Diva Belly Dance Academy

Down on J. M. Road, at number 697, you’ll find our dance space. Diva Belly Dance Academy isn’t some high-end studio with marble floors. We’ve got wooden flooring that’s seen a lot of feet over the years, and big mirrors that we have to clean every single morning because of the fingerprints. It smells a bit like floor wax and incense most of the time. When the classes start, the music is loud enough that you can hear it from the sidewalk. We have some colorful scarves hanging on the walls and a few benches for people to sit on while they change their shoes. It’s a lively place, especially in the evenings when the street lights come on. J. M. Road is always buzzing, so there’s a lot of energy coming in from outside. I’m usually the one sweeping the floor after the last class is done. We have a small corner for water and some cubbies for bags. It’s not perfect; the ceiling has a water stain from a leak last year, but nobody seems to mind once the music starts. We just like to dance and have a spot where we can do that without any trouble. It’s a local place where people feel comfortable showing up in their workout clothes. We don’t put on any airs here. It’s just about the movement and the community we’ve built in this little room.