"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 a soon to be released documentary "Belly Dance Man" for Omni TV.

Winter2010: 10 Wks, Jan11 - Mar26; $170 (75 min), drop-in $20; cutoff Jan28. No Classes Feb 15-19

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

News                                                    Last update: 25 Feb, 2010

  • CLASS PARTY! FRI MAR 26 7-9:30pm @ Cosmos 10810-124 St, 455-7474 to reserve.
  • TV story airdate (4 min, for Access' AB Primetime): pending.
  • Spring Session: accepting inquiries for April-May classes
  • Documentary feature for Omni, "Belly Dance Man" will likely run in April, Ch. 11.
  • Winter Session is open to online sign-up! Sorry for delay. I'm away Dec26-Dec31.
  • 2009: Sun Sept 27, World Premiere Omni Cable Documentary "Belly Dance Man"
  • -----old stuff --------
  • 2008: June 24-July 10 London-Cairo-London: Planet Egypt June Showcase then Raqia Hassan's Ahlan Wa Sahlan Festival
  • 2008: May 17-19 ECC: East Coast Classic (Competition), Virginia USA 
  • 2008: Apr 18-27 International Belly Dance Conference of Canada, Toronto ON
  • 2008: March 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:

  1. 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.
  2. true name: raks sharki or "Eastern dance" in Arabic is commonly known as Oriental dance (Eastern not Chinese vs Occidental/Western).
  3. 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.