Sunday 24 August 2025

Music and dance - along with tea and coffee - are cornerstones of Turkish daily life.

During Rachel’s 2-month trip around Türkiye last year, she encountered joyful cultural practices and rituals everywhere. In this potted tour, you’ll vicariously enjoy a typical night out with live music; glimpse a henna night (pre-wedding) party; discover regional folk dances still practised today; and more!

Part travelogue, part storytelling, part cultural overview; this is not a dance class (though we might take a break and get up for a brief Halay). It is primarily a slide show (videos and photos), with commentary and time for questions, focussing on what’s of most interest to dancers. Sit back, sip your tea, and imagine yourself travelling from Istanbul to the Black Sea to the world’s pistachio capital, Gaziantep: meeting and dancing with locals throughout your journey.

If you’re planning a trip to Türkiye, you’ll get useful tips on finding dance-related experiences. Or if you don’t think you’ll get there yourself, this is the next best thing!

Presentation runs approx 1hr15min plus discussion / Q&A time

Iraq has a diverse ethnic and cultural tapestry, with unique music, rhythms, and aesthetics that are quite distinct from other Arabic dances. Join Andrea for an immersive journey through the rich styles of Iraqi dance: from powerful folkloric roots to expressive modern technique.

Each session in this series of 5 workshops will focus on a specific style or element, giving you a chance to grow, explore, and connect with this incredible cultural heritage.

Each class runs 1.5hrs. Take any combination of the classes - or all!

- Hacha’a (هچع)

- Hair Moves and Shimmies

- Khashaba (خشابة)

- Chobi (جوبي) & Basrawi (بصراوي)

- Choreography

Bellydance Party and Show for Inspire Bellydance students and friends.

Saturday, 5 July, 2:30pm - 5:30pm

“Passion 4 Purpose” Hall, 171 Great N Rd, Five Dock NSW 2046, Australia

This casual, colourful afternoon will include:

Student showcase: bellydance students of all levels sharing what they have learned in class

Guest performances: Inspire Bellydance teachers and friends

Social dancing: Arabic party music

Light afternoon tea

Everyone is welcome: performers and non-performers, dancers and non-dancers, family and friends. Come dressed to dance!

Doors open 2.30pm, show starts 3pm.

Sunday 24 November, 2024

A Women's party and concert for Inspire Bellydance students and friends, that will make you dance!

This casual, colourful afternoon will include:
- Student showcase: bellydance students of all levels sharing what they have learned in class
- Guest performances: Inspire Bellydance teachers and friends
- Social dancing: Arabic party music by DJ Shannon
- Light afternoon tea

Strictly No Photos. This is a private, women-only event out of respect to those students who cannot dance or perform in front of men. Thanks for respecting this.
All women are welcome: performers and non-performers, dancers and non-dancers, family and friends. Come dressed to dance!
Doors open 2.30pm, show starts 3pm.

General Admission $25 in advance or $30 at the door
Seating is a mix of floor cushions and chairs. Seats cannot be reserved: we encourage you to be flexible and considerate, and enjoy meeting new friends!

Food/Drinks: Light afternoon tea is provided. You are also welcome to bring your own snacks / drinks, if so please keep it neat and tidy, and bring everything you need (cutlery, glasses etc) and take all rubbish home with you. Please bring your own reusable water bottle.

Tuesday 24 January 2024, 7-9pm; Punchbowl or Zoom

Do you ever feel that your dancing is restricted due to tightness or stiffness in the hip area? Even if we have good technique, locked-up hips can stop our movements from showing as clearly as we'd like, and make it hard to isolate this important area.

In this workshop, Johara will draw on Yoga along with Dance Therapeutics, Pilates, myofascial release and her own dance practice to help you release tension, stretch and strengthen. She'll guide you through exercises that you can also do at home, to open up tight hips and pelvis, lower back etc; plus integrate it into bellydance so you can feel the difference. Over time, we hope this will help you find greater ease and range of motion in your dance. 

Bring the following if you have them: yoga mat, yoga blocks, tennis ball and/or spiky therapy ball, towel... and of course your hip scarf and water bottle!

Choose from Face-to-Face attendance at our Punchbowl studio ($45), or online via Zoom ($30). If you're already booked into a Term 1 course with Inspire Bellydance, you get it for half price! Reach out to us before booking the workshop and we'll send you a discount code. 

All enrolled participants will also receive a recording. If you can't attend in real time, sign up for the Zoom session.

Ladies Lounge: End of 2022 Party

BACK BY POPULAR DEMAND: A special party for Ladies Only.

Celebrate our shared love of dance with Performances, Social Dancing, Friends, Food and Fun!

For those we already know, let's get together and party! Or if you haven't yet come to try a class, this is a perfect opportunity to meet us all and find out more about what we do - and what you could be part of.

What: An afternoon of dance!

- Performances from Inspire Bellydance student groups

- Select student solos and duos

- "Pot Luck" Improvisation Challenge

- Professional Solos from some of our Teachers and friends

- Social dancing (if we are lucky, perhaps some live drumming?)

- Shopping: Amera's Palace Bellydance Boutique will be open!

- Tasty Nibbles

- Chatting and connecting

WOMEN ONLY event, out of respect for those among our students who cannot or are not comfortable dancing with men present. For the same reason, there will be no cameras or filming permitted.

Want glamorous photos of yourself in your bellydance outfit? Here’s your chance!

Enjoy a 15 minute session with one of our resident photographers. In such a short session, you can only expect a few good shots, but it will be a fun adventure!

