Build a healthier relationship with movement
Find the fun in movement through bellydance fitness classes and movement arts events
Come dance with me
Proudly located in the Triangle, NC area
Serving Raleigh, Durham, Chapel Hill, Morrisville, Cary, Apex, and more
Bellydance fitness classes in Morrisville, NC and online
SharQui - The Bellydance Workout is what happens when authentic bellydance meets high energy fitness. SharQui workouts don’t just get you sweating, they teach classic bellydance moves in flow. You’ll gradually build up to more complex movements starting with the very basics – your feet!
Try a free class
Try a 15 minute sample of a SharQui - The Bellydance Workout class. It's beginner-friendly and a ton of fun!
Click here for your free workout sample
If you decided subscribed to my email list, I'll be popping into your inbox soon! In the meantime, add lina@rhythmandrhinestones.com to your contact list so you don't miss any of the fun.
Upcoming events and performances
Catch me dancing at events in the Triangle, NC area or online. I also partner with local instructors and professional performers to bring you the kind of events I love going to myself. Got questions about an event or want to co-organize something with me? Email me at lina@rhythmandrhinestones.com.
Spring 2023 Workshops with Aisha
Elite Ballroom, Morrisville NC & Online via Zoom
I'm collaborating again with the amazing Aisha to bring a new series of raqs sharqui workshops to the Triangle area. These are special topic workshops taught by Aisha with a SharQui-style warmup led by me. Register individually, or save by purchasing a series pass for all 3 workshops.
Beer & Bellydance at Fortnight Brewing Co.
Tuesday, 1/31 from 8-10pm @ Fortnight Brewing in Cary
This casual, "open-mic night" style event is free to attend and always a good time! Dancers of all levels, from beginner to pro, can sign up to perform to pre-recorded or live music from the Lost Nomads band. The performances are a delight and there's plenty of time for social dancing. I plan on performing a solo this time, so come on out and say hi!
Here's what I'm all about
Aim for movement, not perfection
Dance doesn't have to be about "doing it right". When you hyperfocus on perfection, it's easy to get caught in a spiral of negativity that makes it hard to find enjoyment in movement. My classes are designed to keep you constantly in motion and out of your own head.
Efficiency isn't everything - keep it fun
Sure, you can cram a max-intensity full body workout into 20 minutes. But if that's not what you're into, it does matter how short it is - you're still going to be miserable. I believe consistent movement you actually enjoy is a heck of a lot more important than max workout efficiency, and my classes reflect that.
Embrace body neutrality
Accept and respect your body, even if it isn't the way you'd prefer it to be. You don't have to look a certain way or have certain abilities to enjoy fitness, dance, or other movement arts. I want you to find motivation in the way movement feels, not the way you think it will make you look.
Come as you are, respect who everyone else is
Everyone is welcome, regardless of dance/fitness level, age, gender, appearance, disability, sexuality, or anything else. Just don't be a jerk, ok? As long as you genuinely respect others in the class, you're cool with me.
Curiosity, not fantasy
Raqs sharqi (more commonly known as bellydance) is a globally beloved art form with roots in the folk dances of the Middle Eastern, North African, Hellenic, and Turkish regions. It's not a divine dance of ancient goddesses or mystical women's circles. Replacing the history of this dance with fantasy erases the contributions of the cultures from which it was born. I encourage you to ditch the fantasy for facts and seek out sources of origin (which I am not) to continue learning.