Qalb al-Folklore (قلب الفولكلور)
Event Schedule & Pricing
Workshop Schedule
Location: Orlando
Address: TBA
The Afro-Khaleej Dance Experience
9:00 am – 12:00 pm (3-hour workshop)
The Gulf is more than what the West thinks it is. This part lecture and part movement class is especially formulated in celebration and awareness of Black African traditions, the vast African diversity within the culture, and the African ways of life that have established what the Arabian Gulf is today. In this workshop, we will discuss the African foundations in Khaleeji ways of life that have gone unrecognized, erased from Khaleeji culture and common knowledge, especially to the rest of the world. This includes discussing historically African-populated areas, specifically in KSA, Afro-Khaleej dances and their etiquette, religious aspects, deeper historical information, exploring Afro-Khaleeji musicality / musical instrumentation, and various styles of dress. If time permits, we will discuss Afro-Khaleeji foods, hairstyles, make-up/ beauty, and more.
Please bring a notebook, a pen, a snack, and lots of hydration …. You will need it!
Lunch
12:00 pm – 1:00 pm
Let’s Talk Bellydance!
Khaleeji Social Dance Technique (Naqazi style)
1:00 pm – 3:00 pm (2-hour workshop)
A scarf or veil is required for this class, and a Thobe Nasha’Al (A Khaleeji dress). This session is for dancers who want to learn more beyond the stage! In this segment, you will learn the social aspects of Khaleeji dances, also we will train and learn to interpret modern to more popular styles of music in the Gulf today. We will also discuss fashion, makeup, mannerisms, and all the emotions involved with the social dance aspect.
Folklore Celebration Hafla!
Dress Code: Come dressed in your best beledi dress, thobe, folk, or regional attire.
Time: TBA
Location: TBA
Interested in performing a folkloric or regional style at the show? Email me!
What is Qalb al-Folklore” (قلب الفولكلور)?
This translates to “the heart of folklore”. With so many events featuring artists who teach raqs sharqi, I felt it was time to bring a one-day, focused event to Orlando to bring us back to what started it all, folklore and regional dances that made us fall in love with the people and the dance.
So why not highlight an artist who has dedicated their life to a specific regional style / the folkloric dances that raqs sharqi is based on?
In 2026, we are kicking it off with Khadijah from Denver, who is an international educator, performer, and Ethnologist of Afro-Arabian dance, music, and more.
She is of Kenyan descent, born in KSA, and known for having unique didactics of Afro-Arabian Folklore, music, and its cultural aspects.
I had the pleasure of meeting her a few years ago and have crossed paths a couple of times now, and she is not only super smart, warm, and giving, but also deep and passionate about the Art and giving credit where credit is due. You are going to love her!
Black Friday Special (Ends 11/31/25)
Don’t miss the chance to learn unique topics from a MENAHT instructor.
All purchases will have PayPal fees added upon checkout
Workshops and passes are non-refundable but are transferable.
$135.00 Full day Pass (Black Friday Special)
Delight in a day of learning cultural context and dance with the Afro-khaleej Experience and Khaleeji Social Dance Technique workshops. 5 hours of classes with a nice hour lunch break to meet new dancers, see old friends, and get to know Khadijah.
Single Workshop (Black Friday Special)
Limited on time? Enjoy the holiday savings before prices go up for a workshop of your choice. It is not every day that we have an esteemed ethnographer in our neck of the woods!
Teacher / Group Discount Alert
Are you a teacher or part of a performance troupe? Enjoy a 10% group discount for each member (min. of 5 registrations required) based on the lowest pass amount purchased. Simply write in whose group you are a part of when registering online. On the last day of the event, once all members have attended, we will refund each person the 10% discount.
About Khadijah
Teacher, dancer, ethnologist of African origin dances and choreographer for over 22 years. Khadijah is considered one of the most influential names in Arabic dance and folklore. She is based in Denver, CO (USA), and is of Kenyan descent (born in KSA). She is known for having unique didactics of Afro-Arabian Folklore, music, and its cultural aspects.
She continues to perfect her dance education by studying with great masters and composers of Afro-Arabian Dances worldwide. She constantly travels to improve her approach, stylization, technique, and cultural aspects of the dances and the culture embedded deep within the foundations of the African diaspora.
When not teaching, performing, or traveling the world, she enjoys many hobbies like 4 wheeling in the mountains, archery, Jiu-Jitsu/Muay Thai, weightlifting, spending time with her horses, gardening, volunteering within the community, cooking, reading, hiking, camping, and spending quality time with the people she loves.
She also has a very rewarding career in Emergency Veterinary Medicine with an emphasis in Neuroscience/Neurology and holds a Master of Science in Microbiology.