Welcome back to belly dance classes with Ma*Shuqa – inside the dance studio.

New Student Class Fee Special Discount: $10 discount at first class  on: 5/class $60 cards and 10/class cards $110  class card.  Dance cards never expire. Cash, check, or credit card payment via Square.com

Ma*Shuqa offers ongoing classes each week.  See student reviews on Yelp.com and Google.com and at MaShuqa.com

Drop In or Start at Any time  No need to pre-register or reserve space.  Come to your first class 10 minutes early to complete a short form. Wear  dancewear , wear shoes, and layers.  Bring or borrow a coin hip sash, finger cymbals and yoga mat.

Studio Belly Dance Classes Indoors 

Ma*Shuqa's Hidden Garden Oasis Dance Studio

15651 Camino Del Cerro, Los Gatos, CA 95032

(408) 356-9473   mashuqadancer@gmail.com

Ma*Shuqa's Weekly Class Schedule - (Check below for dates without classes) 

DATES WITHOUT CLASSES: Tuesday, August 6th, and Wednesday, August 7th, 2024

On-going weekly classses - 

Tuesday all Levels: 7:00 - 8:30 pm

Wednesday all levels: 1:00-2:30 pm, and 7:00-8:30 pm

Class fees: Drop in $20, 5 classes/$60, 10 classes/$110. Discount class cards may be shared with family and friends.

New Students Special $10 discount on dance card with discounted fee if purchased at the first class.  Receive a $10 discount on purchases of 5-class cards ($50/regular price $60) and 10 class cards ($100/regular price $110) if purchased at first class.

Safety from COVID virus. We will be safe from COVID – we have an industrial quality air purifier that removes: viruses, bacteria, pollen, and particulates from the air. We will also make sure there is sufficient airflow through the studio with open windows and ventilating air out the studio into the garage. We have AC heating and cooling too. Anyone who has seasonal allergies or asthma will appreciate the very clean air during classes.

1)   Enter the gate, walk left through the garden to the studio.

2)   Enter studio and sanitize hands.

3)   First class – please complete an “information sheet”.

5)   Bring finger cymbals, yoga mat, hip sash. 

 New music I’ve just reviewed in written articles will be used in classes. “Cairo Nights Vol. 10” by Dr. Samy Farag – classical Egyptian pieces and Shaabi. “Unveiled” by the Ed Melikian Ensemble – Armenian and Middle Eastern pieces – with exciting rhythms: 2/4, 4/4, 5/8, 7/8, 6/8, 9/8 and 10/8. Bring your finger cymbals to enjoy dancing to melodies with these different musical styles (Armenian, Turkish, and Arabic styling) – what fun we’ll have. As always, Ma*Shuqa Method instruction foci are rhythms, musicality, dance movement combinations for improvisation – with instruction on the option to stylize your dancing and performance.

We will be well and stay healthy and happy dancing.

See my beautiful Rhinestone Blinged Masks at www.CarlSermonPhotography.Zenfolio.com – search “Masks”.

 Ma*Shuqa Mira Murjan MPH

 

You may attend more than one class per week.
Want to dance like Shakira?  Come enjoy the art of Belly Dance.


Student Recommendation from Ajanae
The highlight of my week is escaping the rush of Silicon Valley to go to Ma*Shuqa’s School of Belly Dance, a beautiful private dance studio tucked away from prying eyes; a serene retreat with greenhouse ceiling and walls that look out on a verdant garden with Egyptian papyrus, tall California redwood trees, and tropical plants. Ma*Shuqa Mira Murjan’s Hidden Garden Oasis dance studio offers me respite from the world – a safe and beautiful learning environment. Dance is my love and passion; I am not a professional dancer but after studying with Ma*Shuqa for a couple of years I am comfortable saying that I’m an advanced dancer. I love that Ma*Shuqa’s classes are all levels—from the person just seeking to embrace a new experience of their femininity, body aesthetic and enjoyment to the professional polishing a competition routine—Ma*Shuqa is a local treasure with international recognition in the belly dance world. As a dancer, the Ma*Shuqa Method, which includes many handouts and deeply researched explanations, has taken my understanding of the context, culture, and expression of belly dance beyond the superficial “shake your hips” of YouTube instruction. Her method is an intentional way to develop elegance of style, high standards for improvised performance with live music and a unique dance signature styling. The Ma*Shuqa method encourages and enables dancers to perform improvised dance that matches Middle Eastern musicality and makes beautifully accomplished and musical dancers who are all individually unique. I’ve learned to dance in a way that mirrors the music so closely, that I almost feel like the music is living inside of me. Ma*Shuqa has an incredible music collection and plays new music every class—I am always filled with joy when my dance matches the musicality of the music. Beyond preparing for performance (which I do occasionally) the weekly class is always an opportunity to experience the surprising, satisfying and singular experience of moving to unknown music as if being compelled by an unknown force—it is truly magical—and the way that learned to understand music from Ma*Shuqa allows me to have this experience. I’ve studied with many teachers, and the hallmark of studying with Ma*Shuqa is becoming profoundly versed in musical interpretation. In every class we listen to new music to define, assess, and identify the many elements of music; then create beautiful dance movement to match the elements of musicality in the music. I love studying with Ma*Shuqa, it is one of my top priorities. Hope to see you in class!