Slots may be booked for a solo session, or a duo / trio with your bellydance besties. You may also bring one other person to be your ‘spotter’, helping to notice if your lipstick has smudge or your label’s showing, etc. After you’ve booked, we’ll send some tips on how to prepare so you can make the most of your session.

You’ll receive your raw (not retouched) images by web link to download.

Sunday 11 December : between 12-2pm

Venue: Amera's Palace, Level 2, 314 Marrickville Rd, Marrickville

Cost: $30 per session

Bring: Your costume, pose ideas, any props you wish to use. Arrive with your hair and makeup ready to go.

After a very long two years of closed borders, we are so excited to have Florence joining us all the way from Canada as part of her "Grace and Beauty World Tour" of Danse Orientale!

Florence is an elegant and magnetic dancer known for her stunning musicality and dramatic group pieces.

__________

Less is More: Monday 26 September 7-9pm (Chatswood)

Travelling Steps: Saturday, 1st October, 10am-12pm (Marrickville)

Oriental Entrance: Saturday, 1st October, 1-3pm (Marrickville)

Melting into Beauty: Sunday, 2nd October, 10am–1.30pm (Marrickville)

__________

About our Guest: Florence of Canada

Based in Montreal, Florence teaches throughout Canada and the United States; from workshops to large-scale collaborative theatre projects. She is rapidly becoming known internationally through projects in Europe. Her Grace and Beauty World Tour brings her to Australia for the first time!

Florence is known for her elegance, her grace and the quality of her choreographic work. Within Quebec, she is one of the most sought-after Oriental Dance choreographers and teachers. She is also the founder and principal choreographer of theGrace and Beauty Ensembles, explorative ensembles working in studio in Montreal as well as an International group online which adds to her solo artistic work.

To discover more about her and her work, visit her website or her social medias:

www.florencedanse.com / Facebook or Instagram : Florence Danseuse Orientale

A Celebration of Danse Orientale featuring international guest Florence of Canada

Friday 30 September at Amera's Palace

Doors open 6.30pm, Show starts 7pm

- Performances by invited local and interstate dance groups and soloists.

- Snack on the Lush Grazing Table (included), refresh yourself at the Bar

- Social Dancing breaks

- Relax on the floor cushions for a close-up view of the acts, or take a seat.

All welcome!

After a 3 year gap, we are back! All dancers, friends, family and supporters are invited to join in the most inclusive event of the year.

STREET PARADE

The Street Parade is a favourite part of the annual Willoughby Spring Festival and features multicultural groups ranging from scouts' marching bands to Chinese Opera - and we are always part of it too, representing Middle Eastern dance. Everyone who wants to participate is warmly welcome, regardless of whether you are a student with Inspire Bellydance. Costumes are available for loan if you don't have your own.

AFTERNOON PERFORMANCE

at 4.30pm on the World Fusion stage (Spring St)

We are presenting a 30 minute set including a warm-up with Zumba Gold, followed by students showcasing their favourite routines. Contact your teacher to sign up for performing in the group, or come to watch and bring your family.

Friday 1 July 2022

Postponed for 12 months, happening at last!

A party for Inspire Bellydance students and friends, the Golden Hafla (Revisited) will be a festive evening of sparkles including:

- Student showcase: from beginners to advanced bellydance students sharing what they have learned in class

- Guest performances including Inspire Bellydance teachers

- Social dancing with Arabic music by DJ Tara

Your ticket includes a delicious Lebanese 3-course banquet (mezze, mains, fruit platter and soft drinks), with vegetarian options. Drinks are available at the bar.

Tickets are $62.50 all inclusive. All welcome: performers and non-performers, dancers and non-dancers, family and friends. Come dressed to dance.

Sunday 23rd January, 10.30am-12pm

Fabulous hats and headwear for Neo-Andalusi (and other dance styles) with Tara Yasmin

~ an in-person and online workshop ~ just $10

Interested in upping your headwear game but not sure where to start? This class is for you!

In this class you will learn how to create a solid base for your hats and headwear, and learn four different hat styles. The aesthetic is specific for Neo-Andalusi dance but the principles are generalisable to other styles.

Tuesdays 21 & 28 September 2021, 7pm

A classic costume style that every Oriental Dancer needs, a Balady or Saidi dress is a sheath-style one piece costume. It is based on traditional garments, and suitable for all body types. With a bit of guidance it's easy to make. Inspire student Erin will walk us through the process over 2 Tuesday evenings in the school holidays: 21 and 28 September, 7-8.30pm on Zoom.

Free for Inspire Students; advance registration required to secure your spot. Open to other dancers if spaces are available (please register your interest).

You will need:
- fabric (approx 2m of stretch fabric)
- matching thread
- pins, markers
- fabric scissors
- sewing machine and needles
- large pieces of paper (newspaper, wrapping paper, butcher's paper) and pens

Sunday 17 October 2021, 4pm

A low-key social gathering to connect away from our screens.

It's picnic season, and our online dance party was such a success that we want to replicate it outdoors.

Wear fun but sensible clothes and be ready to dance as well as chat. Bring a picnic rug, your own plates / cups / drinks (no single use please), some finger food to share.

This event is weather dependent (but currently the forecast is for a fine, warm day).

COVID SAFETY rules:

- RSVP essential, limited to 30 people (not including under 12s)

- All adults must be fully vaccinated

- Please do not attend if feeling unwell or showing symptoms

Full location details will be provided when you RSVP. Easy parking nearby.