About Elizabeth

Elizabeth Estrella is an international award-winning, professional Raqs Sharqi (belly dance) instructor, performer & event producer with twelve years of training & performance experience in the art form. Currently based in southeastern Massachusetts, Elizabeth is known for her high energy, yet elegant performances as well as her ability to engage & delight children at her shows. She is proud to have helped hundreds of clients make their special event entertainment dreams come true at their weddings, birthdays, engagement parties, bridal showers, bachelorette parties, corporate events, festivals, & more.

While she is currently focusing on private events, she continues to perform for multiple restaurants, lounges, & public events throughout Massachusetts & Rhode Island. She has also performed as far away as New Hampshire, Connecticut, California, Arizona, Minnesota, Georgia, Mexico, Portugal, and Spain.

Her awards include: 2nd Place in the Professional category at the May 2024 ODM Festival in Lloret de Mar Spain as well as her 1st place win in the Improvisation Category at Essence of Belly Dance Atlanta September 2023.

Some of her noteworthy performances include: The International Master Gala at ODM festival in Spain (2024), dancing in the Ensemble for Jillina’s BDExperience’s The Wizard of Oz in Boston (2023), the opening gala for Belly Dance Evolution’s “The Jungle Book,” show at Essence of Belly Dance Atlanta (2023), “From Cairo with Love,” featuring Shahrzad in Minneapolis, MN (2021) & the opening galas for the Phoenix Rising Dance Fest in Arizona (2019) & the Barcelona Oriental Festival (2018).

Elizabeth has instructed belly dance classes for nine years. She has taught classes at UMass Amherst and in the towns of Dartmouth, Fall River, Swansea, and Westport, Massachusetts and provided workshops throughout New England.  She currently teaches at Cat Studio in Swansea, MA where she is proud to be part of her foundation student’s dance journeys.

As an event producer, Elizabeth has hosts her quarterly community belly dance show Southcoast Raqs at White’s of Westport in Westport, MA.

In the past, she has hosted:
-Workshops with ‘Belly Dance Superstars,’ founding member Amar Garcia and drummer Kanaan Kehde (Lebanon)
-The UBDC Belly Dance Festival from 2015- 2017 in Amherst, MA
-The online show: ‘Gather for Gaza,’ in 2020 for Palestinian Refugee Families raising $1,075
-The 2020 online show ‘Dance for Lebanon,’ with dancer Laura Matta for disaster relief in Lebanon raising $3075 for the Lebanese Red Cross & families in Lebanon.

Elizabeth's love of movement began at the Cheryl McCormack Academy of Dance in New Bedford, Massachusetts where she studied numerous dance styles as a child for fifteen years. Her journey with Middle Eastern dance began in 2012 when she joined the award winning UMass Amherst Belly Dance Club (UBDC) of which she served as President & co-choreographer from 2014-2017.  During her five years with the organization, she fell in love with the music, history, costuming, and cultural significance of Raqs Sharqi.

Elizabeth is available to teach private or group classes & workshops online, in southeastern Massachusetts, New England, or beyond. She is also available for performances at public & private events. Elizabeth is an engaging and passionate performer who truly enjoys sharing the art of belly dance.