I have been looking for an instructor for bellydancing. I went to Bellydancing by Thia hoping to get good teaching and advice. My classes weren't taught by Thia and weren't that instructional on the basics of the dance. I was told that it the reason was that Thia can't be bothered by beginning level students because she is too involved with more ""experienced"" dancers. I took the classes initially because of her advertising. Her picture was wonderful. When I finally met her though I couldn't recognize her. She was about 40+ years older than her picture and was rude. She stuck her nose up at me as though she's the queen of belly dancing. The classes were more choreography than instruction. I got lost easily and the instructors didn't help with understanding the movements. It was more the monkey see monkey do technique. Then they told the class to free style on the first day! The classes were expensive and didn't create a sense of friendship or caring of the others in the class. I also found the boutique expensive and hard to find things to wear and had been collecting dust for quite some time...... I was able to find another boutique that had multiple styles and sizes and offered to help me get the things that I wanted and needed. When I asked Thia about other instructors and boutiques she found ways to downplay there skills and abilities and insists that her students buy only from her. In the events of searching for a teacher I have found that she steals student and customers from the others with what appears to be the intent of putting others out of business. From what I hear that's how its been since Kismet broke apart. I went to one performance of hers and was saddened by the performance. I saw at least 5 others that were better and more entertaining. It seems that she tries to overshadow the others at the events. Even if the events not hers. Kinda the, ""Look at me!"" mind-set. I have heard numerous times from different sources that she had ruined belly dancing in Utah. That it once was a friendly environment that all would come to. That there was events for free and people came from neighboring states to see what Utah has to offer. Now we can't even fill a small building sometimes because there is a lack of interest and the cost is too much for those interested to go and watch and participate. It seems that belly dancing by Thia in Utah at least in this case is all about the money and not the art. If anyone is looking for a class I dont recommend Bellydancing by Thia as it is a waste of time and money.
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