Enrollment closes October 13th. We begin October 14th. Join us 
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For every dancer who’s ever felt the music calling, but couldn’t yet speak its language.
Maqam for Dancers Intensive
With The World Leading Maqam & Taqsim Mentor, Maya Youssef
In just two months, connect to the emotion of the music, recognize Maqam by ear, and understand the flow of Taqsim so you can dance with confidence, emotional freedom, and deep, authentic connection, until you’re no longer just moving to the music… you are the music. 
No theory needed. Made just for dancers.
As seen in
From Intimidated by Maqam to Recognizing It by Ear in Seconds

"I always loved Arabic music but always found Maqam confusing and intimidating. 

I didn’t think I would ever ‘get it’ — until I found Maya. Her method made everything click. Within seconds I could recognize Maqam by ear… and even play a Taqsim. Something I never thought possible"


Roxy Stimpson

Miss Belly Dancer USA
You’re Not Lacking Musicality! You Were Never Taught to Listen.
You’re a Raqs Sharqi or belly dancer who knows that 2025 is the year you finally connect — not just to rhythm or steps, but to the very soul of Arabic music.

You’ve drilled the technique, polished the choreography, refined your stage presence.

But when the melody shifts… when musicians change the emotion… when the Taqsim flows — something inside you hesitates.

You hear the rhythm. You follow the beat. But you can feel it: there’s more happening beneath the surface.

On the outside, you smile.

On the inside, you are guessing and hoping for the best. 

And here’s the truth: nothing is wrong with you. You’ve simply never been shown the hidden language of the melody. Once you hear it, you’ll never dance the same way again.. And that’s exactly what we’ll change together.

Why Old-School Maqam Teaching Leaves Dancers Stuck
You’ve tried to crack the Maqam & Taqsim code — but every time you searched for answers, you found vague, outdated, or downright useless advice:
👉 “Just read a Maqam book.” Dry theory, endless note charts — nothing about how the music actually works and feels.
👉 “Just listen more.” As if years of guessing will suddenly unlock the pattern.
👉 “Taqsim is just improvisation.” Which makes it sound like pure luck — instead of the clear, emotional journey musicians actually follow.
👉 “This Maqam is ‘happy’ or ‘sad’.” Like you can choreograph a rich, nuanced dance based on a two-word label! 
👉 “Follow the rhythm.” Except Taqsim often has no rhythm at all.
You’ve been given fragments, not the full picture.
No clear system. No real way in.

That’s why this moment matters — because now you’ll finally be shown the key.
If something inside you is calling you to finally feel the beauty, magic, and depth of Arabic music , to catch every shift, every rise, every secret in the melody, and dance with real connection, and to do it in just two months instead of years of confusion, I’d love to guide you.

How Maqam for Dancers Works

Starting October 14th, 2025, we’ll journey together for two months inside a focused, interactive learning experience.

You’ll get everything you need to finally hear, feel, and embody Arabic music — without years of dry theory or trial and error.

Here’s what that looks like:
✅ Weekly Zoom Group Sessions —dancer-friendly breakdowns of Maqam & Taqsim, recorded and searchable so you can return anytime.

✅ Dedicated Q&A Calls a safe friendly non-judgemental space to ask, explore, get feedback and clear what’s been confusing you.

✅ Private Student Community access Maya and a circle of dancers from all over the world on the same path, here to support and celebrate your growth.

By the end of our 2 months journey together, you’ll be able to

  • Recognize the 9 essential Maqamat used in Arabic music by ear. 
  • ​Connect with the real emotion of the melody beyond rhythm or lyrics, so your dance mirrors the music’s inner story.
  • Anticipate melodic shifts before they happen. 
  • Know exactly where you are in the 7 stages of Taqsim as musicians unfold them in real time.
  • ​Recognise the subtle cues musicians send to signal when a Taqsim is about to end — so you’re ready to meet the music with precision and powerful presence.
  • ​Edit performance music with confidence —When you need to cut a 12-minute piece into 4 minutes for a festival or competition, you’ll know exactly how to choose the sections that amplify the emotional peaks — creating a performance your audience will never forget.
No more second-guessing. No more wondering. You’ll finally move with the music, not behind it.
Maya Finally Demystified Maqam and Taqsim
was told not to bother with Maqam or Taqsim — that maybe, after decades of 'listening and feeling it', I’d eventually ‘get it.’ Not with Maya. 
Her method makes even the most complex Maqamat clear without being simplistic. She’s given me the tools, understanding, and support to master maqam and Taqsim from the very beginning without theory. It’s a true game changer, and I’m forever grateful.

Lene Dalen

Dancer & Qanun Player
Norway

Here is What’s Included Inside Maqam for Dancers

This isn’t a course to tick off. It’s a fully guided, transformational journey that rewires how you hear, feel, and dance to Arabic music. What you’ll receive has never been taught to dancers — until now.
  • 9 Maqam & Dance Tune Sessions
    Not dry theory, but living maps of the 9 essential Maqamat — revealed through iconic dance songs. You’ll feel their structure, behavior, and emotional flavor, so you finally move with the melody instead of chasing it.
  • ​6 Live Group Q&A Sessions
    Intimate, interactive circles where you can bring your questions (no matter how small), release confusion, and receive direct guidance in a supportive environment. 
  • 2 Awaken Your Inner Ear Sessions My 11 intuitive tools to recognize Maqam by ear — no overload, just practical keys that unlock instant clarity.
  • ​
    ​Taqsim Breakdown Sessions 
    Enter the 7 hidden stages every musician follows to build an authentic Taqsim — and learn how to mirror that unfolding in your body.
  • ​Private Community
    A sacred circle of dancers worldwide walking the same path. Share breakthroughs, swap insights, and grow together inside a supportive, heart-centered space.
Bonus:
🎁 Instant Access to My Revolutionary Maqam Home Study Courses 
🎁 Bonus Masterclass: The Art of Editing Arabic Music
Learn how to cut long tracks down for competitions or festivals to a few minutes without losing the emotional arc. You’ll know exactly what to keep, what to trim, and how to preserve the flow so your dance always shines.
Investment
Pay in Full:
£997
3 Monthly Payments of:
£397

