Alexia Bellydance TN

Alexia is a professional dancer, teacher, choreographer and troupe director with over 25 years of belly dance experience. She took her first class in belly dance at UT over 25 years ago and knew she had found her niche. She studied belly dance for 5 years under Ibrahim (Bobby) Farrah before moving to New York City to take many workshops with Yousry Sharif and other noted dancers. In New York, she became a featured dancer in establishments including Ibis, Darvish, Cedars of Lebanon, and Beirut Restaurant.

Alexia has performed professionally across the world — in Mexico City, Puerto Rico, London, Paris, Boston, Miami, California, and Orlando. She was honoured to perform for Saudi Arabian royalty and international ambassadors. Her commitment to teaching goes beyond movement: she believes a teacher has a responsibility to convey the culture of the dance and music itself. She has travelled to Cairo, Egypt; Istanbul, Turkey; Morocco, and Tunisia to explore the culture behind Oriental Dance, and was invited to dance with Egypt's beloved dancer Suhair Zaki during a show in Cairo.

The studio offers all levels of Middle Eastern belly dance classes: beginner, intermediate, and advanced. Classes run on Tuesdays, with Beginner at 5:45 PM and Intermediate/Advanced at 7:00 PM. The Beginner class is technique and fitness-oriented, offering a solid foundation in basic hip and arm movements, head slides, basic travelling steps and turns, and basic combinations. Each session is different, so students can stay in Beginner class as long as they wish and continue learning new movements. The Intermediate/Advanced class focuses on choreography, transitions, dance history, and the differences between different music and rhythms — it is also a low-impact aerobic exercise class.

Alexia offers private dance lessons for $45 per hour, as well as workshops and special packages. The "Bring 2 get 1 free" offer allows you to bring two paying friends and receive your first Beginner class free. Ladies Night In is a fun one-hour package where you learn basic moves to fun music with hip scarves and veils provided. Private lessons and special packages can take place in a client's home, gym, or at Alexia's space in Blount County; travel fees apply if Alexia is coming to you.

Alexia also directs The Alexandria Dancers and produces events including the Arabian Nights Bellydance Show. Upcoming workshops feature visiting instructors such as Gina Nolan, with sessions on pop choreography to Egyptian music, combinations across the floor, body alignment, lines and arms, arabesques and turns, and fluid movements.

Classes are held on Tuesdays at Alexia's studio space in Louisville on the lower level — follow the blue signs for the entrance. Wear comfortable clothing you can move in (leggings, t-shirt, tank top, yoga wear); bare feet are preferred, or clean dance shoes. Bring a full water bottle, a hip scarf if you have one (loaners are available), and optionally a yoga mat for floor stretching. You may also bring a fun attitude.

Alexia is the primary instructor — a professional dancer, teacher, choreographer and troupe director with over 25 years of belly dance experience. She studied under Ibrahim (Bobby) Farrah and took workshops with Yousry Sharif and other noted dancers in New York. Guest instructors, including Gina Nolan, teach specialized workshops.

Most beginning students have little to no previous dance experience — no dance experience necessary.