Boise Raks is a joyful, interactive celebration of dance, music, culture, wellness, and community, created by Starbelly School of Dance and featuring the Starbelly Dancers.

Through Raks Sharki (Middle Eastern dance), cultural education, familiar American music, and lots of audience participation, Boise Raks brings people of all ages, abilities, and backgrounds together to learn, move, laugh, and celebrate.

Our programs explore dance and music from different regions of the Middle East and pair these traditions with familiar American music—from country and rock to classical and contemporary pop. These unexpected combinations create a bridge between cultures and generations, helping us discover how much we share through music, movement, storytelling, and celebration.

Every Boise Raks event is FREE, family-friendly, and open to everyone. No dance experience is needed!

Over the past two years, Boise Raks has grown from a new community arts project into a program that has traveled throughout Boise, bringing free dance and cultural experiences directly into the places where people already gather.

Boise Raks events have been presented at:

• Dick Eardley Senior Center
• Boise Public Library – Main Library
• Downtown Boise YMCA
• JUMP
• Art & Roses
• First Thursday in Downtown Boise at Taj Mahal
• West Bench Farmers Market at Spaulding Ranch
• Hyde Park Street Fair – Mandala Dome
• Open Streets Boise

Each location has created a different kind of experience. We have danced with seniors from their seats, welcomed children into performances, watched families share their own dance moves, answered questions about Middle Eastern music and culture, and seen people passing by on bicycles stop long enough to dance with us.

At its best, Boise Raks becomes less of a performance and more of a community celebration. The line between performer and audience disappears, and everyone has something to contribute.

Take a look back at our 2026 Boise Raks season and some of the wonderful people, performances, and community moments that made this year so special.

We are thrilled to announce that Boise Raks has once again received support from the Boise City Department of Arts & History for 2027!

Over the coming months, the Starbelly Dancers will be creating and rehearsing an entirely new Boise Raks program. We will explore additional music, dances, stories, and traditions from throughout the Middle East while continuing to find playful and meaningful connections with familiar American music and culture.

We will also be developing our 2027 community schedule, with Boise Raks events beginning in March 2027 and continuing through September 2027.

Watch this page for new locations, dates, and event announcements as our 2027 season develops.

Every Boise Raks event includes:

• Professional performances by the Starbelly Dancers
• Cultural stories and information about the dances and music
• Beginner-friendly movement and dance instruction
• Opportunities for audience participation
• A community dance celebration
• Middle Eastern music and dance paired with familiar American favorites
• A welcoming experience for different ages, abilities, cultures, and backgrounds

FREE • FAMILY-FRIENDLY • ALL AGES • ALL ABILITIES • NO DANCE EXPERIENCE REQUIRED

Boise Raks is made possible with the generous support of the Boise City Department of Arts & History and Starbelly School of Dance.

Together, we dance, learn, celebrate, and create a community where everyone is invited to participate.