Dance around Beirut

(I will go back to Beirut in October 2010 and give this article its much needed update!)

Want to dance your way around Beirut? Let me be your guide!

Dance teachers and schools

There are quite some possibilities for taking dance lessons. First of all you can drop in to a regular class. Many of the schools for ballroom dancing, hip hop and ballet also have a class for Oriental dance (it’s not called bellydance around here). Those are mainly for beginner to intermediate students.

If you want private lessons, you can either arrange one with the teachers of a dance school or follow my tips below. Call there about a week before you actually go, the times for classes may change. Telephone country code for Lebanon: +961. I also arranged some privates on very short notice.

Most teachers speak English and/or French.

Helena Cremona She is great! Helena learned from the famous Nadia Gamal and later became her assistant and the choreographer of her chorus line. She’s been in the business for over 20 years and has a lot of experience. Many of today’s well known dancers trained with her, like Samara and Noura. Helena has regular classes at her own "Helena Dance Center" and outside. You can book her for privates or groups, from beginners to master level. If you are an advanced dancer, take as many hours with her as you can to learn one or two choreographies. They are quite challenging but you will also learn a lot of new movements and combinations. A one hour private lesson costs $ 75 (it’s worth it). You can get a discount if you take more hours. Nahr Street, montée géitawi, 2nd floor, tel. 01 449 720 or 03 349 012

Caracalla School of Dance

This school offers various dance styles. There is an Oriental class that is normally taught by somebody called Mahmoud. But he wasn’t around when I was there, so a young woman gave the lesson. Quite a workout!
The other thing that might interest some people is Caracalla Style. A mix between modern dance and Oriental that the Caracalla dance troup presents on stage. There are lessons for level 1 and 2 (very fast!).
Contact Alissar Caracalla, she directs the school and also teaches the Caracalla 2 lessons.
Drop in classes for about $ 8 (be prepared to be one of 20 students sometimes!)
Damas Street, by the French Embassy, Mobile: 03 222 565 email: acaracalla@yahoo.com

Samira Haddad Samira was a group dancer in two of Amani’s stage shows. She’s right for you if you want to learn Oriental dance in a stage style – where all the movements are “bigger”. I don’t know if she speaks English, I had my lesson in French. I really enjoyed her teaching and think that a mix of her style and Helena gives you a good overview. Samira is in Kaslik, that’s outside of Beirut. So if you can, take a double lessons to make it worth the trip. (There’s also nice shopping in Kaslik though...) A private lesson costs $ 45. Tel. 03 278 590 (she will pick you up by the main road in Kaslik)

Rimah Süleyman

Apparently Rimah trains the dancers for television. I found him through an Arthur Murray franchised dance school. Very glitzy place in a shopping area – which resulted in a high price... Unfortunately Rimah speaks ONLY Arabic. I think I could have learned a lot more from him if communication had been easier.
A 45 min. private lesson costs $ 60.
Freestyle Dance Studio, Zalka Main Road, El Plaza 323 Center – 3rd floor, Tel: 961-1-888662 www.freestyledancestudio.com

These are the people that I have studied with personally but there are many more (that I might want to try out next time...). Here is an overview:

Amani

Want to take lessons with a BIG star? No problem – if you have big money... One hour costs $ 200 for one person or $150 per person if you are two.
Not really my budget so I can’t tell you about her teaching. Amani has developed her own style, so she is probably not very representative for Lebanese dancers. Lessons with her are clearly for the BIG fan!
If you are a beginner/intermediate, you could go to one of her regular classes that she teaches. Don’t be afraid to contact Amani, she is very friendly.
www.amanionline.com

Samara

Another big star! And somebody I want to take lessons with next time. I found her number on the Internet and apparently she teaches privates and beginner classes outside Beirut in the direction of Jounieh - tel. 03 668 991

There are also various clubs that offer Oriental dance lessons like

Mtayleb Country Club, Mtayleb el Metn, www.mccclub.com
Teacher Marie-Claire Khoury, Monday - Wednesday, 20:00 - 21:00

If you know other teachers, please let me know!

And if you would rather have others do the dancing and watch them while eating delicious Lebanese food, here is my list of

Restaurants

The show generally starts around 23:00 with live music and singers and goes on until after 2:00. The restaurants normally are open every night, so avoid the crowded weekend nights.

Rest. Awtar, Kennedy Street, Beirut, Tel. 01 36 16 36 / 36 76 36, www.awtarrestaurant.com
Very centrally located (opposite Phoenician hotel) with one dancer. Order your food from the menu.

Rest. Nahr el Founoun in Nahr El-Kalb valley, Tel. 09 216 830/1, nfounoun@cyberia.net.lb
Various singers and two dancers. The evening in this place costs 58’000 £, including the show and a full dinner (mezze and meat from the grill). The taxi for both ways is 30 $ (there are no taxis waiting in front of this remote place, you have to order one for both ways, for ex. "Savoy Taxi" Tel. 03 952 787).

Two other restaurants with dance shows that I have heard about (ask your hotel reception for details):

Rest. Zad El Kheir, Jounieh
Rest. Khan El Mir, Zouk Mosbeh, Tel: 09-222224

I would like to thank all the fellow dancers who helped me with their tips, especially Emma-Bessa and Farida!