Hip Moves
Dance and Fitness Studio
Hip Moves Teachers
Hip Moves teachers provide structured, professional instruction in dance and fitness. Our classes are welcome to students of diverse backgrounds and any experience level.
Oralia
Specializing in Modern Egyptian and Cabaret BellyDance, Oralia has been studying and performing Middle Eastern dance for many years.
Oralia has held board positions in the Middle Eastern Dance Guild of Eugene in Oregon, performed with the Raq-ettes in New Hampshire and Danza Del Alma in Gainesville.
Oralia performs both solo and with her performance students at events like the Gainesville Downtown Fall Arts Festival, the Latino Festival and the Lubee Bat Festival.
Oralia is the artistic director of Gainesville Belly Dance Company. Through Gainesville Raqs, she and co-director Najmah Nour hosts regular workshops and local performances from internationally-recognized dancers.
Najmah Nour
Najmah performs and teaches BellyDance and her signature Flamenco-Arabe Fusion dance, which integrates Modern Egyptian and American Cabaret BellyDance with Flamenco. She has performed and taught workshops across the US and internationally.
Najmah's classes focus on strengthening your technique and elevating your individual level of dance. Najmah’s soft yet dynamic stage presence and her unique teaching style draws in audiences and students from all over.
Najmah is the director of Gainesville's only Flamenco Fusion dance company, Danza Del Alma. Through Gainesville Raqs, she and co-director Oralia hosts regular workshops and local performances of Middle Easter and Spanish dance.
Maha
Maha has studied and performed Middle Eastern BellyDance with local dancers like Najmah, Oralia, Dalys and Carolinca. She performs locally as a solo artist and with Danza Del Alma and Gainesville Belly Dance Company.
Maha teaches BellyDance fitness, technique and choreography, with an emphasis on creating expressive choreographed movement. Maha's classes synthesize sound and movement in a safe and relaxing environment. The steps are taught from an external source but materialize as a connection with your inner core of creativity.
All levels are welcome!
Barakissa Coulibaly
Originally from Ivory Coast, West Africa, Barakissa is a Master West African Dance Instructor and a member of the International Dance Council (CID, UNESCO).
Barakissa has been a guest artist at prestigious universities like University of Florida, University of North Carolina and Bates College. In addition to the US, Barakissa has taught internationally in countries such as Spain, Japan, Greece, France and Germany.
All levels are welcome!
Rona Bennett
Rona Bennett has a BS in Exercise Science and is a Personal Training Assistant (PTA). She has studied dance and fitness with a long list of internationally-recognized performers and teachers.
Rona teaches Yoga/Pilates and offers personal training to individuals, partners and small groups.
Rona's classes build strength and confidence by pursuing self-expression and creativity. She created Hip Moves Dance and Fitness Studio in 2005 to help elevate Gainesville's dance and fitness community.
