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Monday 5pm - 9pm Tuesday 5pm - 9pm Wednesday 5pm - 9pm Thursday 11am - 9pm Saturday 11am - 1pm

Middle Eastern Dance Academy of CT

Name: Middle Eastern Dance Academy of CT
Address: 243 Captain Thomas Boulevard, West Haven, CT, 06516, US
Telephone: (203) 691-8121
Price range: $
Rating: 4.7

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West Haven, CT
Middle Eastern Dance Academy of CT

The MDA is a dance school & event entertainment booking agency, that operates out of the Viva Dance Our current student demographic ranges from age 5 to 70.
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ld she couldn't be a professional dancer due to chronic joint problems, Kelvia became a skilled Ballroom and Latin dance instructor and Middle Eastern Dance Artist. In 2012, she started teaching as a renter at Viva Z Fitness, launching a kids' outreach class and creating the CT Kids/Teens Belly dance team. The time came for the Viva Z studio to close, and realizing that her program would close too, Kelvia took a leap of faith and bought the Viva business and expanded her outreach to community members despite gender. Hence, the Viva Dance & Fitness Center for the Arts was born!! Now, the MDA & Viva work as collaborating programs within one building. Kelvia's mission started as with a desire to empower young girls and instill self-confidence through belly dance. This vision grew into the VD&FC, a noncompetitive community center offering diverse dance classes for all ages, promoting self-esteem, self-expression, and physical fitness. The MDA also grew to become the main training center for aspiring Professional Belly Dancers in CT!! Under the guidance and mentorship of Nourhan Sharif (Egypt), and Pierre Haddad (Lebanon), the MDA has been able to provide dance training that not only is firmly rooted in cultural origin, but surpasses the ‘local dance training” standard that once existed in CT. The MDA has been able to bring training at an International level to CT, with guests artists such as Essam, Alla Kushnir, Sadie, Oscar Flores, Samantha Diaz, Vanessa of Cairo, Katerina Shereen, Jennifer BD, Pierre Haddad, Nourhan Sharif, and more. We offer a wide range of dance classes designed for people from all walks of life, ability, despite experience. Additionally, the VD&FC also focuses on community outreach and giving back. They've undertaken numerous philanthropic initiatives, including hurricane relief, fundraising for families overseas, summer dance camps, dance sponsorships, food drives, and free community dance days. In 2020, they transitioned to online classes during the pandemic, maintaining their commitment to accessibility and family bonding through dance. Reopening in 2021, they continue their community projects. The VD&FC stands out as a place of healing and creativity, embracing all who seek refuge in dance. They offer a wide range of dance genres, with a primary focus on empowering young girls and providing a safe, nurturing environment. The Middle Eastern Dance Academy within the center has become a hub for professional belly dance training in Connecticut, with international guest artists contributing to its success. What people enjoy most about Viva is its community-centric approach. They are a supportive village, offering sponsorships, scholarships, and fundraising programs to make dance accessible to all. The center operates as more than just a dance studio, serving as an after-school program and a hub for artistic expression and personal growth.

09/23/2024

Check the mechanics and win 5 FREE CLASS PASS! 😉💃

09/04/2024

Our new schedule is out!! The “Back 2 Dance School” semester starts on Monday!! You still have time to enroll and start with your group!!

Cant wait to dance with you all.

09/02/2024

08/31/2024

FREE OPEN HOUSE ✨ We are kicking off our “BACK TO DANCE SCHOOL” semester 🚌 📚 with this free open house! YOU ARE INVITED!! Bring a friend. Attend one class or all classes. Attend one day or BOTH 😉 whatever you choose, we are here to welcome you!

RSVP by Monday via text 203-691-8121

08/26/2024

My summer was full of travels for my 2024 dance tour. However, I did manage to come home for a couple weeks to run my annual Young girls empowerment dance camp. This is the summer dance camp that the artist who donate their show to the CT Pro Show are supporting. We had the best year yet. I’m grateful to Movimiento Cultural Afro Continental, Inc. and ArtsWest CT for providing me the guidance and resources to make this happen at an even bigger level. Check out this video recap of the time we shared, and the memories we made.

An In-Depth Compilation of Memorable Moments from Our Two-Week Kids Empowerment Dance Summer Camp: utilizes art to enhance self esteem, foster positive socia...