✨ Want deeper mentorship? ✨

Upgrade to Maqam VIP (Limited to 5 dancers)

Includes everything in the intensive, plus

🎶 Direct audio and text access to Maya throughout the program (October 14- Dec 15).
🎶 Up to three personalised check-ins per week (voice or text or video) 
🎶 Private 30 minute Maqam & Taqsim Zoom session with Maya
For dancers who want intimate mentorship, nuance, and real-time feedback.
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Investment
One-time investment:
£3,500
3 Monthly Payments of:
£1,275

Enrollment closes October 13th. We begin October 14th. Join us 

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Meet Your Mentor: Maya Youssef
I’m the world’s leading Maqam & Taqsim mentor, an internationally celebrated musician and composer — known by the BBC as the “Queen of the Qanun.”

I grew up in Damascus, Syria, immersed in the rich tradition of Arabic music, and trained at one of the Arab world’s most prestigious conservatories. Later, I earned my Master’s in Ethnomusicology from SOAS University of London, where I also taught Maqam.

Along the way, I’ve been recognised as an Exceptional Talent by Arts Council England, performed on stages like the Royal Albert Hall and WOMAD Festival, and shared my music across the globe.

But what matters most is this: I’ve helped hundreds of dancers and music lovers finally hear the hidden language of Maqam & Taqsim — and embody it with clarity, joy, and depth.

My method cuts through stiff theory and overwhelming jargon, translating this music into dancer-friendly guidance that feels natural, intuitive, and alive.

If you’re ready to stop second-guessing so you can start dancing with confidence, authenticity, and emotional power — I’d love to be your guide.

"Maya is one of a Kind! A true virtuoso musician"

Salim Sarwe

 Umm Kulthum’s Wanted Qanun Player

Imagine What’s Possible In Just Two Months…

You step on stage. The melody begins to shift and you feel and hear it before it happens.

The Taqsim begins and instead of tensing up, you smile because you know exactly what’s happening.

You’re no longer dancing to the music. You’re dancing with it.

No more guessing No more anxious catching up.

You move with clarity, confidence, and deep connection. You now are the dancer who doesn’t just follow the beat ; you are the dancer who becomes the music.. and your audience? they feel it in their heart and soul. 

Maya’s Way of Breaking Down Arabic Music Is a Revelation.
I had struggled with Maqam for years — it always felt out of reach — until I found Maya.

She starts from the very foundations and gently builds toward Taqsim, giving you not just tools, but the kind of clear guidance and feedback that makes everything click. She welcomes every question — even the ones you thought were too simple to ask.

For the first time, the music made sense. The mystery lifted. Maya explains in a way that works — not just in your head, but in your body and your dance.

Majida Wahid

Keyboard Player & Dancer
New Zealand

Traditional Maqam and Taqsim training can take decades — and still leave dancers in the dark.

In just two months, you’ll finally see how it all fits together with clarity that lasts a lifetime and never again need another vague musicality workshop. 

Is Maqam for Dancers For You?
This is for you if:
  • You’re a passionate Raqs Sharqi or belly dancer hobbyist, performer, or teacher — who wants to connect deeply to Arabic music.
    • You’ve tried to learn Maqam before but felt overwhelmed, left out or confused.
    • You want to stop second-guessing your musicality and start dancing with a deep connection to the music. 
    • You’re ready to finally understand, feel and embody Arabic music without theory or taking years. 
    • You want to feel emotionally free, confident, and deeply connected when dancing to taqasim. 
        This is NOT for you if: 
        • You’re looking for a choreography class — this is about music and listening, not steps.
          • You want a shortcut without doing the work. 
            • You believe "just feeling it" is enough — and aren’t ready to discover the deeper language behind the music.
            • You want one-size-fits-all answers- — but Arabic music is alive, quirky, and every Maqam has its own unique story.
            For over 30 years, I was mystified and confused by Maqam and Taqasim.
            When Maya explained Maqam, a light went on and I finally understood it! Maya explains the steps of performing a Taqsim in a specific Maqam in a way that even someone as intimidated as I was could grasp and execute.

            There is no way I could have produced a taqsim or even had understood the rules and the steps of a taqsim without Maya's guidance.

            Whether you think you're a fantastic musician or are terrified of Maqam and Taqsim, I cannot recommend Taqasim Mastery highly enough.

            Maya is a miraculous teacher with the patience, passion, generosity, and expertise to help anyone advance musically."

            Andrea Fishman

            University Lecturer, Dancer & Singer
            USA
            Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
            CUSTOM JAVASCRIPT / HTML

            This isn’t another music theory course.
             It’s not a dance class.
             It’s not a playlist of songs you’re supposed to “just feel.”

            It is the only step-by-step path created for dancers — to awaken their inner ear, connect to the soul of Arabic music and follow the living flow of Taqsim. 

            This is your moment to stop second-guessing and to 
             become the music.

            countdown
            00 Years 00 Months 00 Weeks 00 Days 00 Hours 00 Minutes 00 Seconds
            countdown
            00 Years 00 Months 00 Weeks 00 Days 00 Hours 00 Minutes 00 Seconds

            Enrollment closes October 13th. We begin October 14th. Join us 

            @Copyright 2025, All rights reserved. @Maya Youssef