Laura Samperi-Ferdig has been studying belly dance since she was eight-years-old and teaching since she was 16.

“Belly dance,” Samperi-Ferdig stated, “is one of the oldest known art forms. Its true name is Raks Sharki meaning ‘Oriental dance.’ Belly dance is an umbrella term to describe a wide variety of different styles.

“Raks Sharki is more of the Egyptian style of belly dance but there are other styles like Turkish, Oriental, folkloric, fusion, tribal fusion and more,” she explained.

“Belly dance is performed for many different celebrations including weddings, birthdays, births and much more. It is known for isolated body movements with detail to musical instrumentation while gracefully traveling the stage in colorful sparkling rhinestone exotic costumes.”

This art form, Samperi-Ferdig said, “is ever changing and there’s always something new to learn. Over the last 12 years or so, there has been a lot of western influences on the dance, creating a much more flashy prop driven dance form.

“The old days of people going out to see a live music dinner and belly dance show has slowed down. People are staying home more, always on their phones and it’s harder to keep people’s attention.”

What makes a good audience?

“Someone who smiles back at the dancers,” said Samperi-Ferdig. “We love when our audience claps and woo-hoos. We are always appreciative of those who come out to watch our performances.”

Shula Azhar

On Feb. 21 the seats were filled at Studio Bob in Port Angeles. The Peninsula’s only belly dance troupe, Shula Azhar (Flaming Flowers in Arabic), took the stage to loud applause.

Samperi-Ferdig, Marie Maxted, Jovi Wilson and Denise Williamson range in experience from 12-36 years “and have learned from teachers in Canada, Egypt and all over the USA,” according to Samperi-Ferdig, who is their leader.

She herself attended the Cassandra School of Belly Dance in Minneapolis, Minnesota after high school and then performed professionally in the San Diego area with other dancers and local musicians, “including the world renowned oudist, John Bilezikjian.”

Also performing that night at Studio Bob’s was special guest Merryn Welch, and Raks Halifa (Friends Dance), the troupe’s understudy group “dedicated to learning the history, culture and different styles of belly dance while also learning in’s and out’s of performing,” said Samperi-Ferdig.

“It is our hope that these ladies will work their way up into the professional level group.”

Lauren Johnson and Jessie Ferdig had a seat right in front of the stage.

“It’s a beautiful art form,” said Johnson, explaining that firmly entrenched misconceptions around belly dancing make it difficult to educate the public on this highly skilled expression of music.

Johnson was one of the people involved in the evolution of the dance on the Peninsula and has known Samperi-Ferdig since she was a child.

Ferdig appreciates belly dancing, too. As Samperi-Ferdig’s husband, he said he’s always been supportive of her professional passion.

Both from Sequim, “we’ve been together for 27 years,” he said, and “it’s always been her goal and dream.”

Samperi-Ferdig explained that “Shula Azhar is a branch off of another dance group that was started by my mother called ‘The North Olympic Beledi Club.’ Some of us were dancing together way back in the 90’s in that group, so though Shula Azhar is about 18 years old we’ve been dancing together a lot longer!”

Echoing Johnson, Samperi-Ferdig said that there are a “ton of misconceptions and ignorance with belly dance. This is our mission, to straighten the record and help people understand what it actually is and see it for the beautiful art form it is.”

Music and the human body

Belly dancing, said Johnson, involves “interpreting the music with our bodies so that our body becomes an instrument that adds to the ensemble – that’s what most Middle-Eastern musicians would say.”

“The dance is… an expression of the music’s instrumentation,” said Samperi-Ferdig. “The instruments are a mix of traditional and modern from the oud or kanoun to the keyboard or even the occasional electric guitar.

“When the dancer hears a particular instrument or drum rhythm she pairs her movements to them, bouncing from the rhythms and the melody.

“The dancer doesn’t only need to know how to do the movements but needs to learn about the music and how to pair them together. She needs to learn the rhythms, how to count them, where the accents are and where that particular rhythm comes from geographically in order to dance to it correctly.”

