Are you captivated by the elegance, femininity, and beauty of oriental dance? Do you need a pinch of magic, happy vibes and inspiration? Do you want to dance and have fun in a friendly atmosphere?
If you answered “Yes” to at least one of these questions, Badriya Oriental Dance School is the spot for you! We’ll whisk you away to the fantastic Orient to find much more than just a dance!
About Badriya Oriental Dance school
Violeta Valcheva founded Badriya Oriental Dance School in 2014, drawing on her expertise as an instructor and a leading figure in the development of oriental dances in Bulgaria. Our birthday is November 15, 2014, which is also the date of the school’s first annual show.
We offer belly dance classes for beginners to professionals. Our goal is to introduce you to the world of Arabic dance and culture, as well as to share the pleasure, inspiration, and all the magical benefits of this beautiful art with you.
Feedback from visitors, our performances on various stages, student awards from international oriental dance contests, and the professional development of the most committed, all serve as recognition for the school’s activity.
Today, our dance family is growing with new students, dancers, and instructors.
What does the name Badriya mean?
Badriya (Badriya/بدرية; the emphasis is on the third syllable) is an old Arabic female name. Each name in the Arabic language has a specific meaning, and people believe that it bestows certain qualities on its bearer. In translation, Badriya means “a face as beautiful as the full moon.” Other qualities linked to this name are mystery, elegance, romance, kindness, and perseverance. The moon also symbolizes femininity, emotions, dreams, and imagination, all of them resonating with the Oriental dance.
What others are saying about Badria Dance School
Warda
Veneta Dimitrova
Violeta is strict, but very careful. She has individual approach to everyone in the group. She always succeeds in challenging me and making the most of my abilities. I am really happy that I have a wonderful person, a dancer and a teacher from who I constantly learn and to whose support, honesty and love I can always count on!
Viktoriya Sirakova
Dessislava Peeva
Iglika Pantaleeva
I guess everyone is looking for their place where they can escape from everyday life and the world around them, where they feel happy and in complete harmony. Indeed, I found this place in the school. There I met some of my best friends …
Alexandra Kirilova
Maria Kirilova
Maria Mihaylova
Terry Georgieva
What do we say about ourselves
We all have various reasons for taking a belly dance class – whether it’s for fun, reconnecting to our femininity, exercise, performance, or a combination of all of the above. In the following lines, you will find what we believe is essential to help you achieve your goal, whatever it may be. If our philosophy resonates with you, there is a pretty good chance you will like dancing with us. Let’s begin…
The learning process is fun
Lessons follow a structured training plan that ensures you can easily conquer even the trickiest movements.
The curriculum was developed by Violeta Valcheva and combines her vast experience as a belly dance teacher and aerobic/stretching instructor with the best practices of oriental dance training.
According to the visitors’ experience, the classes are divided into five levels: beginners I (no experience), beginners II (some experience), intermediate, advanced, and professionals. There is continuity and a gradual upgrading of the knowledge between the levels. You can find an in-depth description of each level in Schedule – group classes.
You will learn with certified instructors who love what they do
We have dedicated professionals who are passionate about what they do. You can count on their support, encouragement, and patience to help you master this beautiful art form.
Violeta Valcheva
Violeta is a certified instructor of oriental dance and Egyptian folklore by two Egyptian schools. and she has more than ten years of experience as a performer and teacher of Oriental dance. She has a teaching university degree and she is also a certified aerobics, callanetics and stretching instructor from the sports national academy in Bulgaria.
During the last decade, Violeta has attended numerous lectures and workshops about Oriental dance. Because of her knowledge and experience, she can explain the dance technique clearly and understandably while relating it to the context of the various oriental dance styles.
She places a lot of value on the genuine and emotional interpretation of the music. Therefore, one of her main goals is to teach her students to connect with their bodies and express their emotions through dance. Read her story HERE.
Dayyana Tsaneva
Dayana started dancing at Badriya Oriental Dance School in 2018. After completing all the levels, she joined the school’s professional belly dance show group. Dayyna also completed training for teachers with Violeta Valcheva, as well as the Raqs Academy course, dedicated to the history and styles of oriental dances. Dayyana continues to perfect her skills by attending oriental dance festivals and workshops, where she draws knowledge and inspiration.
Attention and individual approach to each student
The classes are held in small groups, and we pay individual attention to each student. The classes are tailored to the level of the group and the needs of those present in the studio. Our teachers are always happy to answer whatever questions you may have about oriental dance.
Interesting classes
Oriental dance is a never-ending source of fascinating stories and performance techniques because it represents the aesthetic attitudes and values of the varied Arab culture. One of the reasons you will never get bored with Oriental dance is that there is always something new to learn.
We teach various oriental dance styles at Badriya oriental dance school. Here is what you can study with us:
- Classical Egyptian style raqs sharqi (belly dance)
- Social Egyptian dance styles – baladi and shaabi
- Folklore and traditional Egyptian dances – awalim, ghawaze, saidi, Nubian dance, hagala, fellahi, muwashahat,
- Folklore styles from other parts of the Arab world – dabka, haliji, Iraqi
- Rhythms in the Arabic music
- Popular accessories for oriental dances – shamadan (candelabra), sagat, saidi stick, melaya leff, veil, fan veils, Izida’s wings.
- History and prominent figures in oriental dances and music, and many more spicy details
Whether you’re sensual and romantic, or joyful and playful, you’ll find the oriental dance style that best fits your personality and allows you to fully express yourself.
Achievements and performances
Performing for an audience is completely up to you. We are proud that our students perform on various stages, including:
- Annual shows and parties organized by the school.
- International oriental dance festivals in Bulgaria and abroad.
- Charity shows and initiatives for cultural exchange.
- Oriental dance competitions – our students are winners and finalists in professional and amateur categories in a number of international competitions.
- Violeta Dance Company – The most talented and dedicated dancers are invited to join the professional troupe Violeta Dance Company, which provides professional belly dance shows at corporate and private events.
You can see photos and videos from our performances in Gallery.
We are happy to welcome you in a very friendly atmosphere. We believe that “like attracts like” and you will meet new friends with the same oriental vibes! 😊
If you are ready to explore the fabulous world of this Arabic art – check out the options for belly dance classes in Sofia!