Black Cat Belly Dance

08/06/2024

✨Interested in traveling to Egypt with me in 2025? Join me on Saturday, August 17th for a Zoom call to talk all about the trip!✨

2025 will mark my 10th year of leading tours in Egypt and next year's trip will visit some of my very favorite places 🇪🇬

✨💙 Cairo

✨💜 Luxor

✨🩷 Aswan

✨💙 And for the first time - Abu Simbel!

Join Toni Petroski and I on the 17th at 11:00am EST as we answer questions about the tour, Egypt, travel and more. You can also find more details about the trip on my website: https://www.blackcat-bellydance.com/travel-to-egypt

Message me here for the Zoom link, or email me at: [email protected]

✨ I hope to see you on call!

Black Cat Belly Dance

07/14/2024

✨We had a great time performing at this year’s Central Pennsylvania Festival of the Arts!

✨Thank you to all of our friends, family and audience members who spent an afternoon sharing our love of Egypt 🇪🇬 💕

07/05/2024

✨You can see us perform TWICE at this year's Central Pennsylvania Festival of the Arts! ✨

We will be closing out the Cultural Showcase at Wednesday's Children and Youth Day, with an abbreviated performance at 2:20p.

Our full show will be on Friday afternoon at 2:30p. We will be joined by the amazing Toni Petroski of Harrisburg! 💕

Both shows are free, will be held in Sidney Friedman Park, and will feature classic, modern and folkloric styles of Egyptian dance 🇪🇬

06/06/2024

🩷The (only) summer session of Level One Belly Dance with Shannon starts June 12! Classes meet on Wednesday nights from 5:30 to 6:15.

🌷Interested in trying belly dance? This class is for you! This 6-week session of Egyptian style belly dance is great for beginners or those wanting to hone their technique. Each class features historical and musical context plus fun dance technique...all set to the hottest music straight from Cairo!

🩷Each class is offered in person, online via Zoom, and is recorded for viewing at a time that works for you! In person classes are located in State College Borough, just a few blocks from downtown and campus.

🌷The full session is only $57, and registration is open now!
https://www.blackcat-bellydance.com/classes-1

Black Cat Belly Dance is Central Pennsylvania's only dance school dedicated to Egyptian dance. Instruction is offered in all levels of dance. Book a professional performance for your next event!

06/05/2024

✨The Central PA Theatre and Dance Fest is happening again in downtown State College - June 20-23! The kick-off event will be held in MLK Plaza on Thursday evening, June 20th at 5:30p.✨

Join Shannon and other festival participants for short but exciting performances that will give you a taste of what the festival has to offer! This event is free and open to the public.

04/11/2024

✨A new session of Level One belly dance starts April 17! ✨

🌸 This 4-week session is perfect for those wanting to try belly dance for the first time, or those wanting to build on their current skills.

🌼 Classes are offered in-person and online via Zoom, and all are recorded and available to watch at a time that works for you!

🌸 Each class is 45 minutes long, beginning at 5:30 on Wednesday nights at Black Cat Studio in State College.

🌼 Pricing and registration is available here:

Shannon Bishop offers a wide range of Egyptian dance classes, at locations across the area, through her dance school, Black Cat Belly Dance.  Feel free to contact her if you are unsure as to which class is right for you.  And for the most up-to-date class information, please join the Black Cat Be...

04/05/2024

💙 Join us tomorrow (4/6) at 1:00p and 1:50p at the WPSU Multicultural Children's Festival! ✨

🩵 We will be performing two sets of classic, modern and folkloric Egyptian dance. 🇪🇬

💙 The festival is being held this year in the State High South Building. And it's free! ✨

🩵 We hope you will join us as we share our love of Egyptian music and dance! 🇪🇬💙🇪🇬💙🇪🇬💙

https://wpsu.psu.edu/multiculturalchildrensfestival/

04/01/2024

✨Happy to be quoted in the Penn State News story about this weekend's Multicultural Children's Festival 🥰

✨The festival will be held on 4/6 at State High and Black Cat Belly Dance will be performing at 1:00p and 1:50p, presenting traditional and modern dances from regions across Egypt 🇪🇬

✨The festival is free...and not just for children! 🙂 Registration is free but not required.

The WPSU/SCASD Multicultural Children’s Festival will be held from 10:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. on Saturday, April 6, at State College Area High School. The Multicultural Children's Festival is one of WPSU's largest family events and focuses on sharing the many cultures that are represented by the peop...

