House of Hips

09/08/2026

New Instructor: Benjamin Berry is in the House! 💜💜💜

Benjamin Berry (they/he) is a modern hoop dancer, circus artist, instructor, and performer based in Buffalo, NY who specializes in making creative movement accessible for all abilities. In 2015, they connected with the online hooping community by participating in Hooping Idol Season 5 and the Electric Forest Hoop Troupe contest, ultimately earning them Hooping.org's "Male Hooper of the Year 2015," as well as nominations for "Tutorial of the Year," "Instructor of the Year," and "Video of the Year." Since then, they have embarked on multiple cross-country workshop tours, having taught in over 50 cities nationwide.

In 2017, they moved to Buffalo and began working as a full time teaching artist at the local level, helping share circus arts in over 100 schools, libraries, eldercare facilities, and other settings since then. In 2021, they launched Accessible Circus Project, an initiative that aims to share the holistic benefits of creative movement with people of all abilities.

Look for their classes starting this month! 🩵🌈

09/02/2026

New Instructor: Katya is in the House! 💜💜💜

Katya grew up learning Turkish cultural dances from her family members and dancing them at every event in her Romani community in rural central New York. Katya’s maternal and paternal families are both of Romani origin.Katya’s maternal family come from a long line of belly dancers and musicians from Istanbul, and her paternal family came from a nomadic tribe that traveled between St. Petersburg and Moscow in Russia performing music, songs, dances, and skits.

Outside of the Romani community, Katya has also learned western dance styles such as jazz, ballet, and tap. Growing up, Katya was part of a community theater that performed musicals and plays. When not dancing, Katya enjoys figure skating, aerial, and being with her friends & family.

Look for her classes starting this month! 🇹🇷❤️

07/24/2026

Join us next Saturday August 1st at 7pm at the Depew Community Center as we celebrate 20 years of Zuut performing fusion belly dance in Buffalo NY! Presale tickets are only $10 and include snacks, a ch*****ne toast, amazing cupcakes by Bee Sweet, and lots of fun dance performances in a friendly & welcoming environment! 🎟️🍿🧁🥂

Hope to see you there!
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We are only 1 week away from Zuut's 20th Birthday Bash featuring House of Hips! We're celebrating 20 years of fusion belly dancing in Buffalo NY with performances to Lady Gaga, Guns N' Roses, Lana Del Rey, The Tragically Hip, and more! Presale tickets are only $10 and include snacks, a ch*****ne toast, and amazing cupcakes by Bee Sweet! 🎟️🍿🧁🥂

Join us Saturday August 1st at 7pm at the Depew Community Center for a night of fun dances in a friendly & welcoming space.
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07/15/2026

New Instructor: Alia is in the House! 💜💜💜

Alia has been dancing for as long as she can remember, and movement has always been one of her favorite forms of self-expression. Her dance journey began with ballet as a child, continued with hip-hop throughout high school, and expanded in college, where she was a member of her school's drill team and the Afrobeat dance team, Sankofa.

Alia believes dance is a language that allows people to express themselves, embrace their femininity, and connect with others in a meaningful way.

She is excited to teach beginner heels classes that are fun, welcoming, and supportive.

Her goal is to build a community where women feel comfortable stepping outside their comfort zones, growing in confidence, and leaving each class feeling empowered and more like their best selves.

Look for her classes starting in August! 👠❤️

07/01/2026

Mandy's newest blog post: Dance Class is 50% Therapy. 🥰
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We often joke about it during class, but it's true: Dance Class is 50% Therapy. As I write this, I know my own therapist is smiling while reading this (hi Kris!), so I want to be clear that it isn't...

05/13/2026

Last week, Mandy was honored to be nominated for the 2026 Innovator and Change Maker award at the Women's Business Center at Canisius University Ignite Awards.

"House of Hips world dance studio in Buffalo, NY [offers] classes to adult beginners … House of Hips believes that dance should relieve your stress - not add to it. We strive to maintain an inviting and cooperative environment for our students to improve their physical, mental, and emotional well-being."

Although we did not win this year, we will continue working toward our goal to help more adults in WNY who never thought they'd be able to dance to learn that dance can be accessible and empowering for everyone - regardless of age, gender, or body type. 💜💜💜

05/10/2026

We could not stop smiling during the show last night! 😃 Thank you to our instructors, our students, our guest performers, our audience members, our supporters, our families - and because it’s Mother’s Day - to our moms most of all! Thank you all for making our studio and our performances possible! Looking forward to the next show and seeing you all at the studio again! ☺️💜

05/09/2026

Tonight at 7pm! Hope to see you there!!! 💜💐💜
House of Hips 2026 Studio Showcase

Join us this Saturday, May 9th at 7pm for our House of Hips 2026 Studio Showcase! Our casual friendly atmosphere and beautiful dance performances make everyone feel at home! Come to our House and see what our instructors & students have been up to. $10 suggested donation includes snacks. We can't wait to see you!!! 💜🍿🍩💜

05/04/2026

Join us this Saturday, May 9th at 7pm for our House of Hips 2026 Studio Showcase! Our casual friendly atmosphere and beautiful dance performances make everyone feel at home! Come to our House and see what our instructors & students have been up to. $10 suggested donation includes snacks. We can't wait to see you!!! 💜🍿🍩💜