UPCOMING CLASSES
Winter / Spring Term: January 5 - March 19
Choreography with Performance Option
Enjoy Super Secret Early Bird Pricing when you sign up before Nov. 15, 2025
All classes take place at Studio Datura | 116 NE Russell St, Portland, OR 97212
Be sure to read our class policies at the bottom of this page.
As a thank you to our current students and to encourage you to keep this awesome dance momentum going, we are offering an exclusive incentive to sign up for the winter / spring session early.
We also know that some of you are Planners, so this is for you!
Many of our offerings will be choreography that build on the skills you learned in the fall. There is a group performance option in our student showcase for each of these, which is a fun way to celebrate your work! While the show will be on April 19th, performance is not required and technique development is still a large part of each class.
We will still offer 2 Intro to Raqs Sharqi (no choreography) per week.
Tabla classes with Jason Ramirez will likely continue. We will update as soon as we know.
Our guest instructor this term is Shaunti Fera. She’ll be teaching a Saidi Raqs Assaya choreography.
Check out these lovely photos from last year’s Student Showcase!
Do you have the heritage and lived experience of a culture from Southwest Asia (AKA the Middle East) and/or North Africa?
CLICK HERE to learn about our Heritage Dancer Scholarship.
10 Weeks
Choose between two class options:
Wednesdays at 6:30 PM with Heather Louise
Thursdays at 7:45 PM with Heather Louise
Raqs sharqi’s roots are in the social dances of the Middle East and North Africa. Learn the basic steps, shapes, and shimmies that make dancing fun and a source of connection across all ages and genders.
Wednesday class dates: 1/7, 1/14, 1/28, 2/4, 2/11, 2/18, 2/25, 3/4, 3/11, 3/18
Thursday class dates: 1/8, 1/15, 1/29, 2/5, 2/12, 2/19, 2/26, 3/5, 3/12, 3/19
Super Secret Early Bird $145
$160 Early Bird until Dec. 31, 2025, $190 after Dec. 31.
10 Weeks | Mondays at 6:30 PM with Ella
Beginner Level baladi choreography. More details to come!
Optional performance opportunity for dancers who want to take this choreography to the stage as a group. Must be able to attend rehearsals and budget $50 for costuming (we will do our best to keep it as low as possible).
Class dates: 1/5, 1/12, 1/26, 2/2, 2/9, 2/16, 2/23, 3/2, 3/9, 3/16, 3/30
Performance rehearsal dates: 3/30, 4/6
Dress rehearsal: 4/12 from 11:00 - 4:00pm
Show on 4/19 from 12:00-5:00pm
Super Secret Early Bird price $145, until Nov. 15, 2025
Early Bird price $160, after Dec. 31, 2025 $190
with performance: Early Bird $210, after Dec. 31 $240
10 Weeks | Wednesdays at 7:45 PM with Heather
Beginner & intermediate level finger cymbal choreography. Must have experience dancing with finger cymbals. Dancers who have taken Heather’s fall Cymbalism classes are qualified to enroll. Others can email Heather to apply.
More details to come!
Optional performance opportunity for dancers who want to take this choreography to the stage as a group. Must be able to attend rehearsals and budget $150 for costuming (we will do our best to keep it as low as possible).
Class dates: 1/7, 1/14, 1/28, 2/4, 2/11, 2/18, 2/25, 3/4, 3/11, 3/18
Performance rehearsal dates: 4/1, 4/8
Dress rehearsal: 4/12 from 11:00 - 4:00pm
Show on 4/19 from 12:00-5:00pm
Super Secret Early Bird price $145, until Nov. 15, 2025
Early Bird price $160, after Dec. 31, 2025 $190
with performance: Early Bird $210, after Dec. 31 $240
10 Weeks | Thursdays at 6:30 PM with Heather
Beginner level Arabic pop choreography with Heather.
More details to come!
Optional performance opportunity for dancers who want to take this choreography to the stage as a group. Must be able to attend rehearsals and budget $150 for costuming (we will do our best to keep it as low as possible).
Class dates: 1/8, 1/15, 1/29, 2/5, 2/12, 2/19, 2/26, 3/5, 3/12, 3/19
Performance rehearsal dates: 4/2, 4/9
Dress rehearsal: 4/12 from 11:00 - 4:00pm
Show on 4/19 from 12:00-5:00pm
Super Secret Early Bird price $145, until Nov. 15, 2025
Early Bird price $160, after Dec. 31, 2025 $190
with performance: Early Bird $210, after Dec. 31 $240
Sunday, March 1, 2026 at 12:00 PM with Shaunti Fera
Saidi Raqs Assaya Choreography Workshop
Must have prior experience dancing with cane or stick. More details to come!
Optional performance opportunity for dancers who want to take this choreography to the stage as a group. Must be able to attend rehearsals and budget $150 for costuming (we will do our best to keep it as low as possible).
Workshop is March 1, 2025 from 12:00 - 3:00pm
Performance rehearsal dates: SUNDAYS 3/8, 3/15 (10:00am - 12:00pm)
& MONDAYS 3/30, 4/6 (8:00 - 9:00pm)
Dress rehearsal: 4/12 from 11:00 - 4:00pm
Show on 4/19 from 12:00-5:00pm
Super Secret Early Bird price $70, until Nov. 15, 2025
Early Bird price $80, after Dec. 31, 2025 $90
with performance: Early Bird $230, after Dec. 31 $240
10 Weeks | Mondays at 7:45 PM with Ella
Intermediate Level Egyptian shaabi choreography. More details to come!
Optional performance opportunity for dancers who want to take this choreography to the stage as a group. Must be able to attend rehearsals and budget $50 for costuming (we will do our best to keep it as low as possible).
Class dates: 1/5, 1/12, 1/26, 2/2, 2/9, 2/16, 2/23, 3/2, 3/9, 3/16, 3/30
Performance rehearsal dates: 3/30, 4/6
Dress rehearsal: 4/12 from 11:00 - 4:00pm
Show on 4/19 from 12:00-5:00pm
Super Secret Early Bird price $145, until Nov. 15, 2025
Early Bird price $160, after Dec. 31, 2025 $190
with performance: Early Bird $210, after Dec. 31 $240
CLASS POLICIES
Conduct
Al Wadi is dedicated to fostering an inclusive environment that prioritizes mutual respect, trust, curiosity, and joy. We do not tolerate harassment, especially that based on race, gender, country of origin, ethnicity, culture, disability, age, religion, gender identity or sexual orientation.
Learning is an exciting and vulnerable thing. We expect our students to contribute to a classroom culture that feels supportive, welcoming, and fun!
Registration
If you miss your class, you are welcome to join another class of a similar level before the session ends. For example, if you miss your regular Monday night Intro class, you are welcome to join a Thursday night Intro class as a make-up.
All sales are final. If you experience a personal emergency that does not allow you to take class, you may put your registration toward a future class series.