Rachel Kay Brookmire is the founder and creative director of Sahara Dance, one of the largest and most well-established belly dance schools in the United States. Based in Washington, DC, Sahara Dance has been a thriving center for Middle Eastern dance for over two decades, offering 30+ weekly classes, nine performance groups, and a hybrid model for both in-person and virtual students. Rachel is also the creator of Sahara Dance Foundations, an intensive teacher training program, and directs the professional ensemble Raqs Sahara and student troupe Raqs Caravan East. A specialist in Egyptian raqs sharqi, Rachel blends technical precision with lyrical expressiveness and is known for her detailed, community-centered teaching style. She has performed widely, taught thousands of students, and produced major theatrical performances and international retreats. In 2023, her school proudly represented Middle Eastern dance at the World Culture Festival in Washington, DC, with 100 dancers performing a Jillina-directed choreography on the National Mall.
In this episode you will learn about:
Becoming a troupe leader in Egypt at the age of 16
The nuances of bringing folklore from life to stage
Mahdy’s experience of moving to the Netherland and starting his teaching career there
His decision to focus primarily on professional level students instead of beginners
How to be responsible and supportive judge at a competition
