Free Live Masterclass For Raqs Sharqi & Belly Dancers

With World Leading Maqam & Taqsim Mentor, Maya Youssef

Maqam & Taqsim for Dancers

Free Live Masterclass For Raqs Sharqi & Belly Dancers

With World Leading Maqam & Taqsim Mentor, Maya Youssef

MAQAM & TAQSIM FOR DANCERS

Give me 1.5 hour, and I’ll show you the easiest and fastest way to recognize maqam by ear and understand taqsim—so you can anticipate every shift, move with confidence, and express the music with depth, emotion and authenticity.

No dry theory or music training needed!

5th April 2025

18:00 GMT London

SIGN ME UP!

As seen in

From Intimidated by Maqam to Recognizing It by Ear and Playing a Taqsim—Effortlessly!

"I love Arabic music and I wanted to learn maqam for a very long time. But I found maqam very hard and intimidating and I couldn’t understand the logic behind it.

I didn’t think I would ever get maqam until I found Maya. The way Maya taught maqam with Lego was amazing. And how she put the maqams together and put taqsim into the picture is just incredible.

Thanks to Maya’s method, I was able to recognise maqam by ear within seconds…and play a taqsim."

Roxy Stimpson

Miss Belly Dancer USA

Are you ready to stop guessing and FINALLY understand the melodic and emotional shifts in music?

You’re hungry to deepen your understanding of the music you dance to, so you spend months and maybe YEARS diving into traditional maqam classes—only to be met with vague, useless advice like…

“Just feel the music.” (Great, but how exactly?)
“This maqam is ‘sad’ and that one is ‘happy’.” (but what does that actually mean for my movement?And is it true? )
“Listen enough, and it will come to you.” (So I just wait and hope for the best?)
“Follow the rhythm, and you’ll be fine.” (Except taqsim has no rhythm half the time!)

Dancers are given crumbs instead of a real understanding of maqam and taqsim. You might catch rhythm changes, but what about the melodic shifts, emotional modulations, and maqam transitions that give Arabic music its soul? Without them, you’re just reacting—missing the deeper connection that makes a performance truly mesmerizing.

If you are ready to stop dancing on the surface and anticipate every emotion shift, the subtle moments that shape songs and taqsim—so that your movements don’t just follow the music, but become the music, you are in the right place!

SIGN ME UP!

Spoiler alert – You won’t find what I will be sharing anywhere else and I don’t teach maqam and taqasim the way others do…

Here is what you will discover in this 1.5 hour transformational Masterclass:

The easiest and fastest way to learn maqam—Discover a breathtakingly easy and fun method to learn maqam within HOURS without stiff theory or prior music knowledge.

How to instantly recognize maqam by ear—so you can instantly predict where the music is going and move with confidence instead of guessing and hoping for the best!

The Seven Stages of Taqsim—Breaking news: taqsim is NOT random improvisation! It follows a clear, predictable structure that, once understood, will transform the way you dance. Learn how it really works so you can finally interpret taqsim with clarity, confidence, and authenticity.

The Secret to Interpreting the Emotion of Maqam—Warning: There’s no universal ‘happy’ or ‘sad’ maqam (despite what you’ve been told!). You’ll uncover the real truth behind maqam’s emotional expression so you can translate it into movement powerfully and intuitively.

How to Identify the Musical Peaks—Learn to recognize the high points of emotional intensity (Tarab moments) in both taqsim and written music. Most dancers completely miss these cues, which leaves their performance lacking depth and true emotional power. After this masterclass, you’ll never miss them again—and your dance will never feel the same.

How I’ve helped 100s of dancers and Arabic music enthusiasts worldwide go from maqam confusion to mastery in just a few months—My unique method has helped dancers with zero musical background finally understand the structure of Arabic music, allowing them to dance with more depth, confidence, and authenticity—without spending years struggling with traditional methods.

SIGN ME UP!

Hello I’m Maya

I’m the world’s leading Qanun & Maqam mentor and I am passionate about helping Arabic music enthusiasts go from zero maqam knowledge to playing an authentic unique taqsim without the need to subject yourself to boring music theory or needing to copy anyone else’s taqsim ever again.

The BBC dubs me’ Queen of the Qanun’ , the UK government and Arts Council England has recognised me as an Exceptional Talent and I am an internationally renowned multi -award winning performer and a composer.

I have toured many of the world’s top venues and festivals like the Royal Albert Hall and WOMAD , and won prestigious awards and accolades for my work.

I am Syrian British and I have been classically trained since I was 8 years old. I studied my BA at the prestigious High Institute of Music in Damascus and my masters in Ethnomusicology at SOAS University of London where I also taught maqam. I truly believe that music is one of the most powerful tools to heal the world.

Whether you're starting from scratch or ready to take your understanding of maqam to the next level, I’m excited to help you unlock the music with clarity and confidence—so you can hear, feel, and connect to Arabic music like never before.