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2025 Instructor lineup
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"Safiya Nawaar is a widely acclaimed dance teacher, performer, and workshop instructor, as well as the owner and artistic director of Arabesque World Dance in Lexington, Kentucky. For 25 years, she has been dedicated to mastering Middle Eastern and North African dance. She brings her own commanding yet delicate style to both the stage and the classroom. Safiya possesses the unique ability to translate the intricate emotions of music into eloquent, powerful movement. What truly separates Safiya is her deep, unwavering knowledge and commitment to the integrity of the art form. Her specialization covers the high-caliber traditional and folkloric dance styles of Lebanon, Egypt, and Turkey. Her extensive teaching background also covers a wide range of popular dance props, including the cane, zills, veil, fan veils, wings, and sword. Exceptional in technique, coaching, and stagecraft, Safiya is known for her ability to effectively impart her expertise to students of all levels. Her studio, Arabesque World Dance, is one of the region's top specialty schools and serves as a vital cultural hub: it acts as a show venue and regularly hosts luminaries and international performers in the industry. Her mission is simple: to share the transformative power and deep cultural integrity of this beautiful art form with the next generation of dancers. "
Safiya Nawaar

Safiya Nawaar is a widely acclaimed dance teacher, performer, and workshop instructor, as well as the owner and artistic director of Arabesque World Dance in Lexington, Kentucky. For 25 years, she has been dedicated to mastering Middle Eastern and North African dance. She brings her own commanding yet delicate style to both the stage and the classroom. Safiya possesses the unique ability to translate the intricate emotions of music into eloquent, powerful movement.
What truly separates Safiya is her deep, unwavering knowledge and commitment to the integrity of the art form. Her specialization covers the high-caliber traditional and folkloric dance styles of Lebanon, Egypt, and Turkey. Her extensive teaching background also covers a wide range of popular dance props, including the cane, zills, veil, fan veils, wings, and sword.
Exceptional in technique, coaching, and stagecraft, Safiya is known for her ability to effectively impart her expertise to students of all levels. Her studio, Arabesque World Dance, is one of the region’s top specialty schools and serves as a vital cultural hub: it acts as a show venue and regularly hosts luminaries and international performers in the industry. Her mission is simple: to share the transformative power and deep cultural integrity of this beautiful art form with the next generation of dancers.

Enchanting Fan Veils: Master the Flow and Take Flight
Is your fan veil struggling to keep up with your shimmies? Fan Veils are pure visual magic—but turning that vast ocean of fluttering silk into effortless, integrated motion is a true art! Join Safiya Nawaar in this beloved Playthink favorite to unlock the secrets to prop mastery. This workshop is designed for all levels, from the curious beginner to the experienced dancer looking for polished precision. You will learn how to: • Prop Control Secrets: Master the correct grip and foundational mechanics that ensure the silk flows with you, not against you. • Integrated Flow: Seamlessly weave basic belly dance movements, elegant turns, pivots, and traveling steps into beautiful combinations. • Unleash Your Mojo: Gain the confidence to command the silk and create truly breathtaking visual artistry! Prop Note: This workshop is exciting and fun for everyone! Bring your own fan veils, or Safiya will have veils available for purchase at the PlayShop. A limited supply of loaners will also be available.
Next Level Fan Veils: Advanced Artistry
Are you ready to move beyond the flow and achieve true visual mastery? This advanced workshop is specifically designed for dancers who have already been learning and practicing with Fan Veils and are hungry for the next level of challenge. We are leaving the basics behind to focus on precision, intricate manipulation, and performance finesse. In this Master Class, you will: • Unlock Intricate Techniques: Explore advanced manipulation patterns and complex veil layering that demand superior control and focus. • Refine Seamless Integration: Learn sophisticated ways to integrate challenging Fan Veil movements with elegant turns, sharp pivots, and demanding travel steps, creating a fluid, professional performance. • Achieve Effortless Artistry: Safiya will guide you toward that polished look—where the veil moves with breathtaking impact while your body maintains sophisticated control. Prerequisite: This class is suitable for experienced Fan Veil dancers comfortable with fundamental combinations and seeking to elevate their performance quality. Prop Note: Please bring your own fan veils, or use the limited supply of loaners/veils available for purchase during the PlayShop.
Unveiling the Mysteries of Belly Dance
Unlock the Hidden Dynamics of Traditional Raqs Sharqi! Go beyond basic steps and join Safiya for an energetic playshop dedicated to revealing the subtle mechanics and signature combinations that give her style its hypnotic power and exquisite flow. Drawing on her 25 years of professional experience, Safiya shares the essentials that will help you build a unique movement vocabulary and elevate your dance. In this All-Levels Exploration, you will discover: • Foundational Precision: Establish a solid base by exploring posture, balance, and elegant arm lines. • The Trinity of Technique: Deep dive into the core movements of Oriental dance: Shimmies, Undulations, and Isolations. • Hidden Language of Flow: Discover the secret of moving your body in novel, expansive ways you haven’t explored before! • Signature Versatility: Drill traveling steps and combinations, then practice adapting them to different styles of music, altering the energy and personality of your dance. • Come ready to move, feel, and explore the mysteries of Belly dance!
Veil Magic: Partnering the Silk
Step into the sensual world of veil dance! Safiya transforms your relationship with the silk, teaching you to treat the veil not as a prop, but as a dynamic, breathing dance partner. This energetic playshop is a deep-dive into the unique flow artistry of the veil, showing you how to capture the rhythms and accents of the music for dramatic effect and hypnotic movement. In this flow intensive, you will learn slinky and elegant traveling steps that blend seamlessly with your veil work. We will explore the wraps, unwraps, releases, and retrieves with effortless control, as well as learning to utilize the rests and accents in the music to create dramatic pauses and breathtaking bursts of flow. The discovery doesn’t end there! We will work on high-impact techniques (including large spins and dynamic wraps) used to create explosive, unforgettable visual moments in your dance. This class reveals the secrets to a truly sensual and dynamic experience—perfect for captivating audiences or enriching your personal enjoyment. No Prior Experience Needed. Recommended: Bring a Silk Veil (3+ yards) for optimal flow. Loaner veils available.