Egyptian-style bellydance courses, in Manchester and online
Learn the art of Egyptian bellydance in a fun and supportive setting!
My Egyptian dance courses have options available for everyone from absolute beginners, to dancers with many years experience – in person in South Manchester, and online via Zoom
All my classes run as courses, normally of six weeks. Places are limited and they often sell out, so I advise booking well in advance. I also teach fun taster classes for complete beginners every few months, where you can get a feel for what my classes are like
My next term of classes starts in January 2026, and I am also teaching taster workshops for complete beginners in the first week of January. Sign up for a course or taster session now:
2026 Bellydance Courses
This term’s courses include in-person classes in Chorlton, South Manchester on Monday and Thursday evenings, and Zoom classes on Tuesdays.
Here’s an overview of current class times & topics:
| Mondays – in person at Chorlton High School | Tuesdays – on Zoom | Thursdays – in person at Chorlton High School |
|---|---|---|
| 6pm Online Pilates | ||
| 6:30pm Beginners Bellydance | 7:15pm Intermediate Bellydance – “5 Songs every bellydancer should know” | 6:30pm Beginners Bellydance |
| 7:30pm Intermediate Bellydance – “5 Songs every bellydancer should know” | 7:30pm – Improvers Bellydance – “Classic Egyptian Sha’abi” | |
| 8:30pm performance group (by invitation) |
In-person course info: all in-person classes are held in the dance studios at Chorlton High School, Nell Lane, Manchester M21 7SL.
Each course includes 5 live in-person classes, plus music playlists and online learning materials. Intermediate bellydance courses also include a Zoom catch-up option for classes missed.
Online course info: Each online course will include 5 live online classes on Zoom, and access to catch-up recordings, which you will have access to throughout the course.
Prices: all five-week courses are £55
Dates: January 2026 courses start from Monday 12th and Thursday 16th of January 2026.
The class levels
Beginners courses are suitable for complete beginners, and they are also suitable if you’re a more experienced dancer who’d like to work on the foundations of your technique. In these classes, we cover essential Egyptian dance moves and steps, get a feel for the rhythms and styles of Arabic music, and have lots of fun dancing together.
Improvers is the next level above beginners – for dancers who are ready to take the next step! This class is suitable if you’re already feeling confident with all of the basic moves that I teach in my beginners classes. We go beyond beginner moves to add more layering and footwork, and explore the basics of different props and styles!
Intermediates might be for you if you’ve been dancing for a year or more, and are already fully confident with a wide range of moves, as well as using travelling steps, layers and transitions. In these classes, we go into depth on a different topic each term – from different Egyptian music & dance styles, to technique, improvisation, and dancing with props.
More about these classes
My bellydance classes will help you develop your skills, reconnect to your body, and grow your confidence, to enjoy Egyptian dance in a social setting – whilst learning dance technique that looks beautiful, feels good, and supports your body’s natural movement.
Each class includes relaxation and body awareness, an energising cardio warmup, detailed dance technique followed by lots of actual dancing, and a gentle cooldown stretch.
Who am I?
My name is Rachael Borek and I’ve been studying bellydance since 2008, and teaching classes here in Manchester since 2018. I am a massive nerd about Egyptian music and dance, and I love to share my knowledge!
My mission as a teacher is to make learning to dance an accessible and uplifting experience for you – even if you’re shy, don’t see yourself as a “natural dancer”, or have had a hard time with other physical activities.
As I see it, my job is to be flexible and find out what works for you, so that you can enjoy the moves, connect to the music, and have a great time in class!
You can find out more about me on the “about” page.
What people are saying…
“Before I met Rachael, I felt that my dancing ability had plateaued and I was uncertain about how to progress, but Rachael was quickly able to identify the areas I was struggling with and enabled me to overcome them by going through technique in a way that made sense to me. Rachael is a thoroughly enthusiastic teacher with an encyclopaedic knowledge of the dance, including the music and culture, which she shares in her classes.”
Natasha, Manchester
“Rachael is super fun and attentive, and explains everything in a variety of ways to help you get the most out of classes. And she doesn’t just teach dance moves; you also learn little snippets of dance history, about the cultures where bellydance is performed, and also the history of, and how to read, the music. Classes are well structured, and the atmosphere is very friendly and welcoming. It’s renewed my zest for dance!”
Heather
“Rachael is inspiring to watch and is friendly, understanding and totally inclusive as a teacher. I have some challenges regarding dance; health and confidence among them. I have learnt so much since dancing with Rachael and can feel improvement in my ability and in my pain management for my fibromyalgia. I wish she lived closer – but thank goodness for ‘Zoom’.”
Anna, Berkshire
“Rachael’s teaching is inspiring: there is the sheer joy of watching her dance, her supportive and detailed feedback during class and a fantastic ability to explain how to move in many different ways.”
Heike, Liverpool
“I have really developed a passion for belly dancing since attending these classes. Fun, interactive sessions which have taught great technique, expression and knowledge of Arabic rythms.”
Sabah, Stockport
“I love Rachel’s belly dance classes they are so much fun! Rachael is a great teacher as she encourages you to be creative and adopt your own personal style. I would recommend anyone thinking of joining to go ahead and do it!”
Amanda, Cheshire
“I really enjoy Rachael’s classes because the atmosphere is so friendly, relaxed and fun. What I love most is that she always tries to get students out of their comfort zone in a fun and friendly way. You always learn something new!”
Shakiba, Oxford
“Rachael is very passionate about music and dance, and she passes this on to all her students!”
Pooja, Oxford
Bellydance by Rachael 
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