Belly dancing lessons

by Borna barzin

Set in Isfahan, Iran in the 1980’s, “Belly Dancing Lessons” follows a group of young people who start an underground belly dancing studio after witnessing an illicit performance from a professional belly dancer. Set in a time where public dancing is prohibited, these teenagers navigate romance, rivalries, and how to move their bodies at a tender age—-all while in the midst of war and under oppressive regime. Blending dance, music, and surreal dreamlike sequences, “Belly Dancing Lessons” is a coming of age story that dances through time, driven by a yearning for freedom and to be seen.

“Belly Dancing Lessons” was written through a Fellowship in Theater Arts from MacDowell.