Cost; $60 for four weekly classes.
Dates; Feb 18 & 25, March 4 & 11
Times; 6PM to 7PM

Please register before February 14th, drop-in cost $20 per class (if space is available). Classes are open to both beginners and dancers who have some experience.  Focus will be on drills and combinations.  Wear comfortable clothing, and be prepared to have fun.  Once you contact us by text 413-259-7504, registration information will be provided.
Thank you!

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Space is limited, so sign up once details are posted (they will be soon).  
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Oh how I wish I took pictures from today's event!  3 of us shared the space to teach a great group of students, and then perform.  We loved the venue and the great energy of everyone in the room!  We need to remember always, to stand for one another, and give each other the space to truly express.  We accomplished this today.  I do have a small little photo or two to share...




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I had a spectacular time watching the performances at Cairo Cabaret, and seeing so many artists Ive not seen in years.  Here are a few photos from my performance.  

I wish I had photo's of all the dancers, they were not only talented, but had great energy! The featured performer was Aurel, and we absolutely loved her performance! Cairo Cabaret Show is a great local venue, and I look forward to their show in March :)

Performances were by:

Troupe Sabaya
Mathura
Shamsa
Jessica
Attar
Rosheema
Kristen
Royah...

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The first 2 weekends of December we've 2 belly dance events in western MA.
Sunday December 4th, Ill be performing with many other artists at Cairo Cabaret in Chicopee MA.
Saturday December 10th, The Mixed Belly Dance Project is offering free classes to the public at the Guiding Star Grange in Greenfield MA.

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Our Class Note Book is available for purchase!  Break down of 2 choreographies and movements.  Photo on the cover is of Attar, by Alicia Blaze                        
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December 10th 2016, Saturday at 1pm, 3 teachers present a free class with suggested $7 donation.
http://mixedbellydanceproject.yolasite.com/Mixed-Belly-Dance-Events.php


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Our pre-holiday belly dance classes begin October 26th and run for 4 weeks.   Our class location is at Shutesbury Elementary School at 23 West Pelham Road, Shutesbury MA. Close to Amherst, free parking.  More information at www.attarbellydance.yolasite.com.  

Note from Whitney.... To clarify my styles:. I don't consider myself Oriental (though it's often a loose term for many styles of belly dance), my training is in ATS, Cabaret, Raks Sharki, and Shaabi styles. I have performed ATS with O...
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Our Wednesday night belly dance classes begin on September 28th in Shutesbury MA.  Our location is 15 minutes from Amherst, Pelham, and Leverett.  20 minutes from Belchertown, Montague, and Deerfield.  Students who register by paying a small deposit with paypal, get a discount.  Drop in rate is $15 per class.  Prepay for the 4 classes for $40, and save $20.  
We have a fun lesson plan, with lots of shimmies, fun combinations, and I will bring extra zills/finger cymbals to share and practice wi...
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After a 2-ish year hiatus, Cairo Cabaret welcomed me to dance, and I could not be more grateful for such a supportive venue in our dance community.  I will be there again on December 4 2016, to dance a little longer.  Pictured here I am performing to Alf Leyla (I love this song as it reminds me of one of my mentors).  This photo is by Peter Polomski who is one of the many old friends of our arts community I missed!  To see more of his photos from this show, his album is on facebook

have ...
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Our little town of Shutesbury MA is very close to Amherst where the children here attend the regional school systems there. We are lucky to be part of a supportive community to belly dance in this hill town. I was happy to take these photos of these two Crescent Dancers today! I remember back in CT, 1998; my first teacher Kali would keep insisting that I see them perform. Since then I relocated to this area of western MA in 2000, and have seen them perform many times, and their energy is ...
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www.hitchcockacademy.org
New classes begin June 11 2015 and we are covering new material and review of old.  Part of the process of building a 3 part routine.  New students will be able to see where the pieces fall, context as well as simplified instruction on movements and transitions.  This is a great time to join in!
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Visit http://www.leveretthistorical.org/who13/attar.html to see Artist of Leverett MA (including Attar Mellea)

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Our classes in Brimfield and Leverett MA were visited by photography students from Hallmark Institute of Photography in June 2013.  Here are some beautiful candid photos from https://www.facebook.com/krakowskiphotography





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Something that caught my eye(s),  enjoy!

