Join us in 2025 for an amazing week - It is the place to be in August

International Bellydance Summer School 2025

15th – 21st August 2025

Our International Bellydance Summer School 2025 is hosting dancers from the UK, France, Belgium, Norway and the USA. An amazing week full of inspirational women. One dancer sent an email after: ‘Thank you for a truly wonderful, uplifting and transformative week. Kays warmth and seemingly boundless enthusiasm were both uplifting and inspiring!’

You might want to go to our Facebook page to see pictures of this years summer school.

Join us for days jam-packed with dance in the beautiful historic setting of Wellington College, Berkshire. You can sign up for specific courses or choose our ‘total immersion’ option and dip in and out of everything. More choice, more dance, more fun!

We have several options available – each has single room, twin room, group room and non residential option.
Total immersion – access to everything (except the project with Brenda Diaz – 6 days: 15th – 21st August, 2025
Brenda Project – mornings with Brenda – access any workshops on the afternoon – 6 days: 15th – 21st August, 2025
Live music option – and more …..4 days: 15th – 19th August 2025
Baladi Intensive option ….. 4 days 17th – 21st August 2025
Superstar weekend option – 2 days: 15th – 17th August, 2025
Above are links to single room options – see all the room options here

Book now at the Early Bird rate and save up to £80. Pay your deposit now!

What to expect

As always, we will have lots of exciting things to tempt you throughout the week including:

JWAAD Master Teachers and International superstars
GalaTheatre Show – All participants are invited to perform a solo or group dance – and be part of our supportive audience
2 haflas – Saturday night and Wednesday night
Over 70 hours of workshops and activities
Workshops at all levels in a huge choice of dance styles
Lectures in different subjects
In addition to our normal timetable we have:
NEW: Sign up for an intensive development project with Brenda Diaz
NEW: 4 day courses Friday to Tuesday – Live music option and Sunday to Thursday – Folklore option. If you book the ‘Total Immersion’ package it includes these workshops.
Shopping in the souk and a wonderful fashion show

This intensive residential course will provide a wonderful boost to your technique and performance. Spend your days taking classes in a wide variety of styles of Middle Eastern and Fusion dance, classes with Egyptian musicians, work on technique, rhythm and choreography. Focus on specific subjects you are interested in or put together an eclectic mix. Book a private lesson with one of our teachers or spend time relaxing in the gardens, walking in the woods, shopping in the souk, or enjoying a drink in one of the cafés.

Evening entertainment includes a hafla, fancy dress party, theatre show (with you in it!), talent night, and fun in the common rooms!

Secure your place now

Prices and Options for 2025

Summer School Timetable 2024

Getting to Summer School

Summer school teachers for 2025

The Courses

We have over 70 hours of classes and activities including:

Authentic Egyptian and Middle Eastern Styles
Advanced level masterclasses
NEW: Development project with Brenda Diaz
Workshops with live music – open to all.
NEW: Folklore course: Baladi Intensive – just come for a 4 day option or join us for 6 days and include this as a part of it.
NEW: In depth music course including live music
Classes on technique and rhythm
Classes on choreography and performance
A variety of fusion styles
Dances to learn and perform
Daily sagat/zill practice
A souk with dance wear for sale all week
Weekenders can perform at our Hafla
A chance to wear a fabulous costume in the fashion show
A relaxed and fun talent evening
A chance to perform solo or in groups in our Theatre show
Time to relax, socialise or go for a walk in the grounds
click here for summer school prices and options

Professional and Advanced Dancers at Summer School

There are plenty of high-level classes to keep you challenged and learning, as well as performance opportunities. PLUS for the first time a personal development project designed and taught by Brenda – our Cairo Superstar. This is an amazing opportunity for dancers looking to explore their own personal dance and really make a difference. Not to mention our music option including classes with live music, theory and cultural context. AND our baladi course designed by Abeer Will.

Classes and Levels

All classes and activities are optional. You do not have to book classes in advance, just decide what you fancy doing and book on arrival..

You are welcome to do classes at different levels in different subjects. For instance, you might decide to do a lower level in stick than veil, if you haven’t done much stick dance before but are a bit of a veil expert. You may choose whichever ones you want to go to, but do remember that teachers cannot slow down a class if you have chosen one that it too hard for you.

You can choose between:

— 6 days for the full experience – show/parties/all activities
— 6 days with Brenda Diaz each morning and access to all classes on the afternoon.
— 4 days – 2 options: Live music or Folklore – different dates – you can access these if you sign up to the 6 day option.
— 2 days – includes our Saturday hafla, live tabla workshops and classes with superstars.
Your booking includes all meals, classes and activities, and use of all facilities (non-residential does not include breakfast).

Our Wonderful Venue

Wellington College, Berkshire, is the magnificent setting for our courses, with a huge complex of historic buildings, enormous grounds, lakes (including Swan Lake!), gardens, an outdoor swimming pool and modern theatre. We will dance in a mixture of gorgeous historic halls and modern dance studios.

Click here for map
Click here for the history of Wellington College
Tea and coffee making facilities are provided in our accommodation and there are two cafes (one is a cafe/bar) on site. All meals are included and there is a good choice of dishes at every meal. Vegetarian and vegan diets are catered for (please state when booking).

Accommodation

Accommodation is comfortable and modern, though not ensuite. We have mostly single rooms plus a small number of twin and group rooms. We can often provide sharers if needed. If you’d like shared accommodation, book early as these rooms often fill up fast. We always endeavor to put friends together or very close to each other, so let us know who your friends are!