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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: 4.8

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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.

09/19/2023

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!

02/15/2023

Our students got to enjoy an expressive movement class, followed by a Beginner Belly Dance class. They celebrated self love, and fostered building a safe haven for each other through different activities. Love Affirmation Jars were built last night, they were received with roses, cake and got to toast “to being the love you didn’t receive!” Love lives within us ❤️🧿 Join us TONIGHT as the 8th Annual F.L.Y week continues. Its Wine and Chocolate night tonight! You deserve to be celebrated ❤️💌🧿

02/14/2023

LOVE DAY IS HERE!! HAPPY VALENTINES 💌 TO EVERYONE. May you love yourself a little harder, smile a little wider, and remember that you MATTER!! All are welcome to join us this week as we celebrate self love and self care EXTRA at the MDA. Let us pour love into you and embrace your beautiful energy ❤️❤️❤️🧿🧿🧿 Check out our special event schedule this week ⭐️

02/11/2023

Our 8th Annual F-L-Y week is fast approaching! Check out our event stories or page for details ❤️ FIRST 💕 LOVE 💕 YOURSELF

02/11/2023

Join us for our 8th Annual F. L. Y (First Love Yourself) week

Themed classes all week long! ALL ACTIVITIES ARE FREE for members. Guests are FREE on Monday or can sign up for a day pass ($22 drop in) to participate single day events.

All regular scheduled sessions are still in effect. Dance and Fellowship with Dance Friends❤️ Surround yourself with positive vibes and a positive tribe this week as we celebrate spreading LOVE

01/13/2023

Love my belly dance fitness gals!! ❤️❤️❤️🧿🧿🧿💪💪💪

01/11/2023

You dont have to be good to start, but you have to START to be good! 🧿✨ Join us at the MDA and let us kick off your dance journey. Zero experience required.

01/02/2023

ITS OUR ANNIVERSARY 🥳 Can’t wait to welcome everyone BACK! New Year = New Dance Semester!!! Let’s do this!! 💪

11/28/2022

We just landed back to the USA from our small - But AMAZING- studio admin trip to Egypt 🇪🇬 We will NOT be opening up the studio today. Classes resume TOMORROW 🐪 See you on the dance floor!! Cant wait to share our the memories we made and the pictures from our trip with our students. ❤️🧿

11/12/2022

HOLIDAY 2022 RECITAL IS HERE!! 🤩🧿 Cant wait! All our students have been working hard on some amazing projects for you all! This is the warm up show before the CT PRO SHOW 2022!!!

10/10/2022

Our dance family is growing! Welcome to the new dancers selected to represent the MEDA brand and train harder than ever before!! We are all kicking off their “Going Pro” training with a special trip in November 🤫 Can you guess where we are going? Stay tuned! Watch these beautiful talented dancers journey as the future MDA GIRLS! 🧿🧿🧿🧿🧿🧿🧿🧿🧿🧿🧿🧿🧿🧿🧿🧿🧿🧿🧿🧿🧿🧿🧿

I am super excited to announce the next chapter in my dance journey. This past Sunday I auditioned for the apprenticeship with and they have accepted and welcomed me with open arms. I cannot wait for all the new experiences, exciting adventures, and all the new lessons to be learned. Thank you for this wonderful opportunity to be part of the MEDA dance tribe! 💖

09/29/2022

Intro to Belly Dance Wednesdays are always lit 🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥 Thank you to the beautiful Meda Tribe Ladies 🧿

09/08/2022

Still proud of the performance these beautiful ladies put on!!! Two amazing students with two proud instructors! Congratulations!

07/25/2022

And just like that!! One of our MDA Girls is now Miss Arab USA!!!! Congratulations 🤩❤️ WE LOVE YOU SOOO MUCH!! You were already a QUEEN in our hearts! But its soooo good to see the world recognize the beauty and uniqueness of your spirit . The world is yours!!

07/02/2022

Reminder Flyer!! This summer you can dance with here at the !! Sessions have reopened! We have beginner thru advanced classes available! Fitness focused, wellness focused and performance training focused options. Kids and adults session. Online and Inperson…. Whatever your needs are… we have you covered 😎Lets RAQ !! 💃🏻

06/13/2022

WELCOME TO SUMMER DANCE SCHOOL!! 🏖 ☀️ Open enrollment is this week!! Thats right!! Anyone can just DROP IN to register in person the entire week! That means whomever is interested can stop by a few minutes prior to the class they wish to try out and pay for the single class drop in $20, or inquire about other enrollment options. You can even participate the same day!

Any questions that require an answer before attending you can text the studio line 203-691-8121. ☀️
We are so excited to start dancing with you!!

06/08/2022

Kicking off the FIRST Prop Series of the cycle will be guiding you through one of her favorite props- SWORD DANCE⚔️ Join in! If weather permits we will be having these classes across the street on the beach 🏝

06/08/2022

Belly dance prop series schedule is launched!!! You cant say we didnt give you notice 😅 Here is the rest of the 2022 Prop training schedule! Anyone can join in at the start of ANY of these series!

