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WHAT: Join Despina, a licensed Salimpour Instructor, for a 5-week dance journey honoring the enduring legacy of Jamila and Suhaila Salimpour — two visionary women whose pioneering work continues to shape the global language of belly dance and SWANA movement forms.Founded by Jamila Salimpour in 1949, the Salimpour School established the first structured approach to belly dance, later expanded by Suhaila Salimpour into a contemporary and somatic system of training. Together, they created the Salimpour Vocabulary — a living language that connects cultural lineage, musicality, and technique across generations.
In this project, Despina will guide dancers through key vocabulary, technique, and emotional expression, culminating in an original choreography that will be performed at Bellyqueen’s Annual Holiday Showcase on Dec 13th.
Honor a lineage. Refine your artistry. Dance the legacy.
WHEN:
Thursdays 7.30-9pm
November 6, 13, 20 (No session Thanksgiving 11/27)
December 4, 11
(One more 1.5 hour session will be added at a time that works for everyone to total six sessions.)
WHERE:
Course: Playwrights, 440 Lafayette St, 4th Floor, Studio 4G, NYC. Press "Playwrights" on the intercom to open the door and activate the elevator.
Show: Speyer Hall, 184 Eldridge St, New York, NY 10002
INVESTMENT: $195, $175 unlimited pass members
- Includes tech rehearsal, photos and video
- Costume is extra
- Invite at least 2 friends to see you perform
Sign Up Now
https://www.wellnessliving.com/rs/event/bellyqueen?k_class=869852&k_class_tab=54268
WHO:
Innovative instructor and virtuoso performer Despina is passionately devoted to the art of belly dance. The rich sounds of music from her Greek childhood and the captivating movements of dancers in Greek nightclubs sparked a lifelong love for the dance. Her journey began in 2005 with Fat Chance Belly Dance Style (ATS®), also known as Global Fusion Belly Dance. She later discovered the Salimpour Institute, deepening her technical foundation, and continued her exploration under the guidance of world-renowned choreographer Dalia Carella.
Despina’s distinctive style seamlessly blends modern and vintage belly dance, shaped by her Greek heritage, Dalia Carella, and the Salimpour format. A licensed Salimpour instructor and proud member of the Dalia Carella Dance Collective, she continues to honor and evolve these influences through her work.
You can find Despina performing and teaching throughout NYC and at belly dance festivals across the U.S. In addition to her classes in Astoria and Manhattan, she is a proud guest teacher at the renowned Bellyqueen School. Her classes offer a dynamic, supportive space where students are challenged to dance safely with ease, grace, and power.
https://www.despinadance.com
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Event Venue & Nearby Stays
Bellyqueen, 440 Lafayette St, New York, NY 10003-6905, United States
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