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!


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.


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.