03/17/2024

✨We are going back to Egypt in 2025!✨

🩷 🇪🇬 🩷 🇾🇪 🩷 🇾🇪 🩷 🇾🇪 🩷 🇾🇪 🩷 🇾🇪 🩷 🇾🇪 🩷 🇾🇪 🩷

✨Next year's tour of Egypt is now open for registration! Join us as we tour some of the most beautiful sites of Egypt, experience the music and dance traditions of each region, and shop, eat and relax in comfort.

🩷 The 2025 tour will feature visits to Cairo, Luxor, Aswan and (new for this tour!) a visit to the magnificent temple of Abu Simbel. PLUS, we will spend 3 nights on our own private live-music cruise! 🎶

✨ BCBD tours are perfect for dancers and non-dancers alike. Payment plans are available and customized for each traveler.

🩷 Reserve your spot now! For more information on pricing, itinerary and more, visit: https://www.blackcat-bellydance.com/travel-to-egypt

02/27/2024

✨✨Level One Belly Dance with Shannon✨✨

An all new 5-week session of belly dance classes begins March 6!

No experience necessary! All classes are offered in-person and online via Zoom, and are recorded to watch later.

For more information or to register, visit:

https://www.blackcat-bellydance.com/classes-1

Black Cat Belly Dance is Central Pennsylvania's only dance school dedicated to Egyptian dance. Instruction is offered in all levels of dance. Book a professional performance for your next event!

02/10/2024

Farewell to one of the legends of Egyptian dance, Mona Said 😢🩷😢🩷

This performance was EVERYTHING ❤️❤️❤️

Mona Said belly dance performance. Baladi Accordion progression.From my VHS collection for you. Starts of Egypt collectionMore info will be added soon. Don't...

01/02/2024

✨Join Shannon this January for a new session of raqs sharqi (belly dance) - online or in-person!✨

🩷 It's a great time of year to try out something new. Shannon will be teaching a fun, no-experience-necessary Introduction to Egyptian Dance class every Wednesday night from 5:30 to 6:15.

🧡 Classes meet in-person at Black Cat Studio in State College and also online via Zoom. PLUS, every class is recorded for you to review at at a time that works best for you! ✨

🩷 The full 6-week session is only $55. Payment options are available through Pay Pal, Venmo, Zelle and cash/checks.

🧡 Shannon has been teaching for 18 years, and fills each class with dance technique, cultural insights, super cool music from Cairo and lots of laughs 😊

🩷 Send a message for more details or to register, or visit:

Black Cat Belly Dance is currently offering  a hybrid of all classes! Join us online via Zoom or in-person at Black Cat Studo. Message Shannon to see what option is best for you at this time!

12/27/2023

🎉 Two opportunities to enjoy Egyptian dance as part of this year's First Night State College!

🎉 Shannon will teach a fun Intro to Belly Dance workshop at noon at 3 Dots Downtown. This workshop will feature dance technique and cultural highlights of the dance, set to the hottest new music from Egypt! 💃

🎉 Then at 3:30, join Black Cat Belly Dance at the University Baptist and Brethren Church, for our annual showcase of dances from across Egypt. This show will feature modern and classic styles of Egytian raqs sharqi (belly dance) as well as several unique folkloric dances! 💃

🎉 Both events are free to attend with a First Night State College button 🥳

12/25/2023

🎄Merry Christmas to all who celebrate, near and far 🎄

12/18/2023

✨Looking for a unique gift this holiday season? Give the gift of dance!✨

🎁 BCBD offers gift certificates in any amount. They can be used for classes, private lessons or workshops 💃

🎀 Classes are offered in-person and online via Zoom...and all classes are recorded for viewing at a time that works for you 🤩

🎁 A new session of Level One classes starts January 10th! 💃

🎀 Certificates are delivered by email...perfect for last minute gifts

🎁 To order, send a message or visit:

Black Cat Belly Dance is currently offering  a hybrid of all classes! Join us online via Zoom or in-person at Black Cat Studo. Message Shannon to see what option is best for you at this time!

10/09/2023

😍💕😍Naima Akef😍💕😍

A star of impeccable talents, Naima Akef was a dancer, singer, and actress from Egypt’s golden age of cinema. Her skillset made her one of the most entertaining vaudevillian performers of her time. She lived a full life and had her fair share of ups and downs throughout. Ninety-one years later, sh...

09/26/2023

🍂Join us in downtown State College this Saturday afternoon at 1:15pm for our performance at this year's Multicultural Unity Fair!

🍂The festival is a day-long event featuring food, performances, information booths, games and more, all celebrating our community's beautiful diversity.

