General Information About Belly Souk Classes

What is belly dance? Belly dance, more accurately called oriental dance, is typically characterized by snakelike, undulating movements or isolations, such as sharp hip snaps. Many belly dancers layer their movements so that one part of the body executes one movement while another part of the body executes another. Belly dance was performed originally as a folk dance, by men and women. It has evolved into a social dance in the last century. Today it is performed by men and women in public or at home, and its primary purpose is to have fun.

What is my class about? My class will teach the movements, or steps, of belly dance from the Egyptian style as a way to get in shape. The isolations, full-body shimmies, and layered movements provide great aerobic training and serve as strengthening exercises that tone your entire body, starting with the abdominal and gluteal muscles.

Do you need previous dance experience? My class is open to dancers with all levels of experience. Absolute beginners are welcome, as are trained professionals. I will start with basic technique, and those who are ready to advance can add layered movements to the basic steps. Those who need more time to get comfortable with certain moves can take as long as they need. The goal of my class is to teach belly dance in a way that is fun, provides exciting exercise, and that also allows you to develop your own belly dance style.

I have danced with nine belly dance instructors over the years. I have found that each of them teaches the basic steps in a different way, and each has developed her own style. I value all these styles, and because each person's body is unique, some movements will feel more natural to you than others. My class will not teach "my" style or any other Method; I will teach basic Egyptian technique, and I will encourage you to develop your own style.

I already have some belly dance experience. Can I start in your Advanced Beginner class? No. You must be proficient in each previous level before moving up! There are many experienced dancers who wish to begin my classes at the Advanced Beginner level. This does not work because of the format of the Advanced Beginner class. I build on techniques and postures that are initially taught in the Beginner level class. Experienced dancers of other forms will likely not need to repeat Beginner Belly Dance more than once before moving up, but even you must start there. Thank you for your enthusiasm and your understanding!

I encourage all my students to attend classes at or below their level of skill. For example, my Advanced Beginner students are welcome to attend the Beginner classes as a technique refresher. I also recommend practicing on your own at least twice a week outside of class. This will help your body to develop muscle memory for the different steps that we use in belly dance.

Can you perform belly dance in public? You can take belly dance for exercise, for fun, or with an intent to perform. My class will focus on technique and exercise. You can then take these steps and put them together in your own way, either in a choreographed dance or as an improvised dance. Once you learn the basics, you can pick and choose your favorite movements. Most professional dancers train for 5 years before turning professional. If you intend to perform as a professional one day, there are many resources to get you started. Ask me about them in class.

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