Intro to Belly Dance - 101
taught by Christiana & Hayley
Pre-Registration based class...First time in belly dance? Then this is the class for you! This primer class is where you start; helping you better in understand the movements that create the foundation of all styles of belly dance - technique through isolations and muscular training. This class focuses on break down of basic belly dance steps so that you begin with the correct methods to 'do' any of the common movements. Adds up to a great no-impact workout however the goal of the class is learning the verbiage, proper posture & being introduced to the different facets of Mid-East Dance.
As a new student to this art form we do recommend you take this class 1 full 7-week session before starting any of our other beginner belly dance classes, denoted with a blue star. See Class Attire here - no long skirts, as the instructors need to evaluate your knees & lower back position. You need no prior dance experience for this class - a minimum of 5 students needed by the end of week 1 in order to run for the full session. All classes run on week 1!
Offered Tuesdays at 6:30pm & Saturdays 10:30am

Fundamentals of Belly Dance
taught by Sonya & Christiana & Hayley
Pre-Registration based class...After the minimum 7-week session of INTRO class, this Fundamentals class expands to teach you a wider vocabulary of basic belly dance traditional Orientale movements, traveling steps & turns common to the "classic" Egyptian-style of Mid East dance, & most importantly how to connect them. Here you learn where in the music these steps are best used, why we do it, & more about where in the world it comes from. Class works on clean technique with full break-downs & step-combos that can improve your posture, flexibility, balance & grace through muscle isolation and control. Each week we put these new moves into a dance routine, finishing the session with a full choreographed dance & a strong sense of body awareness.
This class is ideal for your first 6-10 months of your training, however you feel free to stay in this level (blue star) until all these fundamental moves are comfortable to you. You will always come away with something new from week-to-week, session-to-session, even year-to-year. Performance opportunities as a class troupe Enti Albi. See Class Attire here -- no long skirts, as your instructor needs to evaluate your knees & lower back position. No prior dance experience is necessary for this class however please complete 1 full 7-week session of INTRO to Belly Dance class first (see above, green star). All weekly offerings of the 'Fundamentals' class contain the same lesson plan/choreographic routine, therefore interchangeable from week-to-week. Email us for music info.
Offered Mondays at 8pm & Saturdays at 12pm

Moving Up; Belly Dance Choreography
taught by Sonya
Pre-Registration based class...Open to students who feel they've mastered the basic belly dance movements introduced in the blue star classes (typically after 6-10 months of the Fundamentals of Belly Dance class, comfortable with ALL those beginning moves), this choreography class is geared for those long-time beginners who feel they learn more through choreography, drills & routine. Every move you know has 100 variations, add-ons and layers... want to learn them? Take Yourself to that NEXT LEVEL! The dances learned in this weekly class can be auditioned for & performed if desired as class troupe el Amar. While everyone is unique, Pre-Requisites for this class are completion of the Fundamentals class (typically 4 sessions) - Feel free to ask your instructor if you seem ready for the challenge or ask Sonya's advice before signing up & for music info.
Offered Saturdays at 11am

Modern Fusion Bellydance
taught by Eliza & Christiana
Pre-Registration based class...Modern Fusion Bellydance combines or "fuses" movements of traditional belly dance (Egyptian, Turkish & Tunisian) with elements of western dance formats such as Modern Contemporary, Jazz, Hip Hop & others. Designed for the intermediate dancer, this class focuses on developing a clean & fluid belly dance technique infused with elements of western dance. Class starts with a short warm up to improve flexibility, & get muscles & joints moving followed by exercises & drills that strengthen & tone primary muscles used in our dance practice. The second part of class focuses on learning a short combination or "choreo chunk" that will be repeated & refined over a couple of weeks as we build layers & add footwork to develop a multidimensional dance practice. Emphasis is placed on proper posture, fluid & concise movements, & seamless transitions. Drop-in friendly class although regular attendance is encouraged as you build your combinations into a full dance to perhaps be performed at a future INSPIRE Arabesque Hafla! Offered Mondays at 6:30pm

Layers & Traveling
taught by Sonya
Pre-Registration based class...For the dancer who is strong in ALL the fundamental movements and their myriad of intermediate variations, we offer a more advanced view of combinations with the moves you already know, new moves you've never seen before, as well as transitions from one move to the next, a "volume knob" approach to speed and expectations of layering movements simultaneously while traveling with them.
Longer, more difficult step combinations stretch the mind and muscle memory and a few improvisational dance techniques appear, while the content of a full session includes a challenging choreography with a new focus week-to-week on different dance skills, occasional prop use, and special "tips & tricks" you've always wished you knew!
A mastery of intermediate belly dance curriculum is expected in this fast-paced class for rather experienced students. Being comfortable in the intermediate/purple star classes and having good attendance is expected to keep up in this high-level offering.
Students are always expected to come to class prepared with their Veil and Finger Cymbals.
New students accepted only on the 1st week of the session, after already having spoken with Sonya regarding qualifications.
Choreographies learned in this class do have the opportunity to be auditioned for and performed, as Sonya's award-winning revolving student dance troupe, Ro-He.
This class is not a drop-in class; weekly attendance is expected.
Email Sonya for music info and request to join our private facebook group for troupe/Ro-He communication.
Offered Tuesdays at 8pm

Semi-Pro Soloist Training
taught by Sonya
Pre-Registration based class...Learning choreography, performing occasionally, and sweating in class is not enough if you take your dancing seriously. For the higher-level student with genuine intentions in this dance form we offer a laser-focused 1-hour weekly class on developing you as a knowledgeable soloist and expert of your field, Arab Dance Arts.
Over several sessions we will deeply explore the stylistic influences of many notable Mid-East dancers as well as those heralded in American Orientale; we will become knowledgeable to the names of the famous dancers, musical scores & composers of the "Golden Era" of belly dance, & even some Arabic word recognition, all while studying our own performance aspects (such as facial comportment, stage presence, body awareness, musicality, etc) and methods of self-assessment designed to foster communication and feedback skills of your own.

You will create a solo dance through week-to-week "homework" & mentor/peer evaluations, which when completed will stir up both your choreographic and improvisational skills, helping your dance excel to new heights, & enable you greater performance opportunities.

Class teaches YOU to build combinations that serve a purpose as well as how to recognize & identify 7 of the most usual Arabic rhythms (always come prepared with your finger cymbals/zill/segat & a veil). With an emphasis on deliberate self-practice, professionalism, history & dance community standards, this mentor ship with Sonya could complete each session with a solo performance opportunity & each year (7 sessions) with a certificate of completion.

Class Pre-Requisites:
Student must have been through a minimum 3 sessions/6 months of Moving Up (intermediate choreography class) or minimum 1 session/2 months of Layers & Traveling (interm./advanced choreography class) - AND maintain this level* of studentship during your time in Semi-Pro - this class is not a drop-in class; weekly attendance is expected. Also, weekly attendance in your other companion class is expected. Student should not be afraid of finger cymbals (or math) & have a solemn desire for a whole-brain approach to basic belly dance movements & their variations; and come prepared each week ON TIME with homework completed. Failure to heed these rules forfeits your entry for the session.

Offered Tuesdays at 6:45pm in Summer 1 session