07/31/2024

Amanda Rose 🌹 is coming to CT, USA! 😍
2 days left for the Early Bird Promo Rate and only 10 slots available. Hurry! Grab your spot.
Head on to our website and sign up OR click the link below 👇

https://tinyurl.com/AmandaRoseinCTUSA

07/22/2024

Just a few days remain! Come enjoy an interesting, memorable, and entertaining summer camp with us. Furthermore, children will undoubtedly get a lot of knowledge from this program. 💛

Additionally, we guarantee that no child will be turned away due to a lack of funds.

Join us! Can't wait to see you there! 😘

https://clients.mindbodyonline.com/classic/ws?studioid=207885&stype=-8&sVT=22&sView=day&sLoc=0&sTrn=4&date=07/29/24

To apply for the Summer Camp grant, you may send us an email at [email protected] 🫶

06/17/2024

So you want to Bellydance? Our MDA GIRLS are ready and waiting for you!!!! The 2024 Summer dance schedule is in full swing! Be sure to check out our website online. And don’t hesitate. we love making new friends and welcoming beginners to this art form 💗

Visit our website and reserve your first class TODAY

www.MiddleEasternDanceCT.com

09/19/2023

Looking forward to dancing with our beginner girls tonight!! Join us every Tuesday at 7 PM in person and online options are also available!!

09/09/2023

Take your performance to the next level ! Learn some amazing concepts every Wednesday!! But hurry!! After week 2 enrollments close for these classes

08/31/2023

⚠️ LAST DAY OF OUR OPEN HOUSE!!! ⚠️

This is the LAST day for you to ensure your memberships are up to date and that you secure your spot in our Back 2 DANCE school semester !

Dance semester starts on Tuesday, September 5 !!!

if you have been meaning to join, this is the perfect time to start up!

08/25/2023

OPEN HOUSE NEXT WEEK!!!

Our Back 2 Dance school class Registration opens on MONDAY! 🚨🪩🕺We are celebrating with a 4 day open house to allow people to visit with us and try demo classes for FREE!! 🥳🤩

We invite YOU to our new dance semester (Sept-Dec2023)! Special discount enrollment offers will be available for only those who attend the event!

We have some exciting classes and topics this semester ❤️ Hope to see you next week!

Question? Text 203.691.8121

08/17/2023

Summer Dance School has been putting in the workkkk!!! 🤩 Stay tuned! Back to Dance School semester is opening the LAST week of this month!! 🔥

05/29/2023

Classes resume on Tuesday!

04/04/2023

When in Egypt 🇪🇬🧿❤️

04/02/2023

These two MEDA Girls went out to the University of New Haven and represented Egypt and Lebanon at the showcase. All the performances were AMAZING!! Hoping to have our full professional dance team join them next year. 💪❤️🧿

02/28/2023

STAY WARM MI GENTE ☺️🧿❤️ See you tomorrow!

Address

243 Captain Thomas Boulevard
West Haven, CT
06516

Opening Hours

Monday	5pm - 9pm
Tuesday	5pm - 9pm
Wednesday	5pm - 9pm
Thursday	11am - 9pm
Saturday	11am - 1pm

Telephone

(203) 691-8121

Website

http://www.MiddleEasternDanceCT.com/

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Videos

Lebanese Festival 2024 💃 #dance #women #womenempowerment #bellydance #performance #womensempowerment #dancer #womensfashion #womeninbusiness #womensupportingwomen #dancers #womenfashion #womenswear #dancehall #strongwomen #dancelife #womenstyle #dancemoms #dancechallenge #poledance #womenshealth #dancevideo #internationalwomensday #womensday #dancereels #dancersofinstagram #womenempoweringwomen #dancemusic #womenpower #womenentrepreneurs

SUMMER CAMP 2024

Just a few days remain! Come enjoy an interesting, memorable, and entertaining summer camp with us. Furthermore, children will undoubtedly get a lot of knowledge from this program. 💛 Additionally, we guarantee that no child will be turned away due to a lack of funds. Join us! Can't wait to see you there! 😘 https://clients.mindbodyonline.com/classic/ws?studioid=207885&stype=-8&sVT=22&sView=day&sLoc=0&sTrn=4&date=07/29/24 To apply for the Summer Camp grant, you may send us an email at [email protected] 🫶

MDA/Viva Presents Kids & Teens Belly Dance Class Every Thursday starting today! So whatbare you waiting for? Click the link below to sign up and join our classes! ✨💃 ⬇️ SIGN UP HERE! https://www.vivadancefitness.com/class-schedule/

