São Paulo – For women interested in practicing belly dancing in São Paulo, all routes lead to Vila Mariana. The neighbourhood houses a large number of dance schools and is located in the largest city in the country. Close to three underground stations and few kilometres away from Paulista avenue, the financial centre in the city, the schools of Vila Mariana attract women from all regions of the city.
The most famous tea house in São Paulo, Khan el Khalili, is one of the main attractions in the neighbourhood. Apart from its traditional presentations, the house also offers classes to those interested in learning. The classes started in the 1990s, due to the demand created by those who watched the shows. Today, the six professors at Khan el Khalili have 15 groups, with an average of 200 students.
“The majority [of students] decide to promote changes in their lives and dance serves as a tool do develop self-esteem, to overcome blocks and to rescue femininity,” explained Débora Sabongi, a partner at Khan el Khalili. She said that the groups have students aged from 14 to 60, who come for reasons varying from their appreciation for dance to the desire to make friends and medical recommendations.
In the neighbourhood for five years, Hazine school usually has an average of 100 to 150 students. However, thanks to a promotion on a collective purchase site, which offered 70% discount for a term of lessons, the school currently has around 400 students in 40 groups. “We even have a student from Taboão da Serra (a city neighbouring São Paulo),” pointed out Denise Mascarenhas, the owner of Hazine.
She explains that, before the promotion, most of the students at the school worked in the neighbourhood, but that the discount attracted students from more distant regions. “If the price is good, the distance does not matter that much,” she said. The businessman also believes that the good geographic position of Vila Mariana, with easy access to public transportation, and the high buying power in the region are factors that help result in so many schools in the neighbourhood.
Part of a franchise chain with ten units in São Paulo and one in Rio Grande do Sul, the Vila Mariana branch of Luxor has been in the neighbourhood for two and a half years. Offering from the basic to advanced levels, the school teaches belly dancing to women of all ages. “They seek a pleasurable activity, as many do not like going to the gym,” said dancer and teacher Lunah Farah, who is also the coordinator of the unit.
For those who want to become professional ballerinas, the route is long. “At Luxor, from the basic to the advanced level, the minimum time is four years, but it varies from person to person, depending on how much they practice, and how much they dedicate themselves to their studies,” said Lunah. “Students aiming at a professional career are directed to technical courses and, depending on their performance, have chances to develop within the chain and teach at our schools,” she finished off.
Be it for a hobby, therapy or desire to become a dancer, the truth is that fans of belly dancing have guaranteed space in Vila Mariana. All you have to do is choose the school that pleases you the most, wrap a scarf with around your waste and dance away.
Service
Khan el Khalili
Rua Dr. José de Queiroz Aranha, 320
Tel: (11) 5084-3531
Site: www.khanelkhalili.com.br
Hazine
Rua França Pinto, 17
Tel.: (11) 3542-8991
Site: www.hazine.com.br
Luxor:
Avenida Domingos de Moraes, 3092 – 1st Floor
Tel.: (11) 2861-5441
Site: www.luxordancadoventre.com.br
*Translated by Mark Ament
