Yes! Most of our classes are stand-alone sessions that do not build up on previous sessions so you can join in any one and not feel lost. Some classes come in a series which require a weekly commitment towards an end goal like our Performance Series.

Wear any comfortable workout clothes, preferably form-fitted so we can check your form and help correct it if needed, and a bottle of water (there is a water fountain to refill if you need). Hip scarves add sparkle and fun and we have plenty of them at the studio for you to use if you didn't bring your own!

It’s best to dance barefoot/ with socks on/ or proper, flat dance shoes like jazz or dance sneakers. Avoid wearing high heels UNLESS it’s required for the class like our Bellydance in Heels pop up or for a show!

You can show your belly if you want to, or not. Do whatever is comfortable for you and helps you learn. Just make sure to wear an outfit that clearly shows your outline (especially knees and feet) so we can offer form corrections if needed.

Yes! We provide jingly coin hip scarves to add to the fun at no extra charge! You may borrow ours or bring your own.

Classes are always limited to 10 STUDENTS ONLY (special events excluded)! I know you can’t learn and enjoy yourself when you are crammed like a sardine in an overcrowded room, disappearing into the crowd without being able to see or be seen properly, so I am committed to creating the best, most comfortable, and most valuable learning experience in our classes by providing you the proper space you deserve to move in, and enough of the teacher’s individual attention to help you reach your goals and get the most out of each class. This means that once we reach full capacity we will turn away people at the door if they didn’t sign up in advance, so make sure to SIGN UP WELL IN ADVANCE to avoid this situation (you still must sign up for each class even if you bought a class package or monthly unlimited).

NO! You are never too old or too young to start belly dancing. My mother started taking belly dancing classes when she was in her 60’s :) Minors under 18 years old must have an adult caretaker with them.

Anyone who truly wants to learn bellydance in welcomed in our classes EXCEPT those labeled “women only” to give privacy to those not comfortable/ allowed to dance in front of men.

The best way to experience the class is by DOING it. Spectators make the participants uncomfortable and take up valuable space in the class need for the dancers to move with confidence. You can, however, watch videos of our classes on our YouTube channel.

When necessary, or requested by the students, we will take some videos and photos that will be shared either publicly on our website and YouTube channel for promotional purposes (others want to see what a class looks like before they join), or internally in our WhatsApp group for your practice purposes (joining the group chat is by invitation only after taking class). If we do take photos and videos, we first get CONSENT from all the participants and if you don’t want to be in our footage we will make sure you are not in it. We respect your privacy!

At certain times during the class, as decided by your instructor, and only after approval from the instructor and getting consent from other participants you may take your own videos and photos to help you practice or just to give us a shoutout.

Yes! We provide many performance opportunities throughout the year in our showcases, festivals, and other events. You can join our group pieces and/or perform a solo when you join our Performance Series. Performing is not only a fun experience, a new challenge, and a beautiful way to feel accomplished, but it may also lead you to professional dance work like it has for some of our students already!

Progress and is very individual and achieving your belly dance goals will depend on several factors: - How often you take classes - How frequently you practice on your own - How focused you are during class and your own practice - How good you are at recognizing your own achievements as you progress, and most importantly- HOW DETERMINED YOU ARE Rather than focusing on the results, enjoy the journey and set yourself small goals along the way to help you see your accomplishments and keep yourself motivated to keep improving. You can always be better, but be proud of what you have already achieved! I’ve been bellydancing for over 20 years and I’m still improving and enjoying this life-long journey :)

I started as a student just like you and now I am a full-time professional belly dancer working at parties and restaurants, and performing at cultural events and festivals. Many of our students are now working professional dancers as well, and you can see them performing in restaurants around NYC. Some our student are even teaching at SHEBA and have opened their own classes. Your level of success completely depends on YOU- If you want to become a professional bellydancer be determined, hard-working, consistent, keep practicing, and you will reach your goals, just like us! We are here to support you every step of the way no matter what path you choose for yourself.

Absolutely! You can meet with me, or any of the SHEBA teachers I trained personally, at your convenience to work on anything you desire like preparing your own solo, working on specific techniques/ props/ styles, or just getting all of the instructor’s attention to yourself. You can see me information on how private lessons work here: Private Lessons

From the moment you decide to join our classes you are welcomed into a true sisterhood with the other students and teachers, that supports and encourages you in and outside of class. Yes, we do stay connected outside of class! First of all, we stay in touch through our WhatsApp group (by invitation only- no creeps or bots!) where you are free to ask questions related to classes and bellydance in general, get valuable resources such as inspiration, educational videos and our class playlist so you can continue the practice and fun at home, get a lot of cheering from your dance sisters for your achievements! Secondly, we meet in person for “class trips” like going to a restaurant to watch me or another bellydancer perform, for inspiration and fun, or have gatherings at homes or at the park when the weather is nice, and we combine dancing with snacking and bonding :) Many of our students become friends with each other thanks to this tight connection. You will make true friends and always feel welcomed and supported at SHEBA!

We used to have a big social media presence—on ALL the platforms. We spent years posting, filming, editing, keeping up, and building accounts. And then… we decided to delete them all. Why would we do such a thing??? Because we realized that social media was pulling us away from what matters most to us: the art, the teaching, and the experience we create for our students. We are artists and dance teachers. We would rather spend our time making classes more magical, creating better shows, supporting our students, and deepening our craft than creating content to feed an algorithm. The truth is, the SHEBA magic exists in person. It lives in the atmosphere of the room, the feeling of the music, the connection, the laughter, the transformation. It simply cannot be truly captured in a photo or a video. Of course, we understand that you may want to see examples of a class before taking the chance and attending for the first time—and that’s completely valid. But no photo, video, or social media post can tell you how YOU will feel in the class until you experience it for yourself. The best proof of what we do is our happy, highly trained students; our caring teachers, who always show up with a smile and give you their very best; and the feeling in the room that keeps people coming back year after year. You can read our many 5-star reviews online, or simply ask any of our students what the SHEBA experience is really like. We also care deeply about our students’ privacy. We always ask for consent before using anyone’s image or footage. We do still share occasional class and show highlights, free tutorials on our YouTube channel, and photos throughout this website—but always thoughtfully, and always in context. Instead of social media, we stay connected in ways that feel more personal and real. Our WhatsApp group is a warm, safe space to talk about all things bellydance, receive valuable resources and announcements, and connect directly with the founder, who is personally active and welcoming there. To protect that space from creeps, spam, and bots, the group is by invitation only and available to students after attending a class. Our mailing list is the best way to stay up to date on SHEBA classes, events, and news, with useful links and information sent directly to you. In a world that asks us to perform for the internet, we choose to be fully present with the people in front of us. If something here speaks to you, we invite you not to follow us—but to join us. Come take a class, come to a show, sign up for the mailing list, and experience for yourself what cannot be captured on a screen. After your first class, you’ll be warmly welcomed into our WhatsApp community too. See class schedule and book your class.