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WHAT IS BELLY DANCE?

The dance which Americans know as "belly dance" has gone by many names. The French who found the dance named it "dance du ventre", or dance of the stomach. It is known in Greece as the cifte telli (also the name of a Turkish rhythm), in Turkey as rakkase and in Egypt as Raks Sharki. Middle Easterners also call it "danse orientale" to distinguish it from the "balady", or country, dance. It developed through the influence of many different areas and continues its long process of development today. After its appearance at the Chicago Exposition at the turn of the century, Americans discovered it, and the French name, danse du ventre, was translated into the "belly dance".

Oriental dance is uniquely designed for the female body, with an emphasis on abdominal muscles, hip moves, and chest moves. It is firm and earthy, with bare feet connected to the ground. It is a dance characterized by smooth, flowing, complex, and sensual movements of the torso, alternated with shaking and shimmy type moves.  (Me'ira (aka Cala) at (kharding@lamar.ColoState.edu )

 

 
 Belly Dance for Beginners and Beyond on Tuesdays
Belly Dance for Beginners: 6:45 to 7:45 PM, Sep. 14 to Oct. 19, 2010 (6 weeks progressive course)
Belly Dance Intermediate:   8:00 to 9:00 PM, Sep. 14 to Nov.2, 2010   (8 weeks progressive course)
 Belly Dance is a great and effective  workout that, boosts metabolism, tones and sculpts your body, improves body image, flexibility, increases stamina, and mentally improves focus and coordination, as you learn to isolate each body part. 

What you will learn 

Belly Dance for Beginners 6 week  course       Classes will include detailed explanation of proper Middle Eastern dance posture and alignment, warm up, arm carriage, isolations, hip work, muscle control, shimmies, some traveling steps. Emphasis is on quality of movement execution, alignment, stamina and whole body awareness. Combinations will be taught to incorporate what we learning into muscle memory.
 
 Belly Dance Intermediate 8 week  course         In this class we work on expanding our movement vocabulary, layering, undulations, traveling with undulations, pops and locks, different type of shimmies.
 A new choreography will be taught!! And for those who really absorb the routine you will have an opportunity to perform in this years Earthquakes and Hipshakes show in November. You do not have to perfom to take this course but you must pass the course in order to be eligible for the group number. Its an opportunity for some students who wish to get on stage with myself and others and dance.  You must taken Bellydance Basics prior to this course.

What to Wear
You're normal workout clothes are fine, but it's better if you wear a small top that exposes some of the belly. You don't have to, but it's
preferred since we will be doing a lot of belly exercises and you will be able to see the movement much better. Wear dance shoes or barefoot.

 Classes held at Family Karate Studio 
4608 Spenard Rd. (corner of Spenard and Wisconsin)

Belly Dance for Beginners class fee $65 (drop-ins $12)
Belly Dance Intermediate class fee   $85 (drop-ins $12)
Class fee for both classes  $140
You can pay online or at studio (cash or check only)

  6 week course  $65+$3 (PayPal fee) = $68       

  8 week course  $85+$3 (PayPal fee) = $88       
  2 classes   $140+$5 (PayPal fee) = $145          
Click Calendar to view classes