06/08/2022

BACK BY POPULAR DEMAND!! 😎 Our Tenured Divas are ready to RAQ!! Are you in?! New sessions start next week!! ❤️ Join us as we launch this awesome community centric class once again ❤️

05/02/2022

May is blooming!! Take advantage of this month with intimate classes before the summer program hits!!!

05/02/2022

SO EXCITED FOR THIS ONE!!

05/02/2022

Now accepting new clients!!!

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

www.MiddleEasternDanceCT.com

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Videos

Choreography Building class 💪 girls were amazing!

Princess Belly Dance Thursdays 😻

Thank you to all that tuned in! That was a HUGE success. A lot more than i could have expected. 🥰 God is good! The live is still up on @kelviabellydance_meda newsfeed for those wanting to scope out what is left up for geabs! That was Sooo much fun!!

GET READY TO SHOP!! Costume fashion show happening LIVE on @kelviabellydance_meda IG and our MDA CLOSET FACEBOOK GROUP!! Dont miss your opportunity to set YOUR PRICE on anything you see! Everything must go!! Tis the season to get yourself something BLINGY!! 🤩🛍

So much fun coming through Viva/ MDA this month! Dont miss it🚨 Launching next week 🚨Join us every Wednesday in August and learn this super fun and cool prop♥️🤩 Lets get it!! #bellydanceclass #sworddancing #entertainment #learn #selfcare #selfinvestment #putinthework

So our dance center is cleaning out the costume closet and so is our Artistic Director Kelvia (Belly Dancer in CT) !! She will be liquidating her personal professional at home studio and costume closet!! 🤩 Be sure to join our Facebook Group page called “The MDA Closet” to shop for some “new to you goodies”!! EVERYTHING HAS TO GO!! We have our 2022 inventory coming in and we CANT keep everything. Therefor, here are the rules: YOU SET THE PRICE~ YOU PAY TO SHIP ~ YOU TAKE IT HOME 😎 This wont be a one time event. The sale will remain open for the entire month of August. There will be a few videos, and some LIVE sessions for folks to see the items and ask questions. After that, any remaining items will be donated to fundraisers or charity events. Lets get shopping 🛍 🛒 #newyearnewlook #dancecostumesale #shoptillyoudrop #firstcomefirstserve

⚠️New class series coming your way!! ⚠️ Do you struggle with getting the right balance of relaxed, and but strong shimmies? Kelvia is the founder of the Middle Eastern Dance Academy of CT. She is also the choreographer and artistic director of the award-winning troupe known as the MDA Girls. The one thing our MDA Girls past and present have in common is the ability to execute a STRONG shimmy for a prolonged period of time!! 💪 This class will be an introductory crash course of a THREE part training course called "1001 Shimmies by Kelvia 🌟 These classes will cover the following: 🌟 💫 Conditioning drills to strengthen your shimmies 💫Technique changes to engage different muscles and keep the shimmy lasting longer. 💫Introduce a few variations of shimmies you can use to spice up your standard routine. ♥️TAKE ADVANTAGE of this amazing opportunity to have an Intro crash course in preparation for Kelvia's 1001 Shimmy Workshop coming to you later this year. ♥️ Kelvia will introduce you to all that, plus the following: ☝️ 🌟Full Body Shimmy 🌟Earthquake shimmy 🌟Egyptian Style Shimmy 🌟Lebanese Style Shimmy 🌟American Cabaret shimmy 🌟The difference between a FREEZE and a Layering shimmies 🤩 Get READY to SWEAT! You won't regret it! #learntobellydance #dance #hardwork #playhard #bellydance #shimmy #bellydancing #bellydanceclasses #bellydancer #raqssharki

There is A LOT that goes i to making a classic oriental show possible. We would be lost without our #1 gig roadie and main man @gabesicle25 ♥️ Oh yeah! Our Bellydancers come with bodyguards 😉 #dancefam #dancefriends #teamwork #dreamwork #bellydance #bellydancing #shenanigans #backstage

Summer Camp day 3!! BELLY DANCE BATTLES!! 😜 Hahahaaa! #bellydanceclasses #dancefamily #bellydance #middleeasterndanceacademyofct #summercamp

Party starters!! 😜🔥 LAST NIGHT WAS EPIC!!!!! 🙌🇱🇧💕#bellydancelife #dreambig #danceismylife #bellydance #bellydancing #onceuponatimeinhollywood #bellydancer #bellydance

LAST NIGHT WAS EPIC!!!!! 🙌🇱🇧💕 Dancing for one of the greatest voices of Lebanon!!! We got the honor of being the opening act for the @raghebalama concert! 🤩We want to thank God and acknowledge @eliomitri and @pierre.i.haddad for setting us up for success always!! A huge thank you to the organizer Bassam Audi for trusting the @middleeasterndancect , myself and SaharaEntertainment with such a prestigious opportunity 💕 We are beyond grateful to have been on the invitation list!!! #bellydancelife #dreambig #danceismylife #bellydance #bellydancing #onceuponatimeinhollywood #bellydancer #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.