a chair, a picnic and your favorite libations.

MARRAKECH TO MUMBAI :: DANCES OF THE PEOPLE
Saturday, November 17, 2018, 2 pm and 7:30 pm
Lebanon Opera House
CLICK TO PURCHASE MARRAKECH TO MUMBAI TICKETS HERE

It’s the Raqs Salaam Dance Theater 14th Annual Showcase! With over 70 performers, we will be presenting dances from Morocco to India, and beyond. This year’s theme is “community”, and each dance will highlight an aspect of community or social dance. You will see firey Moroccan hair flips, shimmies galore with Algerian Kabyle dance, sexy Egyptian Shaabi, elegant stylized Persian Pop, Indian Stick dance, Turkish spoon dance, earthy Romany gestures, the Italian dance of the spider bite and more!! Our Special guests, the Upper Valley Chinese Dance Group, will perform a dance from Xinjiang, China.

This show is an Upper Valley tradition – family-friendly, entertaining, educational, empowering, inspirational and timely in its message of celebrating the cultures of the Middle East and beyond. It is directed and produced by Gina Capossela.

MONDAY NIGHT CONCERTS ON THE LEBANON GREEN
SPONSORED BY LEBANON PARKS AND RECREATION
JUNE 25, 2018, 7 PM

Come see dances from Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Iran, Iraq, India and much more. The show will be on the Lebanon Green, so bring a blanket or a lawn chair (and libations!) Rain location is the church on the Green. This concert features 28 members of the Raqs Salaam Dance Theater. There will be a free dance lesson after the show!!

INTERNATIONAL NIGHT SPONSORED BY HANOVER PARKS AND RECREATION
APRIL 7, 2018

Dinner and a show for only $5! The Town of Hanover and The Raqs Salaam Dance Theater give back in this event. Dinner starts at 5 pm and the 45 minute performance begins around 6 pm. See Middle Eastern dances (and beyond!) from Egypt, Persia, Saudi Arabia, Iraq, Bollywood and more!! The price for the dinner and show is only $5! What a beautiful gift to the community!! Questions? Call 603-643-5315. You can also buy tickets here: https://www.hanoverrec.com/info/activities/program_details.aspx?ProgramID=30186

EAST OF EGYPT is the Raqs Salaam Dance Theater’s 13th Annual Showcase on Saturday, November 18, 2017 at 7:30 pm. This 2 hour show will feature over 70 adult dancers performing dance styles from Iraq, Persia (two different styles), Afghanistan, Syria, Saudi Arabia, India’s Bollywood, Egypt and more! This show is an Upper Valley tradition – family-friendly, entertaining, educational, empowering, inspirational and timely in its message of celebrating the cultures of the Middle East and beyond. We are delighted that students from the Dothan Brook School will be joining us for a special contemporary American/Indian Bhangra dance fusion piece too! Reserved seating tickets are available by calling the Lebanon Opera House at 603-448-0400 or going to http://lebanonoperahouse.org/event/details/east-of-egypt/

CLASSICAL PERSIAN DANCE WITH SHAHRZAD KHORSANDI

MONDAY, JULY 31, 5:30-7 PM

HANOVER REC CENTER

Persia, bordering Central Asia and the Middle East, is the home of Classical Persian Dance. This dance style is a fluid yet rhythmic dance form, which emphasizes the use of hands and wrists. The movement and positioning of the body reflect the rich and refined aesthetics of Persian culture.

This workshop is a multi-level event, appropriate for those who have never taken Classical Persian dance and those who have.

IF YOU ARE A BEGINNER OR INTERMEDIATE, WHY TAKE THIS WORKSHOP???

You will get a definite flavor for what distinguishes Classical Persian from other forms of dance.
You will learn more about the graceful use of hands and arms.
Shahrzad is a super clear teacher with light and friendly, yet direct energy. Time is well-used and you will be both supported and challenged.

IF YOU ARE AN ADVANCED DANCER, WHY TAKE THIS WORKSHOP???
If you are an advanced dancer, I don’t need to answer the question, but I will. Shahrzad is THE master and you will pick up more than you dreamed by learning from her. Soak up every scintilla!!

THE FLOWERY DESCRIPTION:
While learning a beautiful combination, we will focus on Persian dance technique, exploring:
– the elegant bodyline which reflects the rich and refined aesthetics of Persian culture
– smooth, organic transitions within movement patterns, and other integral elements of Persian dance
– the embodiment of dynamic nuances in Persian music

ABOUT SHAHRZAD KHORSANDI:

Shahrzad Khorsandi was born and raised in Iran, and has been passionately involved in dance since childhood. She studied Dance and Performance Art at the California Institute of the Arts, and she holds a BA in Dance, and an MA in Creative Arts from San Francisco State University. Her dance training includes Modern, Jazz, Ballet, West African, Afro-Haitian, Congolese, and an introduction to Senegalese, Balinese and Flamenco.

Drawing upon her deep familiarity of authentic Persian dance, her formal dance training, and her intrinsic knowledge of Persian aesthetics, Shahrzad, a pioneer in Persian dance, has created a formalized dance vocabulary and structure for Persian dance, helping in the artistic development and dissemination of an art form that continues to face social and political obstacles. She has documented this format in a book, The Art of Persian Dance, which was published in February of 2015. She has also produced several instructional and performance DVDs in Persian dance.

Her system includes the introduction of fundamental Persian body positions and movement, categorization and designation of nomenclature to movements, assembly of movement into choreographed phrases, and composition of dance pieces woven intricately with Persian music. Her unique approach to creating Persian dance pieces has prompted her to identify her dance style as Contemporary Persian Ballet.

Learn more at Shahrzad’s website, www.dancepersian.org, and her company Facebook page, www.facebook.com/shahrzaddancecompany.

Our 12th Annual Middle Eastern and American Belly Dance Showcase! This year’s show focuses on the journey from India to Spain, featuring dances from Turkey, Egypt, Iraq, Bollywood, and so much more. Special guests Flamenco Boston will perform live Spanish music and dance. The Raqs Salaam Dance Theater’s 12th Showcase pays tribute to the dancers whose ancestors traveled from India long ago, deconstructing the term “gypsy”, and honoring the true identities and origins of these special people. This is a family-friendly show with delights for young and old, including giveaways, comedy and audience participation.

Gina Capossela and The Raqs Salaam Dance Theater present their 11th Annual Middle Eastern and American Belly Dance Showcase, Belly Dance and Beyond. This year’s theme spans four continents from North America to South America and North Africa to Asia. We also welcome special guests, Dancer’s Corner Dance Company. Enjoy a two hour show featuring Egyptian, Moroccan, and American Belly Dance, as well as Indian Bhangra, Brazilian Samba, Ballet, 60’s Go Go and modern Hip Hop. For tickets, please visit www.lebanonoperahouse.org

Viva La Difference
with Artemis Mourat and Yasmin Henkesh
An Intensive Comparison of Egyptian and Turkish Oriental Dance
Saturday and Sunday, May 24 & 25, 2014

Join Gina Capossela and The Raqs Salaam Dance Theater for their 10th Anniversary Middle Eastern and American Belly Dance Showcase. With an unprecedented 80 performers, this year’s show features Persian, Tunisian, Egyptian, and Tarantella dances, as well as the dances of the Turkish Roma, American Belly Dance and much more. Enjoy the music of Middle Eastern Ensemble, Okbari, and open floor dancing for the audience during intermission. Don’t miss the special performance by the women of Okinawan Karate Academy! The 10th Anniversary Showcase is a tribute to the Images of the Divine Feminine, with inspiration and entertainment for the whole family.