Catskill Bellydance began in February of 2006. Naima Feagin along with her husband William and mother Valerie Crystal had rented a space on Rt. 32 to house their family businesses known as the Catskill Culture Center. As a result of many requests from friends in the community Naima began teaching tribal bellydance classes at the Center. The Class grew into several classes a week and through the years many women have been through the doors. After a while the need for a better space to hold a dance class arose and Catskill Bellydance moved to the Dancefit studio in Catskill NY, inside of a beautiful Victorian house.

Our first group of students had their first public performance at the Catskill Bicentennial Celebration. Since then we've performed at private parties, Nursing homes, art galleries, Winter Walk in Hudson and Stella's in Catskill NY. We've held three hafla's (big bellydance parties) the last one had 150 people and the fabulous band Raquy and the Cavemen were there to play.

After two years (and several location moves) Catskill Bellydance lives on thanks only to the support of the community and students. Please feel free to browse through our website, visit our links to other teachers in the area and find out how this dance form has transformed the lives of so many women from all walks of life.... and how it might change yours!

A special note from Naima:

I encourage everyone to support the arts in every way, especially in times of economic distress. Art is the expression of our soul, it helps us, and heals us in ways that you can never put a price on. Support your local arts teachers in any way that you can, and whatever it is that you do to feed your soul, be it bellydancing, meditation, yoga, drawing, photography, music or anything else, I encourage you all to make the one thing that you do for yourself just as important in your life as the many things we are required to do.

J

At Dance Fit on Bridge Street in Catskill NY

For info email naima at: naima@catskillbellydance dot com........