Middle East

GET DANCE MENAT (Middle East, North Africa, and Turkey)

Every Saturday from 1:45pm – 3:15pm

Dance Loft on 14 in Washington, DC

4618 14th St NW, Washington, DC 20011

GET Dance MENAT began as a raqs Sharqi company, but has grown since then to become a place to learn all about the several traditional rhythms the regions have to offer! From the urban flair of Cairo to Turkish Romani style, GET Dance has explored the cultural richness the MENAT brings to the world, all while avoiding the pitfall of orientalism by providing valuable historical context, learning about the trailblazers of the dance world, and honoring the people and their land. After all, you can’t learn Baladi dance without first exploring what it means to be “baladi”! Yalla!

For 2025, GET Dance MENAT will spend more time focusing on Melaya Leff technique from Egypt. This is a unique style from the Golden Era featuring a shawl that is worn by wrapping it around the body. “Melaya” is the Arabic word for the large shawl, and “leff” means “to wrap”. The dance itself is upbeat and playful, usually depicting a flirtatious scene in a marketplace in Alexandria, Egypt.