There are various ways to go about searching for an instructor. You can do your own personal search using the Internet or you can do it the old fashioned way - word of mouth. Word of mouth advertising has proven (at least to me) to be quite reliable depending on how much you trust your sources.
Locally, here in Gainesville, Fla., Sallamah Chimera owns and teaches in her personal studio. The studio is called "Ethnic Dance Expressions Studio" and she offers a wide variety of classes ranging from beginner to advanced levels. Sallamah has been dancing for 25 years and has been teaching for 23 years. She began studying belly dancing at The University of Florida in 1979 and since then has made belly dancing her life's purpose. If you are interested in belly dancing and are looking for the right direction, I urge you to consider taking classes at Sallamah's studio. Her contact information is below: