Ishtar Dance Collective

Ishtar Dance Collective The Ishtar Dance Society is a community-driven platform dedicated to celebrating dance, fostering collaboration, and bridging cultural connections.
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Discover events, workshops, and opportunities that bring artists and communities together.✨ The Ishtar Dance Society is a registered non-profit organization, which is committed to celebrating and preserving the cultural richness of Raqs Sharqi (شرقي رقص ) and South West Asian and North African (SWANA) dance arts, commonly known as Belly Dance. Through performance, education, and community engageme

nt, we strive to uphold professional standards, artistic excellence, and respect for the roots of the art form.

✨Vision:

Our vision is to create a community where Raqs Sharqi dance is celebrated and appreciated for its cultural richness and diversity. We aim to be at the forefront of this movement, using community events, local talent showcases, international collaborations to educate, inspire and foster a sense of global community.

✨Mission:

The Ishtar Dance Collective Society is a non-profit organization dedicated to promoting Raqs Sharqi dance through community events, performances, and workshops. Our mission is to provide a platform for local multicultural talent to showcase their skills, to bring international artists to our community to teach and inspire, and to share our love and passion for belly dance with the world. We strive to create a safe and inclusive environment where individuals can express themselves, learn from one another, and celebrate diversity.

✨Values:

Our core values are respect for diversity, preservation and promotion of cultural heritage, empowerment of women through dance, dedication to education and continuous learning, creativity and expression through art, and commitment to community engagement and collaboration. We hold these values dear as they guide our decision-making, shape our culture, and help us stay true to our mission.

05/23/2026

Thank you to Madhuban Performing Arts for continuing to help amplify this important conversation within the dance community.

They stand with artists advocating for fair compensation, professionalism, respectful working environments, and stronger standards across the industry. ✨

We also appreciate the dancers and community members who have shared their experiences and perspectives with honesty and vulnerability.

These conversations are not always easy, but they are necessary. Change begins when communities are willing to listen, reflect, and support one another with empathy.

We also wanted to share that the report and data from our spring initiative are almost complete, and we look forward to sending them out to our community very soon.🌷

Community nights like this are such an important reminder of why the arts matter ✨Ishtar Dance Society would like to ext...
05/17/2026

Community nights like this are such an important reminder of why the arts matter ✨

Ishtar Dance Society would like to extend our sincere gratitude to Eastern Dance Studio and Galina Busova for bringing together such a beautiful evening of dance, creativity, and connection. The atmosphere was filled with support, inspiration, and genuine love for the art form.

Lyla and Sakinah of Diamonds of Ishtar were honoured to perform among so many gifted artists and to share in an evening that celebrated both individuality and community through movement and music.

Thank you to everyone who attended, performed, and helped create such a memorable experience. We are so grateful to be part of this vibrant dance community 💙🌊

Exciting announcement coming soon! ✨Save the date!
05/06/2026

Exciting announcement coming soon! ✨

Save the date!

Greetings dance community!We’d love for you to join us this Sunday from 10:00 AM – 12:00 PM (MDT) for our online Communi...
04/30/2026

Greetings dance community!

We’d love for you to join us this Sunday from 10:00 AM – 12:00 PM (MDT) for our online Community Listening Session.

As part of the session, we’ll be sharing high-level insights from our recent anonymous survey, with aggregated data that honours anonymity while supporting transparency and shared understanding.

This is a meaningful opportunity to show up for one another and help shape the future of our community. Your presence and perspective are genuinely valued, and we hope you can be there - even if just for a portion.

Please register if you haven’t already and meet the facilitators below. Even if you’re unable to attend, we encourage you to register so we can make sure you receive the meeting notes directly.

Registration link in comments. 🔗👇


💫 Meet Parker-

We’re excited to introduce one of our facilitators, Parker Chapple (they/them), a valued board member and passionate arts advocate in our community.

