"Belly dance" resources, classes and performances in Edmonton (Alberta, Canada) by Viraj (aka Raj) -- the only professional male belly dancer on the prairies and creator of the VO Fitness Bellydance system. Viraj has been featured in national print, radio, television and an in progress documentary "1001 Performances".

Winter09: 10 Wks Jan 12 - Mar 26; No Classes Feb 15-22; Party Fri Mar 27; $140 (60min), $170 (75 min), drop-in $20; cutoff Feb 2.

Sign-up for Belly Dance with Viraj, now Online!

News Last update: 22 Dec, 2008

Correction: 60 min class is $140, not $150 in email. Tx! V
New Classes: Winter09 see "Classes" page pls.
I'll be on CityTV News at 9:40am Mon 15Sept to promote the launching of Omni (multicultural) channel funding '1001 Performances', the doc on me.
Class Schedule has changed due to demand.
UPDATE: there is no WEST side class during the FREE WEEK of classes. Sorry.
FREE WEEK OF CLASSES SEPT 8-11, 2008.
Online Belly Dance Tutorial will be testing shortly!
New Teachers: Rita - Thurs West (2Oct-4Dec08)
Sign-Up Online (save $5) now Open: Fall08, 10 wks, $140-$170 (60min/75min), 15Sept-2Dec08, city-wide, PartyParty Fri 5Dec08 at Cosmos 124th! No Classes: Oct 16-19, Nov 3, Nov 11.
Viraj is gone: June 24-July 10 London-Cairo-London: Planet Egypt June Showcase then Raqia Hassan's Ahlan Wa Sahlan Festival
May 17-19 ECC: East Coast Classic (Competition), Virginia USA
Apr 18-27, 2008: International Belly Dance Conference of Canada, Toronto ON
Placed 3rd in International Level of Egyptian/Turkish Soloist at the 1st World Belly Dance Competition, Seoul, Korea.
restarted: the proposed documentary (on little ol' me) "1001 Performances" by Northscape Productions jointly with Panacea Entertainment, being filmed for a planned multicultural cable channel, won the Omni Award at HotDocs in Toronto, Apr 2007.

I'll have more event news about competitions and conference travels.

Weekly Edmonton Belly Dance Shows by Viraj

Fri 7:15pm, south, solo, Grub Med Ristorante, 17 Fairway Dr is about 119 St, 38 Ave, 436-1988.
Fri & Saturday 8pm, central, duet, Cosmos Greek Restaurant, 10810-124 St, 455-7474, reservations recommended for Saturdays in fall.
Saturday 9pm (on call), south, solo, Kasbar (Yianni's bsmt ultra-cool lounge), 10444 82 Ave, 433-6768, call to confirm that I'm performing.
if you're coming out for dancing please drop me a quick voicemail so I know to look for you 717-8001.

Please Contact for Private Bookings, One-time Workshops, or Pvt Classes

Guiding Values: Innovating, Connecting, Empowerment

humanistic: connecting/bridging diversity through common-ground; cultural awareness
artistic/wellness: exploring the beauty of movement and the power of expression.
gender issues: valuing men for 'soft-skills' versus crude power; valuing women's pride in the power of their sexuality.
performing: global reach through online promotion, touring and collaboration.
teaching: fun but practical skill-building; building self-esteem via competence and social networks.

Site Map/Summary

About "Bellydance"

This dance is very misunderstood. Facts to know:

true nature: IS NOT sexual display but 1) festive entertainment and 2) social dance for the general population (young/old, women/men) as well as 3) a complex musical, lyrical, technical artform.
true name: raks sharki or "Eastern dance" in Arabic is commonly known as Oriental dance (Eastern not Chinese vs Occidental/Western).
role of men: men had significant roles from the present day to centuries past. Currently, many top master teachers are men but I believe more than 99% of practitioners are women (elite, professionals, enthusiasts, hobbyists).

...much more to come.

About Viraj

the only professional male Oriental dancer between Vancouver and Toronto
formally trained in dance instruction, performance, wellness and fitness - resume being updated
resident performer at Cosmos, Grub Med, and Yianni's Kasbar restaurants with appearances at Koutouki 124th and South.
featured in national print, radio and tv - media content coming
smoothly translates lighthearted showmanship into a supportive, skill-building, fun journey
featured in the Omni TV documentary '1001 Performance - Life and Times of a Male Belly Dancer'.
resume upgrade, media appearances and photo gallery still coming.

Men as Cooperators not Dominators

Men, (perhaps in regions with a recent history/culture of adversity), too narrowly define themselves as successful (as men) using one-dimensional terms of power: the money or strength to control and dominate another through compulsion. Despite other, arguably even better, means of influencing others (shared exchange by free choice) men feel that *power* is what defines them as successful men. Why are men telling themselves to be powerful rather than influential? Why is dominating preferred to cooperating?

Free cooperation is a better way to offer value, to contribute, to influence, yet such a culture seems to value men who dominate the most, valuing men who create even less (based on their practical utility) and men who connect/share the least. To me, this is obvious so I'm just going to move on to implications: why it's bad for men to be valued by narrow definitions.

Once concentrated, men hold all the power tightly for two major reasons, as I see things. First, it is to their advantage. Second, they feel they have nowhere else to go. This is a big problem in society because the power broker wins and another group loses. How: men are corrupted by that power and abuse it (at every level from organizational to personal).

I feel very strongly that when men feel valued for cooperating instead of dominating, the common win-lose arrangement will by replaced by more win-win arrangements. My point is that power imbalances will always exist but if men are supported, they'll see themselves differently, give themselves permission to change, and use/share their power differently for more mutually beneficial outcomes. Everyone wins.