ABOUT OUR CLASSES
What you need to know about joining our classes... here's the basic information
AGE RANGE: 18 to 80
FITNESS LEVEL: Any
SPECIALIST EQUIPMENT: None
WHAT TO WEAR: Dress comfortably in either a t-shirt or loose top, with either a flowing skirt or yoga pants, leggings etc. Anything that is not restrictive of movement. Dancing is either barefoot or in soft flexible soled footwear such as ballet shoes/slippers. *Please note students DO NOT have to show their belly*.
HEALTH & SAFETY: If you have any ongoing medical issues, please speak to the class tutor before the class begins so that you can be advised of any moves that you will need to be mindful of. Equally pregnancy, other long term serious health conditions such as heart issues, diabetes, back/hip/neck issues should be advised at the start of any class the student is attending. In the event that other medical circumstances arise (such as another Covid outbreak) students will be expected to follow the recommendations of the hall. Entrance is via the main front door of the hall, exit is via the side door of the venue.
GENERAL HEALTH & SAFETY: Dancing is barefoot. If you have foot health issues, please dance with your feet covered in soft, flexible soled shoes.
Listen to your body! Some moves will feel odd as you will use your muscles in different ways, but nothing should cause pain. Your teacher will offer guidance and make adjustments or will stop you if you are moving in a manner that could cause your body harm or injury.
CLASS LENGTH: 1 hour sessions
PRICE: £32 for 4 continuous weeks
(valid for 2024)
PAYMENT: Cash via class, bank transfer or ask about Paypal.
WHAT DO LESSONS COVER?: sessions initially for Tenderfoot (beginners) is to build muscle control and strength, work on posture as you learn the basics elements of belly dance. Once you have covered the initial 4 terms/16 weeks, you will build on this with more movements, and will begin to learn combinations as a forerunner to learning choreography. After the next 4 terms/16 weeks, you will begin to learn choreography and then move on to covering the use of props such as veil and canes/sticks and learn more about belly dance influences that make up our own unique blend of cabaret with and infusion of other elements.
As your dance journey continues, these will grow with more complex movements, terminology and further dance props such as Isis wings, Melaya, Veil fans, Shamadan etc
YOUR DANCE JOURNEY: Students do NOT have to take part in performing, but as they continue their dance journey, opportunities will arise for them to show off their growing dance skills.
CLASS BEHAVIOUR: Students are asked to arrive promptly for class, if you arrive late, you should warm up before joining in, as this prepares your muscles to dance, and gets your mind ready for class.
BOOKING IN: Students can register in advance of class by messaging via this website, our Facebook page, text to 07796 087255 or email. Students will be asked a few health questions, as there are certain things that need to be covered to get the best out of your classes. Once at class, students sign in our weekly register to show their attendance (and follow Covid safety rules as specified by the venue).
BUSTING MYTHS...
We hear a LOT of comments about belly dancing, so lets cover some...
MYTH 1: I'm not skinny enough to belly dance
Response: There isn't 'a size' that you have to be, any size is the right size
MYTH 2: I have a big belly to wobble I won't have to do much, so no point in learning
Response: Whether you have bits to wobble or not, it doesn't matter, we teach you technique, which leads to muscle memory, that aids posture, that strengthens muscles, that turns into dance moves and you'll be amazed at what you body can do!
MYTH 3: I'm too old to start dancing
Response: We've never turned anyone away from learning to dance, your age is just a number and we all age differently. What matters is you wanting to dance. Dorothy Hannisian started dancing at 65 and danced to aged over 102+ also Tina Hobin is a professional belly dancer aged 85 and we know dancers in their 80s too
MYTH 4: I just like to learn online
Response: Online classes are a great learning tool, but if you can get to a class, go to a class. You get so much more from the interaction with others, you can ask questions, the teacher can help you with your posture and technique that sometimes gets lost from online learning only.
MYTH 5: Isn't belly dance like stripping (Yes, we've been asked this more than once)
Response: Stripping is like stripping, belly dance is NOT. It is a cultural dance form that has a beautiful, diverse and interesting history that has been passed down over the decades and has numerous different styles from the east be it Egyptian, Arabic, Turkish, Lebanese, Moroccan, Saudi, etc. It has a bad reputation because of Hollywood selling the 'harem fantasy' since the discovery of King Tut's tomb and that the west's first interaction with eastern dance was at the World Trade Fair in the 1890s where a woman moved her belly and people were titillated (remember this was the Victorian Era of corsets and a flash of an ankle was still eyebrow raising, and the Waltz from its arrival in the early 1800s became acceptable because of Dorothea Lieven danced it at parties and the Almack's Club in London which allowed the Waltz to become fashionable in 1813 and people like Queen Victoria helped it become acceptable as a dance form...so anything with a torso moving would have been shocking!) Also, the play Salome was causing a stir around this time and the infamous Dance of the Seven Veils would be linked with belly dance even though it was a choreographed dance for the show, and in no way related to 'belly dance' or Egyptian Dance. Sadly though, over 100 YEARS has passed and people still think 'it's a thing!' Belly Dance or Egyptian Dance is always battling to raise its identity, and we try to be ambassadors for its social acceptance and reputation.