
Learn the Art of Oriental Belly Dance
Belly Dance Classes in Pretoria, Centurion & Pretoria North, for Beginners to Expert


The Home of Oriental Belly Dance
We are the home of Oriental & Middle Eastern Dance in Pretoria. Our vision is to share dance with women and young girls of all ages and backgrounds. We have classes for complete newbies, with no prior dance experience, right through to professional levels of belly dance with Ioanna herself, an ex-Miss South Africa Belly Dance Champion.
Why Choose Belly Dance?
Belly Dance was created BY women FOR women. It is the ultimate dance of femininity where you learn to embrace yourself, your body, your limitations and your perfectly imperfect flaws.
Belly Dance Helps Improve:
- Back & Joint Pain
- Posture & Core Strength
- Weight Loss & Toning
- Stress & Anxiety Levels
- and more...


Belly Dance Classes in Two Locations
Menlo Park
Pretoria North
Centurion
belly academy memberships
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Casual Membership
If you’re just getting started.
Committed Membership
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Serious Membership
Serious about Belly Dance.
What's New in the Blog
What Our Students are Saying
I've always wanted to learn to dance, but you mostly need a partner and mine, well, he just doesn't feel the rythm. Belly dancing always look so sensual and I decided to try! My word was I intimidated when I saw the massive mirror and I had to face myself. In the beginning I reallly couldn't look at myself, don't like what I see. But the more I go the more I catch myself stealing a glimpse here and there.
KarinStudent
I thought about what to say because there are so much to say… people sometimes ask me what my hobby is. I use to say 'belly dance'. Then I realised it is so much more than a mere 'hobby'. It is a life journey for me. Belly dance enriches me body and soul. I am part of an amazing sisterhood with Ioanna as teacher, mentor and friend.
Together we sweat and laugh and panic and sometimes cry. Ioanna and my belly sisters... thank you for this incredible journey!
Alta van der WaltStudent
My dance journey started on the 15 may 2013. Every week I look forward to my Monday and Tuesday nights, because I know, I am going to Ioanna's class. As a teacher Ioanna is patient, kind, energetic and encouraging and she takes the time to really teach the technical aspects of belly dance.
Ioanna's Belly Academy is my favorite place.all my worries roll of my back when I enter. Best studio to learn how to bellydance and the best teachers ever.
Together we sweat and laugh and panic and sometimes cry. Ioanna and my belly sisters... thank you for this incredible journey!
Willemien MalanStudent
William Arthur Ward said 'The mediocre teacher tells; the good teacher explains; the superior teacher demonstrates and the great teacher inspires’ .
He must have had Ioanna in mind when writing this as she is the personification of a great teacher. She believes in you even when you don't and inspires you to find the rhythm in your hips and a passion for live. Ioanna's love of dance is contagious and I am so privileged to have her as my teacher.
Ioanna's Belly Academy is my favorite place.all my worries roll of my back when I enter. Best studio to learn how to bellydance and the best teachers ever.
Together we sweat and laugh and panic and sometimes cry. Ioanna and my belly sisters... thank you for this incredible journey!
Tanita BezuidenhoutStudent
I am passionate about dancing I call it the poetry of the body I come from Cuba where dancing is part of our lives so being here in South Africa I found a space and a great teacher where I can express myself but at the same time be able to learn a totally new dance for me, it is a challenge and inspiration. I have learned so much from her and from the ladies. In her class I am able to forget about all the worries and focus in the art of belly dance by looking at her and listening to her instructions.
She is passionate about belly dance so it is a contagious feeling!!! Love it !!
Cristina FourieStudent
Hi ladies, just wanted to share, since I’ve been doing these classes regularly I’ve noticed such nice improvements, my wrists always got really sore when I put weight on them in class, but that’s completely gone now. 😁 And my shoulder always seized up when I had to work on a computer, I was on some pretty strong painkillers for it, but I’ve had to take maybe one this entire lockdown, even though all my work is online now. Thank you so much The Belly Dance Academy !!
Carla TurnerStudent