Classical Raqs Sharqi
The elegant, expressive core of Egyptian bellydance — line, musicality and presence.
What is Leylet Raqs
A festival for the love of Raqs Sharqi.
Leylet Raqs — "Night of Dance" — is Ghent's annual international Raqs Sharqi (Egyptian bellydance) festival, held every year since 2023. Each edition gathers dancers, historians, musicians and lovers of Egyptian culture from across the world to honour the roots of the art and to celebrate it as a living, breathing tradition.
An edition unfolds as a weekend under one roof: workshops for every level, lectures and panel discussions, an evening galashow performed live with musicians on stage, and an opening party that carries on into the night. It is as much a gathering of a community as it is a programme of classes.
Curated by Lenka Badriyah
Co-organised with Shoonya Dance Centre · Ghent
What to expect
A weekend in three acts.
Every edition follows the same arc — from the opening party on Friday to the closing circle on Sunday, each day building on the one before.
Friday
Opening
- Workshops & lecture
- Feedback Show
- Opening party with performances
Saturday
The heart of it
- Full day of workshops
- Galashow — live music, performed twice
Sunday
Going deeper
- Workshops
- Panel discussion with the artists
- Closing circle
Workshops
Many dialects of one dance.
Every edition explores the breadth of Raqs Sharqi — Egyptian bellydance, from its classical heart to its folkloric roots and contemporary edges — led by international guest teachers invited from across the world.
Baladi
The earthy, soulful folk dance of the people — grounded, improvised, deeply felt.
Golden Era
The cinematic glamour of Cairo's golden age of dance and film, revived for the stage.
Folklore
Regional Egyptian traditions — the dances that carry the country's living heritage.
Props & Veil
Working with veil and other props to extend the line of the body through movement.
Technique
Focused sessions on the craft — arms, layering, isolations and control.
Interpretation
Dancing the music — listening, phrasing and telling a story through the body.
Fusion
Where Raqs Sharqi meets other forms — contemporary explorations of the dance.
Alongside the workshops, each edition brings lectures and panel discussions, an evening showcase, and live music — the full programme and guest teachers are announced for every edition.
The curator
Lenka Badriyah
A Czech dancer based in Belgium, Lenka has spent over fifteen years teaching and performing Raqs Sharqi — as a soloist and within ensembles. She danced for a decade alongside Jillina in Bellydance Evolution, leaving her mark in more than sixty shows across the globe.
A specialist in Golden Era bellydance and devoted to its history, she curates Leylet Raqs as a love letter to the art and the community that keeps it alive.
Curator of Leylet Raqs · Co-organised with Shoonya Dance Centre
The story so far
Four editions, since 2023.
Each edition brings its own guest teachers from across the world, and its own way into the art of Raqs Sharqi.
2026
Edition Four · 29–31 May
Leylet Raqs Heritage — the Muhammad Ali Street edition
A deeply nostalgic edition built around a world-unique museum exhibition — Lenka's own collection of over 400 Golden Era artefacts, from signed photographs of Samia Gamal to original vinyl and vintage postcards. Historians Nisaa and Reda Henkesh (himself from Cairo's Muhammad Ali Street) led lectures and workshops tracing Raqs Sharqi's roots through the awalim and Delta ghawazi, alongside a documentary screening and a theatre show blending live dance, music and archival projection.
Guest teachers — Nisaa (Heather Ward) & Reda Henkesh · Nada Al Basha · Sheyla · Lenka Badriyah
2025
Edition Three · 14–16 Nov
All forms of love
The festival introduced a Feedback Show in place of an open showcase — a non-competitive stage where performers received one-on-one feedback from the guest teachers. The Galashow's theme, "all forms of love," closed with guest performances from Swapnil Dagliya and the Palestinian dabke group ElKofieh48, alongside live music throughout.
Guest teachers — Mercedes Nieto · Lurdiana · Mohanned Hawaz · Hendrik Lebon · Lenka Badriyah
Live music — Osama Abdulrasol (qanun) · Jamal Moussaid (tabla)
2024
Edition Two · 23–25 Feb
Golden Era, Egyptian folklore, and the veil
Guest teachers travelled in from Ukraine, Italy, Belgium and Morocco — Golden Era style, veil technique, drum-solo fusion, and Baladi across the weekend. Lenka closed the workshops with a trio of Egyptian folk and character dances, and the festival closed with a discussion between two of its guest teachers.
Guest teachers — Julia Farid · Silvia Brazzoli · Luna · Hind Taoufiq · Lenka Badriyah
2023
Edition One · 17–19 Feb
Where it all began
The first Leylet Raqs — a lecture on Golden Era melodies, workshops on isolation technique and Oriental Romance, and a show built almost entirely from the community: dancers across all levels performing classical Raqs Sharqi, Egyptian folklore and fusion styles alongside the guest teachers.
Guest teachers — Siobhan · Lou Pradas · Lenka Badriyah
Good to know
Frequently asked.
What is Leylet Raqs?
Leylet Raqs — "Night of Dance" — is Ghent's annual international Raqs Sharqi (Egyptian bellydance) festival, curated by Lenka Badriyah and co-organised with Shoonya Dance Centre. Each edition is a weekend of workshops, lectures, live music and performance celebrating the heritage of Egyptian dance, with guest teachers from across the world.
Is Leylet Raqs a bellydance festival?
Yes. Raqs Sharqi is the traditional Egyptian form of bellydance, so Leylet Raqs is at heart an international bellydance festival — bringing teachers and dancers from across the world to Ghent every year. "Raqs Sharqi" literally means "dance of the East" and is simply the dance's Egyptian name.
Who is the festival for?
Everyone. Workshops run from first steps to advanced, and the lectures, shows and parties welcome dancers and dance-lovers alike. All levels are welcome.
Where does it take place?
At Shoonya Dance Centre, Stapelplein 41, 9000 Gent — a ten-minute walk from Gent-Dampoort station.
When is the next edition?
Leylet Raqs is held annually. Dates vary by edition and are announced on Instagram @leylet_raqs_festival first.
How do I register?
Registration opens together with each edition's programme, through Shoonya. A Shoonya ID is required for every participant — you can create one for free when registration opens.
