FAQ

Yes. Take the METRA Burlington Northern Santa Fe (BNSF) line from Union Station in Chicago to the NAPERVILLE station. Cabs are available but to avoid any delay we suggest calling for a pickup at least 20 minutes prior to your arrival.

For the best experience for you and your belly dancing colleagues, please adhere to the following rules:

• Belly dance is fun! Raksanna’s community embraces all shapes, sizes, ages and abilities. We do not compete with each other; we reserve competition for Raksanna and the Desert Flames, our professional competition team – who participates in competitions with other dance teams (not with dancers within our studio community).
• Respect your teacher. In Eastern cultures, the teacher is given great respect for the sacrifices made and dedication to mastering the art form. At Raksanna’s, every faculty member has spent years – if not decades – fine tuning her craft, studying the culture, training her mind and developing her body.
• Punctuality shows respect. Please arrive 5 to 10 minutes before the start of class/rehearsal so that you can get situated and be in your dance spot at the start of class. For Advanced/Professional students, there is a $20 fee if you are late to class or rehearsal. This money goes into to collection and is applied to various expenses such as props, music, rental fees, etc.
• Have fun with your dance attire! Please be sure to wear your hip scarf, form-fitting clothing that is easy to move in (think yoga, dance gear or exercise clothing – avoid sweats, skirts or street wear as these are inappropriate and hinder your ability to dance) and go either barefoot or wear supportive dance shoes (black soles are not permitted as they leave marks on the floor). You can glam it up with some jewelry, too, but please do not wear perfumes or heavy scents as many people have asthma and/or severe allergic reactions to fragrances.
• Be prepared! Bring your dance notebook and pen, veil, finger cymbals or other props used in the dance routine. While the studio has a limited supply of “for borrow” items, it is your responsibility to bring your own supplies and props to class. Also, please spend some time on your own in between class meetings to practice the dance so that you can get the most out of our class time together.
• Ask questions – to the teacher! Feel free to ask questions while in class – odds are high that other fellow students will have the same question or a similar one. However, please direct the question to the teacher and not a fellow student. Not only is it disruptive and rude to talk to each other during class time, only the teacher can truly provide the accurate answer to the question – especially if it is about technique, history, culture or choreography.
• Be open-minded and positive!  At Raksanna’s, we embrace positive energy, new opportunities and expanding our horizons. Negative Nellie’s bring everyone down, so avoid complaining and criticizing. The negative energy brought about by complaining creates a difficult environment that is hard to turn around. There is no place for Negative Nellie’s in our community and no tolerance for poor attitudes.
• No one likes a know-it-all. Avoid being one! Yes, you may have had training before at another location and with other teachers. You do have valid knowledge and experience. However, please remember that when you are a student in a class, you are a student. Let the teacher teach. Every faculty member at Raksanna’s is trained through a formal, comprehensive apprenticeship course that includes both a technical and written exam. They deserve respect and honor. Please ask questions and clarification, but do not openly challenge the faculty’s expertise. If you do have questions, please ask it diplomatically or come to the faculty member after class for clarification. If the faculty asks for your opinion, please be concise and open, then give your attention back to the faculty member.
• Follow the curriculum. Raksanna’s program is internationally acclaimed and award-winning. It was strategically created to make sure that dancers build a strong foundation and progress through their development in a logical, authentic way. If you are taking a lower level class than you typically take, please follow the instructor. Avoid improvising or doing your own thing – not only is it rude and distracting to other students, you rob yourself of the opportunity to perfect your technique and make the difference between being good and being great.
• Stick with it! Continue with the class to the best of your ability throughout the entire class meeting time. If you do have to step out or for some reason (cramps, headache, tired, etc.), try to sit and observe the class. You can learn so much by watching and taking notes. Watch how other students move, how the instructor teaches and try to visualize yourself doing the movements with the class.
• Limit talking and giggling in class. Yes, have fun in belly dance, but please remember that all students have paid money for their tuition and are making sacrifices to attend class. The best time for catching up with friends is before or after class, but not during class.