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Beach Blanket Beledi
 
Folk Dances of North Africa & the Middle East
 
Belly Dance
 
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Class Descriptions

Beginning Belly Dance I

Find body parts you didn't know you had, and learn to move them in ways you didn't think possible ... amaze and astound your friends with the magic of belly dance! This class will have you going in circles, from your shoulders to your chest to your hips. Slenderize while you mesmerize!

Level: Beginner
What to bring: Just you!

Beginning Belly Dance II

This class continues to celebrate the power and beauty of the feminine spirit through this uniquely female dance form. Slide, sway, sparkle, and shimmy your way through the fall/winter doldrums, and tone up and tune up for next spring and summer!

Level: Beginner and Level 2
What to bring: Finger cymbals (available for purchase at class)

Oriental Beledi with Zils (Part II)

A continuation of a quirky beledi choreography using unusual combinations from Suhaila Salimpour, Karen Barbee, Beata Zadou, and Horacio Cifuentes. After learning the individual combinations, zils will be added. This session covers the second half of the chroeography.

Level: Levels 3 & 4
What to bring: Zils

How to Be A ZILionaire!

Unlock the magic of the dancer with bells on her fingers! (You can also have rings on your toes, if you wish.) It may be a little like patting your head, rubbing your stomach, and chewing gum, but you can learn to dance and play a musical instrument at the same time. Remember, zils (finger cymbals) are your friend!

Levels: All levels except complete beginner
What to bring: Pre-adjusted finger cymbals. 2 1/4" Turquoise cymbals are recommended. Finger cymbals are available through most belly dance vendors. If you purchase your cymbals through a traditional music store, make sure they know you want dancer's finger cymbals (four cymbals to a set.) Adjust your cymbals to fit firmly on the thumb and middle finger of each hand.

Shake It Up!

Develop your own bionic booty! Learn to twist, shimmy, and sizzle like they do on Dancing with the Stars. Get a little exercise and put an extra dose of fun into your summer.

Level: All Levels
What to bring: Just you!

Fan Fusion

Inject drama, flair, and variety into your oriental dance by adding a fan. This class fuses Spanish styling with a little good old southern belle flirtation.

Level: Intermediate & Advanced
What to bring: A sturdy fabric fan is recommended (silk flutter fans are not recommended)

A good term to use when searching for fans online is "pericon fan".

Folkloric Cocktail

Belly dancing evolved from middle eastern folk dancing. Take a trip back to the roots of belly dance, learning combinations from Tunisia, Egypt, Persia, and Turkey that can be modified to add a unique flavor to your cabaret-style performances.

Level: Intermediate & Advanced
What to bring: Just you!

Skirt Stuff

You already know how to use your veil as a partner in your dance - now learn to partner with your skirt! Class will provide tips and techniques from the sassy to the spectacular to embellish your performance with your most neglected dance accessory –your skirt!

Level: All Levels
What to bring: Full skirt

Belly Dance Basics: Circles, Sways & Undulations

Learn the basic belly dance movements that have mesmerized audiences for generations – stretch, strengthen, and tone as you slide, circle, ripple, and sway your way to a more graceful and elegant you!

Level: Beginner/Level 1/Level 2
What to bring: Just you!

Belly Dance Basics: Shimmies & More

Twist and shout! Shake it up, down, and all around as you learn the powerful, percussive hip, shoulder, and chest movements that give belly dance its pop and sizzle! Discover the joy of motion as you drop, twist, and shimmy from your head to your toes.

Level: Beginner/Level 1/Level 2
What to bring: Just you!

Turkish Karsilama

An upbeat and lively dance in the Turkish style, performed to the classic karsilama rhythm.

Level: Levels 3 & 4
What to bring: Finger cymbals & full skirt

Oriental Choreography Part I (Veil)

An elegant, feminine, and powerful choreography in the style of the late Ibrahim Farrah. Savor the complex rhythms, varied moods, and melodic interplay of classical and lushly orchestrated Egyptian music.

Level: Levels 3 & 4
What to bring: 3-4 yard veil

Oriental Choreography Part II (Cane)

A continuation of the choreography from the previous session, altering the flavor of the dance from a sultry veil to a playful cane.

Level: Levels 3 & 4
What to bring: Cane

Oriental Dance - Ibrahim Farrah style - Part 1

An elegant, feminine, and powerful choreography in the style of the late Ibrahim Farrah. Savor the complex rhythms, varied moods, and melodic interplay of classical and lushly orchestrated Egyptian music.

Level: Levels 3 & 4
What to bring: 3-4 yard veil

Oriental Dance - Ibrahim Farrah style - Part 2

A continuation of the choreography from fall session 1.

Level: Levels 3 & 4
What to bring: 3-4 yard veil

Persian Folk Dance - Bandari

Celebrate life! Celebrate dance! This lively and energetic folk dance is from the area surrounding the port city of Bandar-e-Abbas, on the Persian Gulf. This dance is fun for all ages, genders, and skill levels.

