✨ Pensacola Raqs 2026 featuring Ahmed Hussien! ✨
Date: April 25-26, 2026
Location: Fil-Am Philippine Cultural Center / 234 Oakfield Rd, Pensacola, FL 32503
📅 Workshop Schedule:
Classes run 9:00AM-2:30PM each day
Lunch Break: 12:00-1:00PM
Gala Show: Saturday, April 25 / 7:00-9:00PM (doors open 6:00PM)
🏨 Hotel Information:
Special room block at Springhill Suites by Marriott (7 minutes from venue)
Rate: $159 per night (+ tax)
Deadline: March 27, 2026
Call 1-888-236-2427 and mention "Pensacola Raqs Belly Dance Workshop"
Or book online with hotel block link:
https://www.emeraldcoastbellydance.com/pensacolaraqs.html
💃 Registration Packages:
Early Bird Full Weekend (through Dec. 31, 2025): $246 / 6 classes, lunch each day, 1 Gala Show ticket
Early Bird Single Day: $156 / 3 classes (same day), Gala Show ticket available separately for $20. Lunch Add-On available.
Regular Full Weekend (Jan. 1-Mar. 31, 2026): $326 / 6 classes, lunch each day, 1 Gala Show ticket
Regular Single Day: $192 / 3 classes (same day), Gala Show ticket available separately for $20. Lunch Add-On available.
A La Carte (Feb. 1-Mar. 31, 2026): $68 / Individual workshop(s), as available
A La Carte (Apr. 1-26, 2026): $79 / Individual workshop(s), as available
Gala Show Tickets: $20
💳 How to Pay:
The easiest way to register is with the PayPal Buy Now buttons on the website:
https://www.emeraldcoastbellydance.com/pensacolaraqs.html
If you prefer another method, the following options are also available:
Venmo: Emerald Coast Belly Dance @ginaraqs
Cash App: $glwnolan
Zelle: Gina Nolan (770-361-7341)
Cash/Check: email
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*NO REFUNDS*
🎭 Gala Show Performers:
Workshop participants may perform in the Gala Show (space limited).
Performers do not need to purchase a Gala Show ticket.
Sign-up deadline: March 14, 2026
Workshop fees, music, and Performer Form due by March 14.
Music limit: 4 min 30 sec
Email Gina if you'd like to perform:
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✨ Vendor Call ✨
Join the Belly Dance Marketplace at Pensacola Raqs 2026!
Email Gina:
Z2x3bm9sYW4gfCBnbWFpbCAhIGNvbQ==
Pensacola Raqs 2026 Workshop Schedule & Subjects:
Saturday, April 25, 2026:
9:00-10:30AM - Classic Oriental
10:30AM-12:00PM - Sha'abi
12:00-1:00PM - Lunch
1:00-2:30PM - Oriental Tango
Pensacola Raqs Gala Show - 7:00-9:00PM (Doors open at 6:00PM)
Enjoy shopping with our fabulous Vendors!
Sunday, April 26, 2026:
9:00-10:30AM - Drum Solo
10:30AM-12:00PM - Baladi
1:00-2:30PM - Saidi
Class Subject Descriptions:
Classic Oriental:
The Egyptian Master of Oriental Dance ignites passion and romance in his Classic Oriental Workshop Class. Ahmed Husssien will lead you through a warm up of vivacious and playful technique and dance combinations which develop into a choreographic masterpiece. Prepare to be inspired by the unparalleled grace and style that only Ahmed Hussien can deliver.
Sha'abi:
Join Ahmed Hussien's Egyptian Sha'abi workshop and learn exciting, high energy dance combinations and choreography.
Egyptian Sha'abi dance is a fun street dance with a lot of facial expressions. It is playful in nature and uses imaginative "knife" gestrues to accompany the movements. Most of it is done with improvisation to match the many rhythm changes. Sha'abi is typically danced at weddings and celebrations.
For men, Sha'abi is danced ith a lot of heavy movement similar to hip hop and break dance that was done in the US in the past. For women, Sha'abi dance is more subtle with lots of hip action, sway movement, facial expressions and hand motions.
Oriental Tango:
Egyptian composers added Tango into their music due to the strong influence of the British occupation in Egypt, thus creating the passionate and elegant Oriental Tango. The Oriental Tango is found in many of the songs sung by Oum Kalthoum and Asmahan. Master Ahmed Hussien combines Ballroom Tango with his personal style of Classical Oriental Dance to create the passionate elegance that is Oriental Tango.
Drum Solo:
Master Ahmed Hussien's high energy drum solo is both playful and artistically creative. His genius method of choreography and instruction is evident by the way he combines both body isolations and dance combinations which result in a dynamic performance piece. Come learn to shimmy in ways you never thought you could!
Beledi:
Master Ahmed Hussien combines the urban, grounded feeling of this self-expressive musical style along with modern Oriental movements resulting in a soulful and deeply expressive Beledi choreography. He incorporates gestures with the lyrics for a complete understanding and interpretation of the music.
Saidi:
Saidi Dance is an ancient folkloric dance from Upper Egypt. It combines martial arts movements (known as tahteeb) performed with a staff or cane (assaya). Traditionally, men perform tahteeb, as the ancient Egyptians used it as combat training for battle. The women perform a more theatrical style of tahteeb, called raqs assaya, celebrating the specialized combat skills, which was popularized by Mahmoud Reda, an Egyptian choreographer. They dance with lighter weight canes, and flaunt the ease of maneuvering them with lots of twirls, sometimes dancing with two canes simultaneously. Footwork in this dance often mimics the majestic white Egyptian horses. Traditionally, a loose fitting galabeya is worn both by men and women when performing, with a turban or headscarf. Women will also wear a scarf tied around their hips to showcase the movement. Master Ahmed Hussien presents the most comprehensive study of Saidi rhythm with an authentic and powerful Saidi choreography.
https://www.emeraldcoastbellydance.com/pensacolaraqs.html
Also check out other Workshops in Pensacola, Entertainment events in Pensacola, Dance events in Pensacola.
