Tarik Sultan

Tarik Sultan is one of the world’s best-known pioneers of male Oriental Dance (Belly Dancing). He began his formal training in 1985. In addition to classes, he spent countless hours in the Dance Research Library at Lincoln Center, striving to learn as much as he could about the dance, its history, and the culture from which it originated. In 1988, he traveled to Egypt for the first time, observing the dance in its native homeland. This experience allowed him to distinguish the truth about the dance from the many popular myths created by the media.

Inspired by his travels, Tarik began teaching his first class in the early '90s, eager to share all he had learned and observed. Over the years, his talent and dedication to the art have earned him a reputation as a dynamic performer and a gifted, inspiring teacher and choreographer. He has taught many successful seminars across the nation as well as internationally in the UK, Japan, Australia, Trinidad, and Argentina. Some of Tarik’s international performance credits include the Jerusalem Festival, the Dar America Association in Marrakech, Morocco, and Alexandria, Egypt. In 2003, he became one of the first male dancers to perform at the Ahlan Wa Sahlan Festival in Cairo, Egypt. Other credits include performances at the United Nations, Lincoln Center, and The Museum of Natural History.

Tarik holds the distinction of being the only male dancer to be featured in the top venues in New York City, such as Casbah Rouge, Mehenata Bulgarian Bar, Babylon, Horus, The Habibi Lounge, and Feluca and 1001 Nights in Brooklyn, NY. From 2003 to 2014, he was the premier dancer at Le Souk in NYC. Until recently, he taught regular weekly classes in NYC, The Bronx, and Jersey City. He is available for private lessons, Zoom classes, private parties, and workshops upon request.

Tarik Sultan offers a range of engaging classes at the Bellyqueen School, catering to multiple levels.

Tuesdays
6.30-7.30pm: Intermediate Cairo Stage Dance (Drop-In)
7.30-8.30pm: Belly Dance Foundations (Drop-In)

Saturdays
11am-12pm: Belly Dance Foundations (Drop-In)
12-1pm: Intermediate Cairo Stage Dance (Drop-In)
1-2pm: Egyptian Improvisation 1/10-2/7 (5 Wk Course)

WHERE:
Bellyqueen School @Playwrights
440 Lafayette St, 4th Floor, Studio 4D, New York, NY 10003
Press "Playwrights" on the intercom to be let into the building and to activate the elevator

INVESTMENT:
Drop-In Class: $25, class-cards and unlimited passes apply
5 Week Course: $100, $90 members, $25 drop-in

Sign Up Now for a Drop-In Class
Sign Up for the Egyptian Improvisation 1/10-2/7 5 Wk Course

Way back in the day, I had taken classes with Tarik.  He was an excellent teacher then and I am pleased to say that he continues to be. In fact, he has become a teacher who can teach everyone while, at the same time, providing support to any one individual. That's a gift! - Oliver Hummel

Drop-In Class Descriptions

Belly Dance Foundations
This class taught by Tarik Sultan gives beginners — and dancers with some experience — the technical building blocks to grow with confidence. You’ll learn core isolations, footwork, posture, transitions, and how to apply them musically so your movement looks and feels intentional. This course teaches skills that transfer across traditional and fusion styles, helping you progress with proficiency, artistry, and a strong movement vocabulary. Join a supportive class environment designed to challenge you while honoring your individual pace.

Intermediate Cairo Stage Dance
Raqs Sharqi—Egyptian stage dance—emerged in early 20th-century Cairo as a theatrical evolution of Baladi social dance. Influenced by Western stage aesthetics such as jazz and ballroom, it developed into a refined, expressive, and sensual performance art rooted in Egyptian musicality and culture.

In this class, Tarik Sultan guides dancers step by step through the essential elements of Cairo stage style. Students will deepen their technical foundation while cultivating elegance, clarity, and presence. Emphasis is placed on musical interpretation, grounded yet graceful movement, and the nuanced expressiveness that defines Egyptian performance.

What We’ll Cover

  • Historical and social distinctions between Baladi and Raqs Sharqi

  • Core technique: posture and carriage, Egyptian-style isolations, hip movements and variations, shimmies, and footwork

  • Musicality: embodying Egyptian rhythms and melodic phrasing

  • Arms and hands: expressive pathways and articulation

  • Stage skills: entrances and exits, performance polish, and audience connection

Who This Class Is For

  • Advanced beginners to intermediate dancers interested in Egyptian stage style

  • Dancers seeking to strengthen technique, musical sensitivity, and confident stage presence

  • Anyone aspiring to perform solo or as part of an ensemble with greater authenticity and artistry