Habeeba's History

Habeeba began performing in 1960, and began instructing in 1971 when she created ™Habeeba's Dance of the Arts, Inc. Hers was the first belly dance school in Ohio and she is an inductee in the American Academy of Middle Eastern Dance Hall of Fame.

Her performing credits include appearances at the Dunes and Tropicana in Las Vegas, the Grecian Palace in New Orleans and the Playboy Club in Chicago. She has been a guest of many national TV programs, like The Phil Donohue Show, The Ed Sullivan Show, The Bob Braun Show, The Nick Clooney Show, The Joey Bishop Show, The Jackie Gleason Show, and The Tonight Show with Johnny Carson.

Habeeba has built her entire organization on self-discipline and sincere respect, as well as much love for belly dance. Habeeba believes that "Jamal El Rooh" (which means "inner beauty" in Arabic) is the meaning of the dance and its music. And, this is what she wishes to share throughout her schools.

With popular music stars incorporating belly dance movements and costuming into their choreography, interest in this ancient dance form is again growing. Habeeba, a master teacher in belly dancing, says "Belly dancing is alive and growing stronger in Central Ohio as an alternative form of exercise and expression for women."

Habeeba continues, "Recently there has been an upswing in the interest women have in the most feminine form of exercise for women." Because of this, Habeeba is forming new classes for those interested in her classical interpretation of this ancient art form. "In this new millennium, I am now looking forward to teaching the daughters of the hundreds of women I taught in the 70s and 80s."

Habeeba has three studios in Ohio. You can click on any of the sites for more information about the "Habeeba's Dance of the Arts" studio in that city.

Habeeba