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I am a San Francisco based dancer, musician, performer, and instructor who has been working with dances, songs, instruments, languages and percussion of Southwest Asia, North Africa, and the Mediterranean since my teens, with a primary focus on the movement arts of Cairo, Egypt.

I worked for many years as a performer at various venues, weddings, parties, and celebrations in the San Francisco Bay Area. I have an extensive solo and group performance history, and a  track record of accessible instruction in both studio and academic environments, with an ability to move between the social and staged styles at the heart of the dance forms I work within. 

I teach ongoing classes and workshops, perform occasionally, play Arabic music and percussion with Aswat Ensemble and the Aswat Womens Ensemble, and continue to learn new things. 

I am a faculty member at Lines Dance Center, where I have taught since 2003. Past ongoing teaching positions include Ruth Asawa School of the Arts, Marin School of the Arts, Belly Dance! studios (where I developed their first teen training program), and the Women's Cancer Resource Center.  

A partial list of my teachers can be found here. My training has mostly been in the San Francisco Bay Area, New York City, and Cairo, Egypt.

Note: Monica is on a teaching sabbatical through the rest of 2024, and is available for private lessons and coaching only (see below for details if that is of interest). 

I offer weekly musically-driven Egyptian style dance classes at Alonzo King Lines Dance Center, where I have been on faculty since 2003.

This is a mixed-level class suitable for all levels of folks wanting to work with Egyptian style raqs sharqi and raqs beledi. We'll spend each week exploring and being inspired by Egyptian and pan-Arab movement and music while focusing on respect for the dancers, respect for the form, cultural, political, and artistic context, and fun. Classes include a warm-up, technique breakdown, combinations, improvisation, lyrics and singing, rhythm recognition, folkloric influences, and dance circles. Dancers newer to the form as well as experienced movers are all welcome.   

Please see the calendar and music sections for scheduled  public performances and events. 

I am an experienced, entertainment-oriented, and joybringing performer who is available for celebrations and cultural events. Recorded or live music options available.

I am also available to teach dance workshops and classes in your area. Are you up for hosting a popular, giving, experienced teacher who combines cultural context with a good time? Drop me a line!

I have an unlisted page with my current workshop topics. Please contact me for access. I look forward to working with you!

To inquire about booking an event or workshop, please use my contact form. 

I send out a sometimes monthly-ish and sometimes seasonal newsletter with upcoming events, class news, nifty articles, videos of inspiring or interesting dancers, songs, or musicians, and more. 

You can sign up for it here. 

I'm also on instagram  and facebook and YouTube (oh my) under the moniker Monica Raqs.

I offer private classes and coaching in person in San Francisco or online anywhere in the world. I have worked one on one with dancers, duets, troupes,and small groups of collaborators who are creating or polishing a piece, looking for inspiration, or need a  critical but supportive eye on their work, progression, or style.

Rates start at $75 per hour, plus studio rent, if any. I have access to affordable studios in San Francisco and can help keep this cost low. Travel  in the greater Bay Area or beyond is also possible, but will incur extra  fees.

Private lessons can also take place on Zoom.  

Please contact me for a questionnaire and initial email consultation so we can make sure that lessons are focused and on point for your  needs.

Need choreography? Please contact Monica for current rates, references, and details of how it all works.

I occasionally have some sweet dance related printed garments on offer over at The Little Black Egg, including What Would Fifi Do? tees and tanks.