An Ear-splitting Cry: Gender, Performance, and Representations of Zaghareet in the U.S.
http://soundstudiesblog.com/2013/05/13/zaghareet/

Kim Kardashian Eye Makeup
http://www.preen.me/look/116062
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Thankyou to our co-producers Za-Beth, Zabel, Ankara Rose, Anabee and Attar!  Our teachers Destiny Maktoub, Maroznia, Zoe, Anabee, Zabel, Ankara Rose, Attar!  Our venue the Hitchcock Academy, our sound technician Aric Kimball of AricAudio and our workshop teachers Jemileh Nour, Zabel and Za-Beth!   We had a spectacular event with over 100 attending and beautiful showcase <3

Oriental Caravan is just about to celebrate the 10 year anniversary and our May 11th show was a HUGE success at Hitchcock ...
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At 8 am, Friday, February 15th 2013.... listen to WESO radio to hear Attar being interviewed by Dick Vaughn about her 15 year long career as a belly dancers, and belly dance classes at Hitchcock Free Academy of Brimfield MA.
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Ancient Art of Belly Dance is BACK ON LINE!   Classes are being browse around, for class listings and events in western MA.  www.ancientartofbellydance.com.  Check out the recent article from January 2013.  Shimmies!


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First Fridays Belly Dance in Amherst
Every first Friday at Amherst Yoga Center
715 pm  Take a class taught by Attar and Kristy Speck
then stay to see performances by area dancers.
Cost: $10
Reserve your space for this evening as space is limited by calling 413-325-3967
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Id like to thank the many performers, volunteers, audience and friends for a great end to a season of Cabaret Attar.
Shows will resume in the fall, and dates will be posted soon. Photo of Attar by Almasa.
                       
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Photography by Alicia Hunsicker
This was Valentines Day 2010 - our monthly venue at the Northampton Center for the Arts.  We had a successful and fun night thanks to the very lovely and talented dancers, musicians and vendors!


                          

Photography by Alicia Hunsicker

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I attended a Hula workshop and show in NH on February 7th 2010.
I fell in LOVE with Hula and am hoping to find a local teacher.  The show was a lot of fun too, both Hula and Belly Dance performances were featured.  I performed a short solo and enjoyed many others before and after mine.  Thank you to NH Belly dance Association for making this event possible.



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We had a great show, once again, with many thanks to our audience, performers and vendor.  I really enjoy producing at the Northampton Center for the Arts as the space is just beautiful.
I am truly great-full for Sugati and Christopher Phillips and how nice it is to co-host with them.  OH! And the performers!  Some very talented and classy dancers and musicians!
A true pleasure it is to do this in our dance community, thank you everybody!!!
 
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Here are some photos of my old troupe named ADhAM.  Consisted of myself, Emily, Amy, Betsy and Crystal.  We danced at Garlic and Arts, Vt Ren Festival and many other venues.  The troupe was spun off from Ozymandias (Loreli, Elaina el Amora, Ihab, Shilo and myself).  We were ATS inspired Middle Eastern Fusion in style.















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Ive been teaching many different students at different locations over the years.  Here are but a few pics of events we performed at and class photos.  We have worked on a few different styles over the years, American Belly Dance, Cabaret, Folkloric and Middle Eastern fusions.  



Above is a performance in Hadley MA at one of the assisted living centers.  Jenny Lisa is on the left, Ramara is on the right and my back is to the camera.


The photo below is of some of my students at Eve Christoff's...
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2 separate articles about classes offered by Attar
The article below is a front page feature of Attar and troupe ADhAM at Garlic and Arts in Orange MA.

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Seen here are Kristy(left), Aurora(back), Kat(far right), Attar(front)
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