[KeriStevens]

Amal al-Zahra' here 
I've been dancing and teaching for *cough* 16 years now. My roots are Egyptian cabaret (whose isn't?), Turkish cabaret and a variety of folkloric styles. Since I've been writing more and sold the book, I've been dancing less. But I plan to regain the balance this fall. I miss it.

 

[KeriStevens]

To the youtubes! A lot of great dancers (and some not-so-great ones) are putting instruction snippets up on youtube. Videos are a mixed bag--some are great, some are atrocious. But even a novice can usually tell the difference (sloppy dancing looks sloppy, period) so don't be afraid to play around.

Also, parks and rec programs, community colleges and local Y's often have classes. So search!

 

[KeriStevens]

I know a lot of dancers who cross over into hula. I don't have that stamina!

Re: your 5 year-old...it's a good business if you're passionate and dedicated. Few have the skill, so the skilled are in demand.