Can I do a free trial to see if I like it? No, I don’t offer free trials anymore, but you can try a drop in class for $15. It’s best to start at or near the beginning of a school term, so you don’t feel too behind other students, but I will help you get comfortable anytime you start.

What’s your best discount? I’m currently running a “fuel crisis special” to alleviate travel costs: a 10-pack “Class Pass” for $100. That’s 33% cheaper than the already cheap drop in rate! Most studios cost $18-20 per hour of instruction, so this is truly as cheap as I go :-)

Please email me to schedule a private lesson ($60/hour) if you want to try just one class, at your exact level. You can split the cost with a friend or two for a semi-private, if you like.

What if I miss classes? What’s your refund policy? The only time I offer refunds is if I need to cancel a class and rescheduling doesn’t work out for the group.

I have a free library of basic tutorials for review anytime, and will provide appropriate videos for review depending on your classroom work.

Can I come watch, or bring someone into the classroom with me? For Sunday classes, only people who are currently enrolled are allowed into the Academy of Dance classroom. There is a waiting room where support people can occasionally peek into the studio if you like (intended mainly for caregivers waiting for their enrolled family members). No unsupervised children in the waiting room, please.

For Ladies Night Fridays, privacy is especially important for cultural sensitivity, such as when I have veiled/hijabi students in class. It also helps everyone feel more confident to open up and dance freely. It’s ok to bring your dependents or caregivers along to sit and wait, if they are under age 14 and/or female.

If you need to meet someone for pickup/drop off at the Val Deakin Dance Centre, please have them wait outside, or perhaps at the dairy across the street. As mentioned above, for Academy of Dance they can use the waiting room.

We will have occasional events open to friends and family!

Can I bring my child(ren)? Possibly! See above for different rules based on the location of your class. Do your kids like to dance? Children with enough focus are welcome to enrol in class - email me to find out if this might work for your family.

When and where are your classes? How much do they cost? Please see the current information on my Classes page. Class terms are similar to school terms, although I sometimes teach during holiday breaks as well.

What should I wear to class?  Anything that’s comfortable for you to move in! I usually wear leggings and a sports bra, plus a tank top and/or warmer layer. Bare feet or socks work well, and I have hip scarves (and any props we may use) for you to borrow.

What if I’m sick? Just let me know and I’ll send you some video clips to work with at home :-) We have fewer class absences and cancellations when everyone stays home when sick.

Another option would be masking if you don’t feel that sick, but still have minor respiratory symptoms (e.g. the sniffles). Please do not attend class if you are feeling unwell.

Do I need to be thin/plump/young/old enough/athletic/flexible etc? This is a social dance for everyone, and it will look good on you, too! Check out my different class types and see what sounds like the best fit for you, and let me know if you’d like any advice, or perhaps a private lesson to build confidence first.

For folks with limited mobility, I am pleased to report that my classes are now on the ground floor with no stairs - let me know if you have any accessibility issues so I can work to improve them. I try to make sure that dance is for everybody, but I may need help understanding your needs.

How do I get access to your video tutorials? Everything except my playlist of free tutorials is password protected. You will get the password for any class you are enrolled in.

Can I share your videos with a friend so we can learn together? I’d rather you only share the free tutorials, and encourage your friend to come to class with you :-)

Can I perform or adapt your choreographies however I like, since I paid for access? Good question! You are welcome to perform or adapt my choreographies, but only with proper credit to me, the creator. Have the program or MC announce my name, Juniper Nichols, as the choreographer. If you have modified my dance, you may say “inspired by choreography created by Juniper Nichols.”

Am I allowed to teach your content to other people? If you are planning to teach my work, please contact me first and let me know the specifics, so I can advise you and perhaps schedule coaching sessions. A subscription is not permission to copy and teach my curriculum.

How much do you charge? Can you do my event for free? I do limited amounts of free events, as there is a substantial investment of my time involved for me to prepare. I will typically do these as a way for my students to have a chance to perform. For professional entertainment, please email me with details so I can give you an appropriate quote.

Do you do “hen’s nights?” How about “stag parties?”  I am happy to do women-only private events or rainbow community gatherings, but not men-only events, as the tone of the latter tends to be outside the bounds of family-friendly entertainment. Not my thing, sorry :-)

When are you available? I’m a mum who values her family time, so please don’t take it amiss if I don’t have time on the evening or weekend you want! I am more than happy to consider your event, but I’m mainly a teacher and caregiver to my family.

Can you travel to me? It depends on my availability, but yes :-) Travel costs apply if you’re outside New Plymouth. For professional development such as dance festivals, we can negotiate this as part of my teaching compensation.

Why do you sometimes say “raqs sharqi” instead of belly dance? There’s a reason that “culture” comes first in my list of values, because respecting my sources is foundational to the way I teach! Yes, it’s okay to say “belly dance” in English, but nobody says that in Arabic - the term “belly dance” comes from an old French painting. Raqs sharqi, literally “dance of the east,” is what Egyptians and people from several other Arab majority countries call their indigenous dance. It can be pronounced like “rocks sharky” or “ra’s shar’ee,” depending on dialect.

So, are you a bellydancer or not? Yes, it’s safe to say I’m a bellydancer - especially when I’m teaching and performing American Cabaret, because that’s the most common terminology in North America. However, you could also say I’m a “raqqasa,” “fananna al shaabeya,” or a “fusion dance artist,” and perhaps other terms depending on which style I’m dancing. Some of these terms are not considered respectable, because dancers in many cultures tend to not be given respect as a general rule - but of course I demand respect for myself and my students anyway, thank you very much!

Where are these dance styles from? Egypt gets a lot of attention in these conversations because of their famous entertainers and films, but there are MANY origin points throughout the “Middle East” or “Levant”, aka South West Asia and North Africa (collectively known as SWANA). Here’s just one of the most significant flashpoints: the entertainment halls of 19th century Cairo. American Cabaret originated in major cities with large diaspora communities, such as themed supper clubs like The Fez in Los Angeles. Fusion stylizations are unique blends of different styles, but have sometimes been codified and popularized by influential figures like Jamila Salimpour. In contrast, some traditional folk artists are keeping older styles alive, notably Khyria Mazin.