MamaSita Studios

This place has always been awesome! They could work on being prompt and on time. But, for the most part, I always leave better than I came! Go Mamacitaaaa!

I ma new to African dancing and haven’t really been moving this much in a very long time. Last night was my first time at MamaSita Studios and the class was with Kai. It was phenomenal! The instructor is incredibly encouraging, especially when you’re struggling to get the moves, but she doesn’t push you to do everything. She shows you different ways of doing some of the dances if the regular steps are a bit too to difficult. There were about 10 of us in the class and NO ONE was left out. The drummers, who come on their own time and dime, were also wonderful, making certain that we had wonderful beats to move to. I highly recommend this class for beginners, for people who need to sweat the stress away after work — for everyone, actually! I will most certainly be going back.

Belly dancing on Saturday’s are the best! Women of all ages, shapes, and sizes coming together to dance. Truly inspiring. Everybody is warm and welcoming and will assist you with the moves especially if you’re slow to react like me.

I love the various classes (belly dance, yoga, pole dance etc) all costing one set price. The class schedule works well for me and the teachers are patience, friendly, and very supportive.

MamaSita Movement and Wellness Studio is a beautiful space where women can honor their bodies and spirits holistically in a community of sisterhood, sensuality, freedom, love, and fun! You will find sisters ready to support you every step of the way in a non-​judgmental atmosphere fertile for delicious self-​expansion! Please come on by!!! And stop past the SiTea Spice Boutique afterwards for delicious treats!!! Classes are held 7 DAYS A WEEK!!!

I’m new to belly dance but the women who teach and who take class there are very supportive. I really like the communal atmosphere.
The Saturday morning class is very high energy, that’s my fav class!

I love Mamasita Studio!!! If you’re ready for transformation, then this is the place for you. Dr. Sunyatta Amen and her cadre of instructors teach far more than just bellydance, hip-​hop bellydance, salsa, samba and yoga (and more) they teach skills for holistic health. They teach from the perspective of food, dance and movement as medicine. They also have wellness workshops from leading edge physicians like Dr. Phizadze, dance workshops from greats like Lotus Niraja and amazing annual events like every Memorial Weekend the Bellydancers of Color Movement and Wellness Expo with instructors from all over the world as well every autumn a Jamaica Wellness Retreat.

Wonderful place! Diverse in age and skill level! Great work out and the people are friendly!

I’ve been lurking on Unilocal in true creeper fashion for years before finally deciding to write a review — That right there should tell you just how awesome MamaSita is.
I can only attest to my experience with the Saturday samba class with ZeZeh, which was nothing short of an amazing time letting loose to infectious rhythms, rump shaking, and hugs — Yes, that’s right, hugs. Not only is ZeZeh a phenomenal instructor who really knows her stuff, but the students were equally as friendly and just as happy to be there. You will mostly find regulars here (virtually everyone already knew one another), but they are very welcoming of newcomers, so fear not.
In the past, I’ve attended samba classes at two other studios and this has been my favorite BY FAR. I will definitely be attending this one regularly.

Here’s a five star shout out to Mamasita’s Dance studio — and the brand new SiTea teahouse next door — a breath of fresh air in Takoma Park!
Just moved here from Seattle and could not have better things to say about the warm, welcoming (mostly) women that populate both businesses run by Dr. Sinyatta. From the diversity of classes offered (samba, bellydance, afrocuban — I highly recommend buying the one week dance pass for $ 25 and trying them all if you are new) to the flow of energy in the beautifully painted and lit rooms, to the empowering forum it provides students of all levels to learn and grow, this dance studio is truly a gem.
Check out the new teahouse two doors down — best damn chai I’ve had in all of DC, free wifi, and just a great chill space.

This review is based more on Dr. Sunyatta than the center, itself. I have only taken one belly dance class with her and it was excellent. I did not think that I could learn any moves, because I really don’t have the belly dance hips. She made me feel completely comfortable, and I really enjoy the advice she gives to the community on health (and especially to women of all ages and backgrounds). Oh, of course, great workout as well.

MamaSita saved my life! I was struggling with obesity, a recent survivor of uterine surgery and facing the prospect of bariatric surgery. I had long time trouble with arthritis and was not limber at all. When my friend said to me I should go to bellydancing class with her, I was like, «You have got to be kidding!»
When I got there, the instructor and owner of the center, Dr. Sunyatta put everyone at ease. Her sense of humor, her strong anchor in the African cultural roots of the dance, the way she weaves in her holistic health knowledge and structures the class around healing — and the bomb music — has kept me going for a year. I’ve lost 60 lbs and getting a little stronger and more flexible everyday. Although I still have a ways to go, MamaSita has been a supportive place to learn how to move again, have fun and challenge myself to be a better person all around. It’s a wonderfully supportive community with people of all kinds of abilities — from the professional dancers and athletes to folk like me just trying to make it happen each day. You’ll never have so much fun while pushing your body to new places. And the benefits in your personal life are all that, too (smile/​wink). Dr. Sunyatta is amazing — a real treasure. Experiencing her as an instructor is something you should not miss. It’s a party up in there — and you learn so much about your body, too!

I came to mamasita for the samba classes and the instructor did not disappoint. I was a little wary after reading the reviews but I am happy to say I had a great time. First off, the instructor was so cute, friendly and attentive. She gave us new girls individual attention and made sure we were having a good time. This says a lot considering there were at least 30 people there. The class lasted over two hours which makes it an amazing deal and doesn’t leave you with that pushed out feeling at the end of a dance class. I will definitely keep going and I might even turn into a samba supastar :)

glad to see a review about this place. I was thinking of taking classes here when I lived in DC, until I realized that it was the same woman who taught a class I took in PG County at Everlasting Life.
While I didn’t experience any personal attacks, I would have to agree that the instructor did not make me feel comfortable in her class and was a tad hostile. She made several side, snide remarks that were more insulting and not very helpful for a brand new student trying to learn belly dance in a first class.
I’ve taken several dance classes from different schools and definitely think that if her instruction at mamasita is similar to her instruction at Everlasting Life, then sadly I I won’t be recommending