Level: Levels 2, 3, & 4
What to bring: Just you!

Afro-Brazilian Samba

Loosen up and live a little! If you're looking for a lot of fun in a small amount of time, then this lively and joyous blend of african and brazilian dance moves is sure to please. This a party dance, so come and celebrate summer with us!

Level: All levels and genders!
What to bring: A full skirt will enhance the fun.

Mahmoud Reda Technique

Classic combinations and techniques in the "Reda Style". Mahmoud Reda is the founder of the world-famous Reda Troupe of Cairo, and is an Egyptian legend. His classical Egyptian style is fluid, elegant, and timeless, using uniquely recognizable arm placements and floor patterns. This class will also introduce the use of finger cymbals (starting in mid-session).

If you want to learn Egyptian dance, you need to learn the Reda style.

Level: Levels 1, 2, & 3
What to bring: Just you! (Finger cymbals are available for purchase at class.)

Ghawazee Dance

The nawar are an Egyptian branch of the Romany tribe. The men are poets, singers, and musicians, and the women are singers and dancers known as the ghawazee (or ghaziyeh). The ghawazee are known for their earthy, energetic hip movements, playful demeanor, and expertise with finger cymbals. They call themselves “invaders of the heart”.

Class covers the technique, styling, costuming, and music of the famous Benat Maazin dancers of Luxor, Egypt.

Level: Levels 2, 3, & 4
What to bring: Zils (finger cymbals)

Mahmoud Reda Style Dance Part III

A continuation of a 2007 Reda choreography to the song Gana'l Hawa.

Level: Levels 2 & 3
What to bring: Just you!

Veiled Visions

Add a fourth dimension to your dance by partnering with a veil. Incorporating a veil is an extension of your dance expression, from ethereal and enchanting to mysterious and alluring. Learn to treat your veil as a partner, not a prop, and together you and your veil will breathe new emotion into your performance, and add depth to your movements.

Level: Levels 2, 3, & 4
What to bring: A 3-4 yard silk or chiffon rectangular veil without trims or beading.

Sophisticated Arms

Add an extra level of sophistication to your dance with elegant arm movements and complementary arm and hand placement. Consider your arms as the "sign language" of middle eastern dance - an integral part of your musical expression and interpretation. From flirtatious to dramatic to subtle, your arms and hands communicate your inner soul.

Level: Levels 2, 3, & 4
What to bring: Just you!

Circular Veil

Learn techniques for “the other veil” used in belly dance, the cape-like circular veil. This spectacular, non-traditional veil lends itself to faster, more dramatic music than the rectangular veil. Amaze and astound your friends with your prowess, especially with the "rings of Saturn" waist circle and the ever-popular barrel turn!

Levels: Intermediate & Advanced
What to bring: ¾ Circular veil. Half-circle veils may be used, but the effect will not be as spectacular.

Nubian Folk Dance

A lighthearted and joyous dance from the area of the Nubian desert, on the border between Egypt and Sudan. This dance is fun for all ages, genders, and skill levels.

Saudi Arabian Women's Dance

Rarely seen in public performance, the dance of the women of Saudi Arabia and the Gulf States is designed to emphasize the fabric and embroidery of the Thobe Nashal (a loose overdress with embellished center panel) and also the women's hair and heavy gold jewelry. The upbeat music in combination with a relaxed and playful attitude blend into a colorful and happy social dance. This dance is also known as Khaleegy dance.

Levels: All levels except complete beginner
What to bring: Saudi Thobe Nashal, or an old single bed sheet you are willing to cut up for a "practice thobe".

Combinations with Character

Be a chameleon! Learn how to stretch your movement repertoire by taking simple combinations and changing their character to fit the mood of the music – slinky, saucy, sultry, or sharp. It's not about how many movements you know - it's how many ways you can do the same movements with a different flavor.

Levels: Intermediate & Advanced
What to bring: n/a

Beledi Choreography

Pair classic belly dance movements with a signature rhythm of middle eastern dance, the beledi. This choreography introduces basic movements in the relaxed, earthy, Egyptian style of belly dance.

Levels: Beginner
What to bring: n/a

Popular Oriental á la Newport News

Popular Oriental á la Newport News, a choreography by the late, great, master teacher Ibrahim “Bobby” Farrah, is a saucy, down-to-earth dance first premiered in Newport News, VA, and featuring oriental combinations with a classic “Bobby” flair. Bring finger cymbals.

Level: Intermediate and Advanced
What to bring: Finger cymbals!

Drum Solo 3

This class presents a “not quite” shimmyless signature choreography by Chelydra, featuring ideas and alternatives to the traditional pops, locks, and shimmies for distinctive and innovative approaches to the drum solo.

Level: Intermediate and Advanced
What to bring: Just you!


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