Parker is the creative force behind BadAss Creative, where they support entrepreneurs, artists, and nonprofits in bringing bold ideas to life. Their work blends strategy with artistry - helping organizations move from vision to ex*****on with clarity, structure, and momentum.

With a background in project management, fund development, and operations, Parker has a talent for transforming complex ideas into tangible, successful outcomes. Their impact spans major arts and community initiatives, including leadership roles with Beakerhead and Calgary Pride, where they significantly expanded participation, engagement, and funding.

Beyond the numbers, Parker is known for creating meaningful, well-crafted experiences and for helping teams cut through overwhelm so they can focus on what truly matters.

As a facilitator, Parker brings a thoughtful, solutions-oriented approach grounded in collaboration, creativity, and care.

We’re grateful to have their voice helping guide this conversation.

💫 Meet Serena-

We’re honoured to introduce one of our facilitators, Serena Kerbes (she/her), a longtime member of our community and dedicated advocate for the SWANA dance arts.

A former performer with the Ishtar Dance Collective, Serena continues to support the dance community from behind the scenes, where she finds joy in choreography, mentorship, and helping creative work come to life. She is a former director of The Little Fish Dance Co., and remains deeply committed to fostering connection, growth, and integrity within the community.

Serena holds a Bachelor of Arts in Dance from the University of Calgary and brings a strong foundation in both artistic practice and professional development. In her work beyond the arts, she is a Professional Development Associate in Corporate Learning with the Chartered Professional Accountants (CPA), where she supports education and growth in a different, but complementary, capacity.

As a proud board member and treasurer of the Ishtar Society, Serena plays an important role in sustaining and strengthening the organization.

She is a thoughtful advocate for maintaining the dignity and professionalism of Raqs Sharqi and SWANA dance forms, and brings a grounded, values-driven perspective to her work as a facilitator.

We’re grateful to have her guiding this conversation with care, experience, and deep respect for the art form.


Thank you for being part of this community, we look forward to being in conversation with you.🧿💛

A strong dance community doesn’t happen by accident,  it’s something we choose to build.Through our community initiative...
04/17/2026

A strong dance community doesn’t happen by accident, it’s something we choose to build.

Through our community initiatives, we’re creating spaces to connect, share, and support one another.

We believe in a culture rooted in respect, collaboration, and openness... where dancers feel encouraged, seen, and valued.💛

When we invest in each other, the entire community grows.

A truly memorable night is never just one element, it’s the full experience.The music, the atmosphere, the food, the con...
04/16/2026

A truly memorable night is never just one element, it’s the full experience.

The music, the atmosphere, the food, the connection in the room… and the dance weaving it all together.

We love being part of those moments, where everything aligns and guests feel transported.

That’s what makes it unforgettable 💫

Each dancer brings their own energy, style, and story to the stage. That variety is what makes this art form so rich and...
04/15/2026

Each dancer brings their own energy, style, and story to the stage. That variety is what makes this art form so rich and exciting.

There truly is space for everyone. The right audiences, the right events, the right moments, they find the dancers they’re meant to.

We believe in building a community rooted in respect, kindness, and support. Lifting each other up, sharing opportunities, and celebrating one another only makes this scene stronger.

And let’s be honest… incredible food, music, and dance all together? That’s the magic ✨

Huge thank you to the Calgary Arab Arts & Culture Society for having us perform at Arab Heritage in Airdrie! ✨We had suc...
04/13/2026

Huge thank you to the Calgary Arab Arts & Culture Society for having us perform at Arab Heritage in Airdrie! ✨

We had such a fun time sharing our love of dance alongside the incredible HAWA Ensemble, the room was surrounded by Rana’s beautiful mosaic art and we enjoyed some delicious snacks afterwards. Our hearts and tummies are full!

The energy, the music, and people were vibrant and full of joy. We’re so grateful to be part of such a meaningful celebration of culture and community. 💛

Looking forward to the next event.

Address

Calgary, AB

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