Beyond the Belly Dance festivals: Online Conference with Industry Secrets & Untouched Topics.

  • 21st -24th January 2027

Exclusive know-how, thriving career tips, and firsthand experiences from top speakers in Raqs Sharqi & MENAHT culture and dances. 

REGISTER TODAY

Next conference coming in

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Be Part of the Belly Dance Community’s Evolution: 

Prepare to be inspired every day of this amazing belly dance summit: Al Raqs Conference! This full online event features exceptional speakers who dedicate each day to exploring important MENAHT dance topics you won’t find in regular classes or festivals, like the history and heritage behind the dance and professional career topics. 

Save These Dates!

9th Nov
2026

Free Scholarship application opens

11th Nov
2026

Conference registration open with Early-Bird price

10th Jan
2027

Call for Contributions – submissions deadline

21- 24th Jan 2027

Conference lectures, discussions

Raqs Film Festival every two years

From now on, the Raqs Film Festival will be part of the Al Raqs universe — enriching the conference experience with a curated selection of films exploring dance, identity, music, and cultural heritage.

THE NEXT FILM festival will be on January 2028.

ABOUT FILM FESTIVAL

Worldwide access

Join lectures from anywhere around the world using Zoom.

Recordings

Recordings to stream the lectures will be available 60 days after the conference.

One price

“All you can watch” for one price, easy as that.

The Ultimate Online Conference for All (60-Day Access Included!)

 

What You’ll Gain:

  • Wealth Of Knowledge Gain priceless experiences and expertise from top professionals in the belly dance world.
  • Expand Your Horizons: Explore a diverse range of subjects that empower your dance journey.
  • Learn Anytime, Anywhere: Access all sessions online – live or via recordings available for 60 days – for ultimate flexibility.
  • Supportive Community: Find a safe space to connect with fellow dancers, share experiences, and build a network of like-minded individuals.
  • Open Discussion: Engage in round table discussions after each day, ask questions directly to the speakers, and participate in a supportive and encouraging environment.

    History & Research

    Discover the rich history of dance and explore the latest research to gain a deeper understanding.

    Culture & Heritage

    Explore the cultural background, honoring the rich heritage that shapes MENAHT dances and music.

    Growth & Resilience

    Find out strategies to grow and build resilience in your career, dance, and within our community.

    Teaching & Training

    Discover innovative methods in teaching and training. Empower your skills with our speaker’s techniques.

    Being professional

    Explore what it means to be a professional dancer from different perspectives and experiences.

    NEW: Al Raqs podcast, a way to meet our speakers

    GET YOUR TICKET

    Founded with love by Sheyla

    MEET SHEYLA

    Learn From Your Favorites in the field

    Our lineup of professional speakers is truly exceptional. With diverse backgrounds as dancers, researchers, musicians, and industry professionals, they bring a top-tier wealth of expertise and an abundance of knowledge. Most importantly, all of them are committed to empowering you as a conscious dancer, teacher, and human being.

    LINE UP 2027

    What People Say About Last Year’s

    Al Raqs gave me SO much information to work with! Everything from how to run my business, how to take care of my mental health as a dancer, to how to engage with different cultures as an artist. I highly recommend this conference to dancers at every level!

    This conference exceeded my expectations!!! A huge thank you to the organizers and speakers who made this happen. It was really well organized in terms of the marketing of the event, the communications, materials provided, technical aspects, subjects discussed and participants involvement. It is important to be a skilled dancer, teacher and artist. But such events are as important in bringing awareness to certain topic, share knowledge and experiences within the community, and to network.- Alla Saleh

    The diversity of speakers and topics was incredible! Thank you so much for organising this event, giving us access to so many different perspectives and ideas. – Kim Maria

    Such a great event! Well organised, very relevant themes and great speakers. And the digital format makes it very accessible. I learned a lot and more importantly, I feel very inspired. Can’t wait for the 2023 edition!- Cecilla

    Want a taste? 

    Grab our freebie and get a sneak peek at last year’s lectures to get incredible insights and experience firsthand the power of the Al Raqs Conference.

    GET A FREEBIE

    Available in 6 languages

    All lectures are happening online via ZOOM in English at scheduled times below.

    Recordings are available with subtitiles in Czech, German, Arabic, Portugese, Spanish, Ukrainian languages.

    Translations will be available a day after the conference within recordings

    Timetable of lectures

    Schedule for January 2027 will be announced on November 2026

    But still, please check your time zone www.worldtimebuddy.com, default times below are CET (Central European Time – Prague) and do not forget that you get 60 day stream access to all lectures after the conference. Each lecture is max 50 min long followed by 10 min break. Once you are registered you will be able to add each lecture to your calendar in your timezone.