Experience the rhythm and grace at Connecticut's premier annual belly dance extravaganza! Don't miss out on the most sensational showcase of talent and tradition. Don’t miss this out! Let's enjoy, celebrate and dance the night away! 💃✨ Click the link below: 📩 https://clients.mindbodyonline.com/classic/ws?studioid=207885&stype=-8&sView=week&sLoc=0 #bellydancer #bellydancing #fusion #fusionart #fireeating #beginner #dance #travel #live #liveyourbestlife #liveyouradventure #empoweringwomen #creatives #tryingnewthings #dream #enterpreneur #entertainer #Connecticut #CTProShow2024

Connecticut returns to Egypt. 🔥 Participate in the festival! Immerse yourself in intriguing classes! ✨💃 @ayaamzamancourse #ayaamzamancourse #egypt #egyptfestival #bellydancing #bellydance

Another highlight from Serkan's visit in Connecticut! 💃✨ #middleeasterndanceacademyct #bellydancing #serkantutar #turkishstyle

January 2024 just ended!!!! 😳 The MDA is on its way to its first studio outing of 2024 tonight! Its unreal to see what a wild ride 2023 was. We are buckling up to take on new adventures and are on the road to building new memories 🫶⭐️🧿 #bringiton @soumaya.marose @pierrekhourydancer #workhard #playhard #bellydance #community #dancestudio #dancecenter

Advanced class experimented with “changing the dance narrative” and “changing our default moves”. We picked this fund Lebanese pop song to explore options. We watched Nadia Gamal videos to see what classical stylizations or gestures can be kept in mind, so that we dont steer too far out in the “modern”realm 🌎 The participants had great curiosity and enthusiasm to try new elements! So proud of their hard work. This is just class # 2 🥳 #bellydance #bellydancer #bellydancing #forfun #empoweringwomen #creatives #tryingnewthings

Our open level dancers playing around with new class combinations. This week we focused on quicker transitions and introduced them to the “barrel turn” 🌪️ Open level classes are beautifully diverse with dancers of varying skills sets and experience. Instructors much strike a coaching balance that doesn’t overwhelm but still challenges participants ❤️🧿🫶 Our dancers did a great job taking on this class exercise 🥰 #bellydance #bellydancer #empowered #empowerment #empowering #bellydancing #class #community #workforit

Shout out to our beautiful models from last night’s fashion show!! 🛍️🤩 They were a total vibe!! So much fun!! #community #sisters #dancefamily

SOLD OUT!!! Cant wait to see you all tomorrow!!!! 🥳 Thank you to all who supported us.

Last night our brave “Absolute Beginners” took their end of semester level 1 audit 📝🫶❤️ These women have just begun their journey with belly dance and have been super dedicated to their craft! We are so PROUD 🥹 This Sunday some of these class participants volunteered to represent their group in our holiday recital! 🎄 🤩 At the MDA, we are committed to teaching with discipline and accuracy across all levels . Even those students who wish to keep this art for hobby, get the same high caliber training as our aspiring professionals! #workhard #playhard #discipline #training #dance #dancer #bellydancer #bellydancing #bellydance

Shortcuts

The MDA Story

The Middle Eastern Dance Academy of CT (known as the MDA) is an Oriental Dance training program (belly dance), & an event entertainment booking agency. We currently operate out of the Viva Dance & Fitness Center for the arts, in West Haven, CT. Founded by Kelvia Belly Dance CT, this program started in 2013 as a young girls empowerment dance outreach program. It was geared toward inner city children. Kelvia utilized the oriental arts to teach a positive use of femininity, encourage a stronger sense of self expression, provide cultural education to tear down stereotypes, and created a safe environment to teach positive socialization among young girl, and enhance self esteem.

The dance program grew in popularity and soon there became a demand for Kelvia to open sessions for ADULTS as a whole. The MDA quickly became a program where women from all walks of life, come together in dance to heal and recharge from the pressures of every day life.

Kelvia originally was a renter at the Viva Z Fitness Center, when she heard of this business closing and realizing that her program would close too, she BOUGHT the Viva business and expanded her outreach to community members despite gender. Hence, the Viva Dance & Fitness Center for the Arts was born!! Now, the MDA & Viva work as collaborating programs within one building.

The MDA has also grown as the main training center for aspiring Professional Belly Dancers in CT!! Under the guidance and mentorship of Nourhan Sharif (Egypt), and Pierre Haddad (Lebanon), the MDA has been able to provide dance training that not only is firmly rooted in cultural origin, but surpasses the ‘local dance training” standard that once existed in CT. The MDA has been able to bring training at an International level to CT, with guests artists such as Essam, Alla Kushnir, Sadie, Oscar Flores, Samantha Diaz, Vanessa of Cairo, Pierre Haddad, Nourhan Sharif, and more.