🍂Black Cat Belly Dance will be presenting a show featuring classic, modern and folkloric styles of Egyptian dance. But don't be late! We will be squeezing this all into a 15-minute set.

🍂The event is free and great for all ages, and will be hosted at the State College Borough Building. We hope to see you there!

09/14/2023

✨Black Cat Belly Dance will be performing this weekend at the Boalsburg Renaissance Festival on Sunday afternoon at 2:00p, with special guest, Tammy Modis Carlson-Little of Huntingdon! We had a great time last year, and are looking forward to another great festival!

09/05/2023

🍂The fall session of Level One Belly Dance with Shannon starts September 13! Classes meet on Wednesday nights from 5:30 to 6:15.

🍁Interested in trying belly dance? This class is for you! This 6-week session of Egyptian style belly dance is great for beginners or those wanting to hone their technique. Each class features historical and musical context plus fun dance technique...all set to the hottest music straight from Cairo!

🍂Each class is offered in person, online via Zoom, and is recorded for viewing at a time that works for you! In person classes are located in State College Borough, just a few blocks from downtown and campus.

🍁The full session is only $55, and registration is open now!

https://www.blackcat-bellydance.com/classes-1

Black Cat Belly Dance is Central Pennsylvania's only dance school dedicated to Egyptian dance. Instruction is offered in all levels of dance. Book a professional performance for your next event!

07/12/2023

✨Belly Dance with Shannon starts July 19!

Interested in trying belly dance? This class is for you! This 4-week session of Egyptian style belly dance is great for beginners or those wanting to hone their technique1

✨ Each class is offered in person, online via Zoom and is recorded for viewing at a time that works for you!

The full session is only $36, and registration is open now!

https://www.blackcat-bellydance.com/classes-1

Black Cat Belly Dance is Central Pennsylvania's only dance school dedicated to Egyptian dance. Instruction is offered in all levels of dance. Book a professional performance for your next event!

06/24/2023

✨That’s a wrap!✨Thank you to everyone who joined us last night at our SOLD OUT Nile Raqs show of 2023!✨

Be sure to check out all of the great performances happening over the rest of this weekend’s Central PA Theatre and Dance Fest!

06/21/2023

We are official…kind of! 😅

Nile Raqs is happening this Friday night at 7:00p (not 8:00p) at The State Theatre. Tickets are selling quickly but are still available!

This show is part of the 2023 Central PA Theatre and Dance Fest ✨✨

Tickets are only $12 and are available here:

https://thestatetheatre.org/events/nile-raqs-a-showcase-of-egyptian-belly-dance/?occurrence=2023-06-23

06/12/2023

✨BCBD is excited to once again be a part of this year's Central PA Theatre and Dance Fest! ✨

Join us on Friday night, June 23rd at 7:00p in The Attic at The State Theatre for Nile Raqs, a showcase of Egyptian music and dance. This show will feature professional and student dancers in an intimate venue, transporting you to a night along the banks of The NIle 🎶

There are a limited number of tickets available for this show, but they are on sale now for only $12. Visit The State Theatre website to purchase yours now!

https://thestatetheatre.org/events/nile-raqs-a-showcase-of-egyptian-belly-dance/?occurrence=2023-06-23

06/06/2023

✨✨SOLD OUT!✨✨

❤️We are so lucky to have the amazing زارا Zara Dance in central Pennsylvania this weekend!❤️

06/03/2023

✨This Monday night in Lewisburg at ✨

Join us for an evening of Arabic music, dance and food 🎶

05/24/2023

🌸Join Shannon on June 7th for a new 4-week session of Level One Belly Dance! 🌸

🌺 Classes are offered in-person, online via Zoom or as a recorded class to watch at a time that works for you

🌸 Each class is 45 minutes long and meets from 5:30 to 6:15 at Black Cat Studio in State College

🌺 No experience is necessary! Every class features dance technique, cultural insights, great music and lots of fun

🌸 Registration is open now at: https://www.blackcat-bellydance.com/classes-1

🌺 The full 4-week session is only $36!✨

03/15/2023

✨New session of belly dance with Shannon starts March 22!✨

Shannon is back from Egypt and will be teaching an all-new session of belly dance, featuring the best new music from Cairo!

🪬 Classes are offered in-person, online and as recordings!

🪬 Level One classes meet every Wednesday night from 5:30 to 6:15. This session will be 6-weeks

🪬 No experience necessary! Registration is currently available at: https://www.blackcat-bellydance.com/classes-1

Black Cat Belly dance is State College's only belly dance school offering classes in technique, hist