    Show times in:
    Time/Date
    8:30 AM CET
    9 AM CET
    10 AM CET
    4 PM CET
    5 PM CET
    6 PM CET
    9 PM CET
    10 PM CET
    11 PM CET

    21st Jan

    History & Research Day

    Warm Up

    Networking activities to connect

    Setsuna

    osition/opposition: ethical/unethical choices they don’t prepare you for in dance research

    Chrystelle

    In Memory of Kitty and Soheir Zaki: The Transformation of Mid-Century Egyptian Cinema

    Jéssica Prestes

    The Heritage That Dances: Romani People, Heirs to Ottoman Art

    coming soon

    coming soon

    Nisaa (Heather D. Ward)

    In Search of the Dancing Girls: Egypt’s Ghawazi and the Persistence of Myth

    Juniper Nichols

    Oriental Fantasy Dances in the US Progressive Era, 1890-1920'

    PANEL DISCUSSION

    22nd Jan

    Culture & Music Day

    Warm Up

    Networking activities to connect

    Mamdouh Elkady

    Music East of the Nile: The Simsimiyya and the Musical Heritage of the Red Sea

    coming soon

    coming soon

    George Sawa

    Tarab and the dancer

    Dr. Meg Morley

    Palestine (and Israel): An Overview

    workshop

    coming soon

    Majda Anwar

    Too Much or Not Enough: An Arab American’s Journey Through Belly Dance

    PANEL DISCUSSION

    23rd Jan

    Wellbeing & Health Day

    Warm Up

    Networking activities to connect

    coming soon

    Anny al Anyqa

    authentic emotional expression in Egyptian dance

    coming soon

    Drake von Trapp

    Belly Dance and Chronic Pain

    Badriyah

    The Dancer's Core: Pilates in Practice

    workshop

    Sadie

    When the Rhythm Changes: Dancing Through Perimenopause & Menopause

    Fernanda

    The Dancer Behind the Dance

    PANEL DISCUSSION

    24th Jan

    Being Professional Day

    Warm Up

    Networking activities to connect

    Shruti Narayanan

    The Anatomy Of A Flawless Mistake (And How To Make It Look Intentional)

    Amanda Rose

    The Creative Compass: Finding Your Way Through the Creative Process

    coming soon

    Luna Poumian

    The Big Picture: Lessons from Supporting a Vision

    coming soon

    workshop

    Arielle

    Teaching Toolkit: The Psychology of Learning

    Nada Al Basha

    Ethics in Motion: Building Responsible Festivals and Conscious Communities

    PANEL DISCUSSION

    ABOUT LECTURES 2027

    Prices

    All lectures are online via ZOOM in English. Recordings are available with subtitiles in Czech, German, Arabic, Portugese, Spanish, Ukrainian languages. Recordings are available in about 1 hour after each block / late night block is available next morning aroun 9 AM CET.

    Early bird

    first 50 participants
    $99
    • The whole program of online ZOOM conference + 60 day stream access after the conference

    Mid-sale

    51 - 100 participants
    $119
    • The whole program of online ZOOM conference + 60 day stream access after the conference

    Late-sale

    101 + participants
    $139
    • The whole program of online ZOOM conference + 60 day stream access after the conference

    Scholarships

    check out our options
    $0
    • The whole program of online ZOOM conference + 60 day stream access after the conference
    APPLY NOW

    ∗ We do not sell single lectures, the price for conference is all-you-can-attend for one price.

    Registrations starts 11th November 2026

    Conference team

    I am a professional dancer since 2006 and I focus on Egyptian traditional dances and music, doing my research and teaching lectures and workshops. Last year I went to Egypt to film the Funoon Shaabeya document about traditional artists. I also organize dance conference for 10 years in Czech republic, where I am from, and this year I decided to bring it to international level.

    Sheyla

    Conference founder, researcher, author of Funoon Shaabeya & dancer

    Anna is a cultural manager based in Prague. She is working for live events, as contemporary circus festival Letni Letna (coordinating production and international projects) or coordinating educational projects for cultural leaders. During Covid times she found another field of expertise which is coordinating and technical support for live online zoom events.

    Anna

    Zoom coordinator and technical administrator

    Badriyah is a professional Raqs Sharqi dancer, devoted mainly to Egyptian classical and folklore styles, and the Golden Age of Raqs Sharqi. Most of all, Badriyah treasures the ten years of performing with Bellydance Evolution (BDE): an international belly dance – theatre show, led by Jillina from USA. Badriyah performed more than 60 shows with the company, both as a troupe dancer and a lead dancer.

    Badriyah

    Moderator and call for contributions coordinator

    Aubre Hill is an international dance artist, scholar, and advocate based in Los Angeles. She has toured the world through dance, been highlighted in numerous films and projects, and continually woven artistic expressions across the field from Folklore to Raqs Sharqi to Transcultural Fusion. She’s a mover and shaker and an artist full of heart.

    Aubre Hill

    Discussion host

    Based in Minneapolis, MN, USA, Alana is an artist and dancer who brings arts administration experience from her work over the last four years with non-profit arts organization, Jawaahir Dance Company. She had the opportunity to work in this arts support setting on various tasks including online marketing, communications and more.

    Alana

    Marketing assistant

    Based in Amsterdam, I have been a Raqs Sharqi enthousiast my whole life and have been dancing and learning this art form with much love & passion for the last couple of years. With a background in International Business and Hospitality and with experience in organizing local & international events, I am honored and looking forward to assisting in the AlRaqs Conference this year.

    Karem Peña

    Moderator