Circle This!

Posted on January 30, 2019

2019 is all about rolling out a series of circles here at Om Laila Studio – which has thus far been primarily a bellydance school. The year has already begun with two Red Tent gatherings for women and there are more circles on the way, including Drum and Song Circles and a Circle for the Conscious and Ceremonial use of Cannabis – something very important both to me personally and crucial for the times.

Human beings have been gathering in purposeful circles for a very long time, possibly as early as 300,000 years ago. Although little is known about the complexity of these gatherings, there is certainly evidence of ritual art, painting, and religious ceremony.

This began to change some 5000 years ago with the onset of patriarchal ideology and its emphasis on cognitive development. Gathering in circle and its spirit of community, egalitarianism and authentic connection was replaced by linear and hierarchical structures where people became passive receivers of information from authoritative leaders.

While many indigenous peoples continued to gather in circles, the last 40 years has seen an increasing movement to return to this practice in the modern world. All that said, I am not writing this article as a history lesson. I want to share a simple and personal experience about the power of gathering in a circle.

I am no stranger to circles, ceremonies, and rituals having discovered Wicca in the mid-eighties and being initiated into a lineage of Goddess-based religion that can be traced back 2000 years. Despite the mind-blowing magic of those rites, I recently experienced the quiet power of the circle in a more humble and profound way than I ever have before.

In September of 2018, my husband and I sold our family home and chose to separate for a trial period of 6 months. I had been receiving messages in my dreams and meditations about selling the house for some 2 years. These were followed by a series of synchronicities in the outer world that had the entire sale unfold with a kind of grace that filled me with gratitude and a real sense of the rightness of it all.

Nonetheless, the day we signed on the dotted line, I began to feel like I was falling down a well. The feeling kept on going for the next 2 days and it was unrelenting. I’ve never experienced anything like it. None of my personal centering practices seemed to put me back on solid ground, but they did show me that I needed a circle of my women friends to help hold me through this transition.

I put the call out in a group message. The instant I hit send, the ground came back under my feet and I stopped falling. It was SO palpable and so powerful a moment that my awe, respect and devotion to the circle has been solidified and magnified to a whole new level.

I know in my bones that there are some truths, some important flowerings of consciousness that can only happen in circle. No matter the focus, intention of purpose of the gathering, when we meet in circle we grow the Filigree of Love that connects us to ourselves, to one another and to all of life. We are remembering an ancient way of connecting and bringing forth its nourishment and wisdom into our modern times. We are growing our capacity to birth a healthier world. Cheers to that hope!

Posted in Om Laila,Uncategorized | Tagged

Embodied Voice: Sat Sept 30 and Sun Oct 1, 2017 11 am to 1 pm

Posted on September 14, 2017

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged

Last Day of Classes and Fabulous Show!

Posted on December 15, 2014

Today is the last day of classes before the holiday break and will resume on Monday January 5th.Registration is now open to sign up for the new term. Om Laila is a boutique space with limited class sizes so register soon to guarantee your spot!


The studio also has some new signage that we’re very happy about. You will be seeing this new look around the website and social media pages

Om Laila’s Badass Bellydance Bash

Om Laila and Nomadica had an amazing show on Saturday night at Mây Cafe. Many of our friends came out to see us perform and to celebrate the start of the holiday season. Soloists, Melissa Gamal, Michelle MacAleese and Miruna Soiu rocked their performances and Om’s students also brought it in a big way!! Here’s the videos from the performing classes. The first is the Om Laila Bellydance Choir’s back to back number Ala Warag il Foul and the Zill/Drum Solo, which was also a collaboration between level 3 and the Musical Dancer class.

The second video is the level 2’s performing La Te Tab Alayee

Stay in touch for more events like this is 2015 and here is the upcoming schedule:

January 2015 Schedule:


Mondays – 7 weeks –

January 5 – February 23 (no class Feb 16):

6:00 -7:15 Essential Bellydance II w/ Roula

7:30 – 8:45 Essential Bellydance I w/ Roula


Tuesdays – 4 weeks – January 6 – January 27

11:00 – 1 pm: Intensive for Intermediate – Pro dancers w/ Roula:

1 hour Seven Waves, 1hour zill building


Wednesdays – 7 weeks January 7 – February 18:

6:00 – 7:15 Essential Bellydance III


Wednesdays – 4 weeks – January 7 – January 28:

7:30 – 8:45 – Introductory Course with Liz


Thursdays – 7 weeks – January 8 – February 19

11:00 – 12:15 Essential Bellydance/Seven Waves

6:00 – 7:00 Musical Dancer Foundations w Roula

7:00 – 8:00 Bellydancer Choir w Roula

8:00 – 9:00 Choir Choreography with Kaleena


Saturdays – 7 weeks – January 10 – February 21

11:00 – 12:00 Karma Bellydance with Shaila

more TBA

Posted in Bellydance,Classes,Om Laila,Performances,Toronto Bellydance,Uncategorized | Tagged Bellydance choir bellydance classes bellydance toronto Musical Dancer Nomadica Om Laila om laila studio performances Toronto