Samperi-Ferdig said they haven’t found musicians on the Peninsula to perform with yet. “I’m sure someone who wanted to learn could do so with training. Arabic music is played in quarter tones and uses scales called maqams. For dance, the rhythms range between 2/4 to 12/8 for time signatures.”

“It’s important to note just how body positive this form of dance is,” said troupe member Maxted. “The belly dance community is very inclusive and supportive. We celebrate all body types and fitness levels, and celebrate personal empowerment.

“For those new to belly dance, you will quickly learn how much joy this art form can bring, with beautiful costuming, music, storytelling, movement and a welcoming community.

“If I had advice to give to people curious about trying bellydance, it would be to jump in, join the circle!”

Belly dance students

Samperi-Ferdig teaches belly dance at Peninsula college and she and Jovi Wilson teach classes in downtown Sequim at The Dance Center by Erica Edwards.

“Novice dancers learn about musicality in classes with Ajaya and myself. They learn what the instruments look and sound like and what movements pair with them. They learn about some of the basic rhythms used in belly dance music and where the accents are,” said Samperi-Ferdig.

Students range in age, experience and fitness level.

“I’d say most students come into class curious, wanting to find a way to work out without going to the gym. Some have had dance training but most haven’t,” said Samperi-Ferdig. “We get a lot of ‘I’ve always wanted to try belly dancing’.

Raks Halifa member Ivy Thompson said she took her first belly dance class in the fall of 2023 at the college and was instantly hooked. “I never thought I’d enjoy it as much as I did. It’s totally addicting!”

“I’m a clothing designer by trade and have always had a project going,” she said. “However, I’m now a mom of two young children and I’ve not had the autonomy or space to create in the way I once did. Belly dance has filled a creative void where I can express and challenge myself in an entirely new way.

“The practice is so feminine and body positive, with a lot of focus on the hips. You really have to engage the tiny muscles in your body that are ignored in our daily, sedentary lives. It really gets you in tune with yourself mentally and physically.”

Maxted said “much of the technique depends on our footwork, knees, shoulders, arms, and hands. It is a full body workout.

“Talia and Jovi do an excellent job customizing movement and combinations for their students. They offer a range of low to high impact exercises suited to everyone. Coordination, balance, core strength, posture, muscle control and flexibility are all practiced,” she said.

“Talia is a fabulous teacher and such a gem for the Peninsula,” said Thompson. “We have a professional belly dancer with 35-plus years of experience who genuinely loves sharing her practice with the community through workshops and monthly performances.”

Shula Azar’s next free performance will be in April at Studio Bob, but the date as yet is unconfirmed. They will perform at the Juan de Fuca Festival of Arts on May 23 from 6:30-7:30pm.

The Peninsula College community education hosts a Belly Dance Crash Course workshop on March 8 and 15. A six-week course will follow in the spring quarter. Sign-up is available online through the college website.

The next session of Sequim classes begin on March 9.

For more information visit shulaazharbellydance.com

To contact for performances: Taliabellydancer@gmail.com or 360-461-5696

Sequim Gazette photo by Emily Matthiessen/ Merryn Welch, guest of belly dance troupe Shula Azhar, dances at Studio Bob in February.

Sequim Gazette photo by Emily Matthiessen Belly dance troupe Shula Azhar – from left, Marie Maxted, Jovi Wilson, Laura Samperi-Ferdig and Denise Williamson – perform for a full house at Studio Bob on Feb. 21.

Sequim Gazette photo by Emily Matthiessen/ Belly dance teacher and Shula Azhar troupe member Jovi Wilson dances at Studio Bob in Port Angeles. The next classes in Sequim will begin March 9th.

Sequim Gazette photo by Emily Matthiessen/ Belly dance teacher and Shula Azhar troupe member Jovi Wilson dances at Studio Bob in Port Angeles. The next classes in Sequim will begin March 9th.

Sequim Gazette photo by Emily Matthiessen/ Sequim resident Laura Samperi-Ferdig dances with a sword at Studio Bob in Port Angeles on Feb. 21. Known as Talia in the belly dancing world, Samperi-Ferdig has studied the art since she was 8 and has taught since she was 16.