Shimmy on Wisconsin!

Red Goes Silver

Celebrating 25 Years in 2025

Join us in celebrating the 25th anniversary of our annual festival, held in the vibrant city of Madison, Wisconsin. This exciting event features workshops led by expert teachers, captivating showcases with performances by talented instructors, students, and local community dancers, a variety of vendors, and a weekend dedicated to honoring the art of belly dance. Don't miss out on this unforgettable experience!

Featuring Yousry Sharif

This April join us for four classes with world renowned Grand Master Yousry Sharif. Yousry Sharif is the embodiment of many greats when it comes to Egyptian Raqs Sharqi: a great original choreographer, a great teacher, a great mentor, a great music producer, a great presence, a great inspiration, a great mind, and the list goes on and on. In short, he is the epitome of the dance, and a phenomenon.

While preserving the spirit of traditions, he takes the dance to a contemporary level and beyond. To him, the dance is a living form. It evolves with time and environment, while never loses sight of its roots.

Workshops with Master Sharif

Featured Guest Artists

Arielle Juliette

Arielle Juliette is the owner of Dance Life Studio and Fitness in Madison WI, where he's been teaching many types of dance for 15 years. He also creates social media videos promoting the radical idea that dance should be available to all bodies.

Jaida

Arielle Juliette

Jaida is a New York City based dancer. She credits her love and inspiration for dance to Master Yousry Sharif, whom she has studied with for many years. She continues to grace the stage both nationally and internationally,
from the U.S., South America, Europe, to Asia she has taught countless workshops, judged competitions and remains consistently in demand as a both a dancer and teacher.

Phaedra Darwish

Arielle Juliette

Phaedra Darwish

Phaedra Darwish has been performing as well as teaching workshops and classes in Chicago and throughout the US for the past 14 years. As an Arab-American, she also produces and takes part in cultural events, citywide festivals, and community fundraisers as a way to share her heritage with others.

Shopping at Shimmy On Wisconsin

Neenee's Imports

Neenee's Imports provides hand selected costumes from Cairo, accessories, hip scarves, media and more! Shopping will be available during Shimmy on Wisconsin throughout the weekend. Vending is open from registration through classtime and during the shows.

Check out Neenee's Imports wares at neeneesimports.com.

Sponsored by BellydancingUW - Brought to You by Mona'Nwal

Your local belly dance club in madison, Wisconsin

Belly Dancing UW is dedicated to providing the local community with quality instruction on the art and technique of Middle Eastern based dance art. This organization was founded in the Spring of 2000 by Kerridwen Mangala and Leena in order to practice the choreographies and technique of their instructor, Mona N'wal. They were soon joined by Radhika, Amy, Yayuk, Courtney, Sabrina, and many other members, who helped create the organization as it stands today.

Belly Dancing UW provides instruction for beginning, intermediate, and advanced dancers. Each semester, our organization welcomes 20-30 regular attendees in the beginners' class, where an experienced club member covers basic technique, which is synthesized into a choreography. Intermediate classes build on this foundation with a greater focus on complete dance pieces, many of which are performed by the club at events on campus and around Madison.