You Dance From Instinct and Emotion. Now It’s Time to understand the Melody

Connect to The Music
A 5-day challenge to awaken your ear and connect more deeply to the melody. You’ll start hearing patterns you never noticed, feel the emotions of songs with new clarity, and finally understand how taqsim flows , so you can awaken the musical awareness your dance has always longed for. 
Made for belly dancers and raqs sharqi artists. 
No theory  just your ears.
Live 22nd to 26th September 2025
Think You’re “Not Musical Enough”? That’s Not True.
Many dancers worry their musicality is lacking.

They are often told to just ‘listen and feel’ the music.

But the truth is: you’ve simply never been taught how to hear the part of Arabic music that carries the real emotion — Maqam — or how to navigate the mystery of Taqsim.
This challenge will shift the way you listen — and show you that musicality isn’t a gift.
 It’s a skill you can develop, trust, and feel.

Here’s What You’ll Learn Over 5 Transformative Days

DAY 1
The Hidden Alphabet of Arabic Music
Learn what Maqam actually is, why it’s the emotional foundation of Arabic music, and why it’s essential for dancers.
Discover the core “alphabet” behind every Maqam — so you can start hearing the structure beneath the melody.
DAY 2
The Real Emotion Behind the Melody
Today, you’ll meet key maqam elements that shape the emotions of Arabic music.

You’ll explore how a single element can express different shades of feeling — and why Maqam emotion isn’t fixed to labels like “sad” or “happy.” By the end, you’ll start to understand what truly gives Arabic music its emotional depth so you can reflect that authentically in your dance.
DAY 3
How to Recognize Maqam by Ear (Without Second-Guessing)
This is where mystery becomes muscle memory. You’ll learn to recognize Maqam changes intuitively not by theory, just by training your ear. You’ll discover how legends like Umm Kulthumm developed this skill by listening without theory or memorisation and how you can too.
DAY 4
How Musicians Create Tarab & Emotional Peaks 
Today, we’ll build what I call the Maqam Tree — a visual map that shows how melodies shift, evolve, and return.

You’ll also learn how musicians create emotional peaks to produce Tarab — so you can start listening for, and anticipating, those brief, spine-tingling moments that make Arabic music so powerful.
DAY 5
Demystifying Taqsim: How to Hear Its Structure and Flow
Now that you’ve learned the language of Maqam, it’s time to apply it to Taqsim — the improvised solo section that often feels like a mystery.

You’ll learn that Taqsim isn’t just spontaneous inspiration — it follows a clear 7 stage structure musicians have used for generations.

By understanding this framework, you’ll start to recognize where you are in the arc, anticipate what’s coming next, and finally listen to Taqsim with clarity and confidence — no more guessing.
Hear from Other Dancers Who Did The Challenge 
CUSTOM JAVASCRIPT / HTML
CUSTOM JAVASCRIPT / HTML
Hear from Other Dancers Who Did The Challenge 
CUSTOM JAVASCRIPT / HTML
CUSTOM JAVASCRIPT / HTML
CUSTOM JAVASCRIPT / HTML
CUSTOM JAVASCRIPT / HTML
CUSTOM JAVASCRIPT / HTML
CUSTOM JAVASCRIPT / HTML
CUSTOM JAVASCRIPT / HTML

Here’s How It Works

   Live Daily Sessions
Each day, I’ll go live for 15 to 30 minutes to walk you through a dancer friendly way to learn maqam & taqsim
   Ask Me Anything
You’ll get access to a private group where you can ask questions and get direct support from me throughout the challenge. Imagine a big fun party of support and learning :) 
   Win Prizes
Show up live and complete the simple daily action steps to be entered into our prize draw — with rewards that will support your impact and accelerate your learning.
Meet Your Mentor: Maya Youssef
I’m the world’s leading Maqam & Taqsim mentor, an internationally celebrated musician and the BBC’s "Queen of the Qanun."

I grew up in Damascus, immersed in the emotional depth of Arabic music. After formal training in one of the Arab world’s top music institutes, I earned a Master’s in Ethnomusicology from SOAS, where I later taught Maqam myself.

Over the years, I’ve performed on world stages from the Royal Albert Hall to WOMAD but my deepest joy is teaching dancers and Arabic music lovers how to truly hear this music.

I’ve helped hundreds of dancers move from confusion to clarity not with theory, but with a step-by-step method that makes Maqam and Taqsim feel intuitive, grounded, and accessible.

If you’ve ever felt unsure during a melody or lost in a Taqsim, I want you to know — it’s not because you’re unmusical. You’ve just never been shown how to listen. And that’s what this challenge is all about.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
CUSTOM JAVASCRIPT / HTML

🌟 Ready to Finally Connect to The Music?

If you’ve ever felt unsure, disconnected, or like you’re missing something in
the melody... you’re not broken.

 You’ve just never been taught to listen like this.

Join us for 5 days of clarity, insight, and soul-deep connection to the music you love. 

It’s Free. We start Sep 22nd

@Copyright 2025, All rights reserved. @Maya Youssef