Sadie at the New York Belly Dance Festival 2026

We are honored to welcome Sadie to the New York Belly Dance Festival 2026 — a deeply respected artist, master teacher, and influential voice in the global belly dance community.

Sadie is an Egyptian-style belly dancer, educator, and the former belly dance choreographer for Shakira, contributing to the development of Shakira’s iconic movement language that brought Middle Eastern dance to a global audience.

She is also the founder of Raqs Online, a pioneering online education platform that has supported and educated dancers worldwide for many years. Through this platform, Sadie has shared her knowledge, experience, and approach to musicality, technique, and expression with dancers across the globe.

Sadie’s work is known for its depth, musical sensitivity, and grounded presence, offering dancers a meaningful connection to the roots of Egyptian dance while supporting personal artistic growth.

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Workshop Schedule with Sadie

Friday, March 20, 2026 | 1:00 PM – 3:00 PM

Signature Movements

(Festival Workshop)

This workshop explores the signature movements and qualities that define Sadie’s style. Dancers will focus on clarity, texture, transitions, and musical intention, learning how to execute movement with depth and purpose.

This class emphasizes:

• Movement quality over quantity

• Musical connection and phrasing

• Developing a personal yet grounded style

A valuable workshop for dancers seeking refinement and authenticity.

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Saturday, March 21, 2026 | 3:00 PM – 5:00 PM

Drum Solo

This workshop focuses on rhythm, accents, and musical control. Sadie guides dancers through how to approach drum solos with clarity, grounding, and confidence while maintaining expressive movement.

You’ll work on:

• Clean accents and timing

• Layering with control

• Staying musical through fast rhythmic sections

Ideal for dancers looking to strengthen their drum solo technique.

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Sunday, March 22, 2026 | 9:00 AM – 11:00 AM

Baladi

Baladi is the heart of Egyptian dance. In this workshop, Sadie explores its grounding, emotional depth, and musical nuance. Dancers will focus on embodying the rhythm, connecting internally, and expressing the music with authenticity and presence.

This class is essential for dancers who want to deepen their understanding of Egyptian roots while maintaining personal expression.

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See Sadie Perform Live

Sadie will be performing in both gala shows:

• Saturday, March 21, 2026

Empire Raqs Gala Show

• Sunday, March 22, 2026

Golden Apple Gala Show (Closing Gala)

Experiencing Sadie perform live is an opportunity to witness musical depth, emotional connection, and refined artistry on stage.

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Why Train with Sadie

Training with Sadie offers dancers an opportunity to study with an artist who balances tradition, musicality, and personal expression. Her teaching supports dancers in developing clarity, confidence, and a deeper relationship with the music.

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Registration & Tickets

Festival Registration:

NewYorkBellyDanceFestival.com

Single Workshop Purchase:

Individual workshops are available through the single workshop purchase link on our website.

We look forward to welcoming you to learn, grow, and dance with Sadie at the New York Belly Dance Festival 2026.