I started taking dance classes from Arielle in 2008, and followed her from a previous studio to Dance Life. Arielle is one of the best instructors I've had (from about six or seven bellydance teachers). She is relentlessly upbeat, unflaggingly supportive, and makes class so pleasant that you might even overlook how much you're learning! Arielle and Dance Life's other instructors will help you gradually build your skills in an instinctive, rewarding way. Explanations of what, why, and how are clearly communicated. In addition to dance I benefited from lessons on music and culture, which helped me to better understand and respect the extraordinary history behind bellydance.
Since moving out of the area I haven't yet found a dance instructor as informative and fun to work with as Arielle-- but I'm looking!