Jasmin Jahal has an enduring memory of being 8 years old, practicing her pointe moves in a private ballet lesson, and realizing that a large group was peeking through the door to watch her dance. Her stomach fluttered with the thrill of performance—a sensation that persists to this day whenever she takes the stage. Ever since she discovered Egyptian dance at age 18, she’s studied it as an art, becoming one of only a handful of dancers to be dubbed Best Modern Egyptian Dancer by the International Academy of Middle Eastern Dance.

Her school encourages students to explore belly dance’s hypnotizing hip drops and shimmies in a comfortable, fun environment. Beginners wrapped in hip scarves learn to create alluring motions or imitate a sultry flagpole with veils while finger cymbals create their own splashes of rhythm. Regularly scheduled classes escalate to advanced levels that impart expert choreography and Arabic rhythms. Jasmin also offers Belly Aerobics classes focused on stretching and toning muscles with lightweight dumbbells and aerobic moves.