At 6 p.m. on a Tuesday in a converted warehouse in Omaha's Little Bohemia neighborhood, Marisol Farah ties a beaded hip scarf over her leggings and prepares to teach a class of nurses, software engineers, and retirees how to shimmy. Farah, who spent eight years studying raqs sharqi in Cairo and Istanbul, founded Desert Rose Dance Collective in 2017. That first class drew twelve students. Now her weekly enrollment hovers near eighty, with weekend workshops regularly selling out weeks in advance.
"People here are hungry for embodied art," Farah says. "Nebraska has this deep tradition of community gathering—barn dances, polka halls, powwows. Belly dance fits right into that. It's participatory. It's social. It doesn't matter if you're twenty or sixty, size two or size twenty."
Nebraska's belly dance scene has grown from a handful of hobbyists into a structured community with multiple studios, performance troupes, and a calendar of workshops that attract both regional and national instructors. What follows is a guide to upcoming intensives—who teaches them, what you'll learn, and how to register.
Upcoming Workshops
The Heartbeat of the Nile: A Journey Through Egyptian Styles
Instructor: Marisol Farah (founder, Desert Rose Dance Collective; 8 years training in Cairo)
When: Saturday, March 15, 10 a.m.–4 p.m.
Where: The Living Room, 1618 Harney Street, Omaha
Cost: $85; $70 if registered by March 1
Level: Advanced beginner to intermediate
Register: desertroseomaha.com/nile
This six-hour intensive covers three distinct Egyptian styles: classical raqs sharqi, folkloric sa'idi, and modern Cairo stage technique. Students will learn a full choreography and receive written notes on musical structure and regional styling.
Tribal Fusion Fiesta: Blending Modern and Traditional Movements
Instructor: Jax Bell (director, Iron Cactus Dance Theater; certified in FatChanceBellyDance® format)
When: Saturday, April 5, 1 p.m.–5 p.m.
Where: Sheldon Museum of Art, Lincoln
Cost: $65; no previous belly dance experience required
Level: Open
Register: ironcactusdance.org/lincoln
Bell's workshop focuses on isolations, group improvisation, and how electronic music can pair with Ouled Nail-inspired footwork. The session culminates in a short photographed performance in the museum's sculpture garden.
Belly Dance Basics: An Introduction for Beginners
Instructor: Amina Okonkwo (15 years teaching in Lincoln Public Schools and community centers)
When: Four Sundays starting March 2, 2 p.m.–3:30 p.m.
Where: The Bay, 2005 Y Street, Lincoln
Cost: $60 for the full series; drop-ins $20 (first Sunday only)
Level: Absolute beginner
Register: thebay.lincoln.org/dance
Okonkwo designed this series for adults who have never set foot in a dance studio. Each 90-minute session breaks down posture, hip and chest isolations, basic traveling steps, and a short combination. No exposed midriff required; comfortable workout clothes are fine.
The Art of Drum Solo: Mastering Rhythms with Live Percussion
Instructor: Leila Hassan (Middle Eastern percussionist; has toured with Karim Nagi)
When: Saturday, April 19, 11 a.m.–3 p.m.
Where: Midwest School of Dance, 3401 West Dodge Road, Omaha
Cost: $75; $60 for current students of affiliated studios
Level: Intermediate to advanced
Register: midwestschoolofdance.com/drumsolo
Hassan teaches cymbal technique, rhythmic identification, and how to build a solo that converses with live tabla rather than merely accompanying it. A drummer will play for every participant during the final hour.
For Beginners: What to Expect
If you've never taken a belly dance class, you are the target audience for several of these workshops. Amina Okonkwo's four-week series is the most structured entry point. She emphasizes body-positive instruction: no mirrors are required, modifications are offered for all movements, and students set their own pace.
What to wear: leggings or loose pants, a fitted top so the instructor can see your posture, and socks or bare feet
