Kids
Ages 6 to 10
Rhythm, footwork and confidence. Small groups, lots of energy, and the first steps of a dance their grandparents grew up with.
Learn real Lebanese
Dabke in Laval.
Structured Dabke classes for kids, youth and adults, Oriental dance (Baladi) for women and Zumba for adults.
Our classes.
HBB started with Dabke, then added Baladi and Zumba. Each class has its own schedule and its own price; levels, exams, the t-shirt and the wristband belong to the Dabke program.
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Our original program
Lebanese Dabke
- For
- Kids 6 to 10, youth 11 to 15, adults 16 and over, and private classes
- Schedule
- Once or twice a week, once a week under 16
- What you get
- Five levels, an exam and a wristband for adults, an end of session show for kids and youth, a t-shirt and online videos for everyone
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Women only class
Oriental dance (Baladi)
- For
- Women 16 and over
- Schedule
- Once a week
- What you get
- One class a week, no levels. Lower price when you also take Dabke
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Cardio dance
Zumba
- For
- Adults 16 and over
- Schedule
- Once a week, class time and spots shown when you register
- What you get
- One class a week, no levels. Added to any package, never discounted
Our original program
The Dabke program.
Dabke has been the heart of HBB since day one. Everything in this chapter belongs to Dabke only: the age groups, the five levels and the exam, the t-shirt, the wristband and the online videos.
Age groups
Four ways to learn Dabke.
Youth
Ages 11 to 15
Sharper technique, faster combinations and formation work. This is where students start building toward the performance team.
Adults
16 and over
Beginners welcome, no experience needed. Learn the steps well enough to lead the line at the next family wedding.
Private and wedding training
One on one coaching, or a full session for the wedding party. We choreograph the entrance, drill it until it is clean, and make sure nobody freezes when the drums start.
Levels and exam
Five levels for adults. One exam at the end of every session.
You do not drift between classes hoping to improve. You are placed at a level, you are tested, and you move up when you have earned it. Your wristband colour shows where you are. Kids and youth have no levels: each group learns a choreography and performs it in an end of session show.
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LEVEL 1
Foundations
Posture, timing, the basic six count and holding the line. Everyone starts here.
Black wristband
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LEVEL 2
Control
Cleaner footwork, tempo changes, and the first regional variations.
Navy blue wristband
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LEVEL 3
Formation
Group choreography, spacing, and dancing to a live derbake instead of a count.
Red wristband
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LEVEL 4
Lead
Leading the line, improvising breaks, and carrying a floor that is watching you.
White wristband
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LEVEL 5
Instructor and performer
Pass Level 5 and you can teach with us as an official HBB Dabke instructor, or join the team we send to weddings and get paid for it.
Military green wristband
Included
What comes with the Dabke program.
For Dabke students only. Baladi and Zumba are weekly classes with no levels, t-shirt or wristband.
A free customized t-shirt
Printed with the student's own name. Theirs to keep, and worn at every performance.
A level wristband, for adults
Black, navy blue, red, white or military green. Everyone in the room knows what you have earned.
Online access to our training videos
Practise the week's combination at home, at the cottage, or anywhere you have a screen.
An exam for adults, a show for kids
Adults pass their end of session exam to move up a level. Kids and youth perform the choreography they learned in an end of session show.
The year at HBB
Eight sessions a year, one clear price.
Pick who is dancing, the session length and the classes: your price shows right away. Dabke for every age, Baladi for adult women, Zumba for adults. Dabke and Baladi together cost less.
Who is dancing?
Session length
Classes
Dabke per week
Kids and youth take Dabke once a week. Baladi is for adult women and Zumba is for adults.
$250
plus taxes
See details
Meet our founders.
Two dancers, over fifteen years each in Dabke, and one shared reason for opening HBB. They wanted the dance taught the way they were taught it, with structure and respect for where it comes from.
Joseph
Co-founder and instructor, 15 plus years in Dabke
Joseph builds the curriculum. He is the one who decides what a Level 3 dancer has to be able to do, and he does not hand out a wristband before it is earned.
Jean-Claude
Co-founder and instructor, 15 plus years in Dabke
Jean-Claude runs the floor. Formations, wedding choreography and the performance team are his, and he is usually the loudest person in the room.
Our mission
At Habibi Dabke, we are dedicated to preserving and sharing the beautiful tradition of Lebanese folk dance. Our school provides a welcoming environment where students of all ages and skill levels can learn authentic Dabke techniques while connecting with their cultural heritage.
Through our comprehensive online platform, we bring the joy of Dabke directly to your home, making it accessible to everyone regardless of location. Our structured curriculum ensures progressive learning while maintaining the authentic spirit of this ancient art form.
Questions
Before you register.
Something not covered here? Send us a message and we will answer the same week.
Contact us
Do I need any dance experience to start?
No. Every new adult starts at Level 1, where we teach footwork, timing and the core Dabke steps from zero. Kids and youth have no levels, so they join their age group from the first class.
How long is a session and how many classes do I get?
From September to April we run two month sessions of 8 classes, one hour once per week. From May to August we run one month sessions of 4 classes.
How much does it cost?
A two month session is 250 dollars CAD for adults and 150 dollars for kids and youth under 16. A one month summer session is 150 dollars CAD. Prices are before taxes: GST and QST are added at checkout. You register and pay online by card from your account, in a few minutes. Your spot is confirmed as soon as the payment goes through.
Do you offer Oriental dance (Baladi)?
Yes. We teach Oriental dance (Baladi) in a women only class for adults, once a week. Taking Dabke and Baladi together costs 350 dollars for a two month session instead of 500, and 210 dollars for a summer month instead of 300.
Do you offer Zumba classes?
Yes. Zumba is offered to adults, once a week; the class time and the spots left are shown when you register. It costs 150 dollars for a two month session of 8 classes and 75 dollars for a summer month. It is added to the price of any package and is never part of the Dabke and Baladi discount. You can also take Zumba on its own.
What is included with the Dabke program?
Every new Dabke student receives a free customized t-shirt with their name on it and online access to our Dabke training videos so they can practise from anywhere. Adults also get a wristband in the colour of their level. Baladi and Zumba are weekly classes with no levels, t-shirt or wristband.
How do the kids and youth classes work?
Kids 6 to 10 and youth 11 to 15 do not follow the level system and do not get a wristband. Each group learns a full choreography during the session and performs it for the families in an end of session show.
What happens when I reach Level 5?
You can become an official HBB Dabke instructor and teach with us, or join our performance team and get paid to dance at weddings and events.
Which languages do you teach in?
French, English and Arabic. Say whichever one you are comfortable in and we will match it.
The next session fills up before it starts.
Create your account, pick your package and your class times, and pay by card. Your spot is confirmed right away.
Register