"If you have ever wanted to belly dance, start here! You will love it!" —Janet R.
Preview Introduction to Belly Dance
"After seeing you teach touch-step on YouTube I couldn't resist the opportunity to start from scratch with your online course. I loved how you really broke down the moves and focused equally on the rhythm." —Linda L.
We teach you to embody music.
Introduction to Belly Dance is our multi-week, online course for absolute beginners in the basic technique, rhythm, and choreographic principles of belly dance—called raqs sharqi in Arabic, oryantal in Turkish.
We've modeled this virtual dance course on our live-drumming, in-person workshops. The interactive video lessons along with the Course Guide and Sample Lesson Plans makes the course ideal for teens, adults, and seniors of any gender who have a moderate fitness level with little to no dance or music background—just an eagerness learn!
- Belly dance right from your first lesson.
- Progress at the perfect pace.
- Get personal help with your lessons.
- Connect with other students.
“Great video! Because it really starts from the very first beginner level like me! I love the way you explain it with passion and with grace! Well done also Bob for your drums!” —Petra G.
You'll learn to belly dance traditionally.
With Bob's live DRUMMING accompanying each of Jensuya's lessons and practice session, you'll learn how to:
- Identify the beat and the rhythm
- Move with the beat
- Embody the classic belly dance rhythm Beledi
- Master the fundamental belly dance step and 3 variations
- Dance 2 classic belly dance moves and 2 variations
- Acquire belly dance isolation technique
- Choreograph steps & moves
- Speak key Arabic & Turkish words
- Develop a personal practice schedule
“If you have never belly danced before this is the course for you. Jensuya is a great teacher and I love her personality and energy...I am an intermediate dancer and though I am pretty good at executing the moves I have a problem when I try to put things together. Concentrating on a basic move [in this course] and then adding a few variations to it helped me to relax and dance them with a flow and not be weighed down by over thinking. Bob's live drumming is definitely an asset. Jensuya does a great job at explaining how to count the rhythm and apply your steps to it.” —Rose R.
It's easy to begin with our Course Guide.
We give you suggestions, tips, and guidelines for setting up and getting the most from the course.
- Setting your dance space
- What to wear for your lessons
- How to customize your lesson schedule
- Super tips for class success
"After finishing the intro course I went on [to] buy almost all of her classes and I can't wait to take them. My boyfriend who is Lebanese has already pointed out how much I've improved after starting her classes while dancing at a hafla. I can't wait to learn more! The classes are reasonably priced especially if you get them in the bundles." —Zoe P.
Follow the Rigorous Plan to learn in 8 sessions.
"Highly recommended! This is a great course for beginners. I've been frustrated by several other courses that just move too fast or add layers too quickly. Jensuya really drills the basics and makes sure you master the fundamentals. And I appreciate the little bits of language and culture that she works into the lessons. I can't wait until the next course its released."—Linda L.
Follow the Gentle Plan to learn in 12 sessions.
"The best course ever!!!! I recommend 1000%" —Golden Q.
You set the pace.
Our unique format of separate videos for the technique lessons and practice sessions lets you progress at exactly the perfect rate.
- Technique lesson videos
- Practice session videos
Directions at the end of each video suggest how to modify your next session depending on how challenging the lesson was.
"I love taking it back to the basics and how you describe everything in such detail! Thank you so much for including musical instruction and language culture. This is one of the best lessons I've ever had!"—Lena L.
Connect with us!
Whether you're at home or somewhere else, we're together virtually!
Ask us questions and share your experiences with other students in the comments section of each video. We can't wait to see your progress and help you on your belly dance journey.
"I really appreciate your detailed, kind and encouraging messages! I am really happy with this course!"—Petra G.
Practice with us at your convenience.
You choose your device, your place, your time. Do the course in an intense weekend or over a couple of months, and enjoy lifetime access.
- Smart TV
- Computer
- Tablet
- Smart phone
"...what I loved most about the first course was [Jensuya's] clear and consise way of giving us the information. Her teaching style and positive attitude make you want to learn more. I will definitely be taking more classes..." —Gregg R.
Curriculum
Introduction to Belly Dance
"I have taken many belly dance classes in the past and was even part of a belly dance troupe for a few years. I want to say that I have learned more from Jensuya's classes than in any of my past classes with other teachers. She is truly amazing, patient and breaks moves down in a very clear way; (not to mention she is a beautiful dancer)! If you are interested in learning this beautiful art form, I highly recommend checking her classes out!" —Susan H.
PayPal Option:
- From your PayPal account, click "Send Money" to [email protected], and enter $62 USD for Lifetime Access or $52 USD to Rent, and enter your email address and "Intro to Belly Dance" in the "add a note" field. (Please note that we add $3 to cover Paypal fees.)
- Click "Continue."
- Watch your email for your personal Course Access Coupon Code. Then...
- Click the "Enroll Now" button (above) and enter your Course Access Coupon Code in the pink box that says, "Add Coupon Code.
Welcome to Jensuya Belly Dance!
"This is an excellent virtual course. The cost is reasonable, and you get so much content -- with lifetime access. You start with the most basic components to build your belly dance skills. And the basics are your foundation. Jensuya is an absolutely beautiful dancer and a gifted instructor. Her level of detail is so good. And that detail is what helps you understand the techniques and get them into your body. If you have ever wanted to belly dance, start here! You will love it!" —Janet R.
Dance. Understand. Rejoice.
Merhaba!
I'm belly dancer/engineer Jensuya—aka Jennifer Carpenter-Peak—and along with my Significant Drummer—aka my husband, Robert Peak—we perform live music and belly dance shows, teach belly dance workshops and online courses, conduct in-person and online Middle Eastern arts education programs in schools and colleges, and produce two YouTube channels and blog—all about Mid East music, dance, and culture.
Hailing from Berkeley Springs, West Virginia, we have been featured by the American-Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee, the American Turkish Association, and twice by the U.S. Government-funded Middle East Broadcasting Networks, an Arabic-language news organization with a weekly audience of more than 25.7 million people in 22 countries in the Middle East and North Africa. If there were only one thing that I could teach you, show you, inspire you to do, it would be this—embrace your fear, then dance with it. Let's get started!