| |
|
Descriptions of the Choreographies taught in the Beginners' level Classes
BEGINNERS' LEVEL COURSES
These classes are designed for the absolute beginners. No dance experience is necessary to participate in these courses. You will learn complete beginners' level choreographies. You will get the password for choreography notes from your teacher on the first day of class, which will allow you to print them directly from our website. You can purchase the music for the choreography you will be learning and even buy a video/DVD that shows you the choreography. - Everything you need to practice at home or catch up with the class.
INTERMEDIATE LEVEL COURSES:
These classes are designed for students who have taken at least six beginners' level courses, including Jasmine & Irkosily Veil. If you would like to learn more challenging choreographies and be among more serious students, this is the class for you. Typically there are less detailed or no notes for these classes, as we might make changes to the choreography as we go.
Below a description of the standard beginner dances:
Beginner's Level
SoundClip (wav):  |
A Drum or Tablah Solo is a song consisting of drumbeats. They are fast paced, exhilarating and real crowd pleasers! Jasmine Drum is a little over a minute of shakin’ shimmying fun! Along with the choreography for Jasmine Drum, you will learn some interesting directional hip work and lots of shimmy technique, including how to improve your shimmies, and make them strong, exact and controlled. If you want to learn how to shimmy, shimmy, shimmy, and get a great workout this is the dance for you!
Props: No Props
|
|
Jasmine is our beginners' level finger cymbals Dance & was originally choreographed by arguably the most famous Middle Eastern dance choreographer of the late twentieth century, Ibrahim Farrah.
This choreography incorporates both Lebanese folk & cabaret styles, which makes it exciting & innovative. It is a cute, fast paced dance, which is lots of fun to learn. And, best of all, Jasmine gives you the opportunity to smoothly incorporate playing finger cymbals into a choreography.
Props: Finger cymbals are required for this course, which can be purchased on the first day of class.
|
SoundClip
 Video (requires fast internet)
|
|
This choreography will definitely let you show off your fabulous-ness! Haya
Gat Alaya is sung by the very popular Samira Saeed & the dance to was
choreographed by Schadia. This dance will inspire you to show the spunky,
sassy and sexy side of your femininity. While learning this choreography you
will learn sexy snakey abdominal and hip movements, traveling hip shimmies,
powerful hip locks & some spunky folk steps, just for fun. Get ready to have
a full body work out, while being sassy, sexy, and fab-u-lous!
Props: None
Video (requires fast internet)
|
|
|
This dance is elegance in motion. One of our newest beginner level
choreographies, Zaina is beautiful classical Egyptian song written by one
of Egypt’s most famous composers, Abdul Wahab. The dance that you will learn
was inspired by Schadia's trip to Egypt. The silky style of the choreography
is classical Egyptian & like "Mizmar" is just what you picture when you
think "belly dance." It is graceful, elegant and fit for a queen.
|
In this dance you will learn the uplifted classical posture, Middle Eastern
arabesques, & the most beautiful shoulder, abdominal & hip movements. You
will also learn the graceful feminine hand and arm movements, which are the
hallmark of Nazeem Allayl style dancing.
Props: None Video (requires fast internet)
|
Irkosily Veil is our beginners' level veil dance.
It was choreographed by the lovely & talented Margo Adu O'dell.
Irkosily Veil is a delicate and graceful dance, which is filled with elegance, strength, and femininity. Along with learning how to our most beautiful prop, the veil, this is dance will give your whole body a workout while making you feel like a princess.
Props: A three yard silk veil is required for this course. You can purchase your veil on the first day of class.
|
SoundClip
Video (requires fast internet)
|
This choreography takes beautiful new age music & fuses it with the most
ancient of Egyptian movement. Taking poses found in the art of Pharonic
times, this choreography emulates the feelings and movements that might have
been performed by the dancers of Ancient Egypt. The choreography is flowing,
seamless, beautiful and very mysterious.
If you would like to learn and/or perfect some key abdominal movements while
learning those ultra smooth snaky lamp hand/ arm movements, you should
definitely learn this breathtakingly beautiful dance.
As you can see from the photo, the Pharonic Dance incorporates the use of
lamps into the choreography. Dancing with lamps is visually stunning to
watch, which explains why lamps are far and away the most popular prop from
an audience's perspective, making the ability to dance w/ lamps an exciting
skill to add to your dance repertoire.
Props: Lamps SoundClip
Video (requires fast internet)
Note: For safety reasons, the lamps will not be lit during class.
SoundClip
Video (requires fast internet)
|
Mizmar was originally choreographed by one of the most famous Middle Eastern dance choreographer of the late twentieth century -- Ibrahim Farrah. Schadia has updated the choreography & given it new energy and flare. This dance will help you learn many of the beginner level moves in a single choreography.
Mizmar is in the classical Egyptian style. It is flowing, graceful and powerful & a student favorite. This dance is just what you picture when you think "belly dance."
Props: None
|
|
Schadia choreographed a most fabulous choreography to Shakira's mega hit Hips Don't
Lie. It is super sassy, super sexy and hot hot hot! The dance fuses spicey
Latin American dance moves with a cool flowing Middle Eastern flow. You are
going to love this dance!
If want to "Shake It Like Shakira" for a six week course, OR you are
obsessed with the "Hips Don't Lie" song and would totally love to learn an
entire choreography to it, OR if you want to bring the HEAT into your belly
dancing & burn everyone with your hot-ness, definitely join the "Hips don't
Lie" course!
Props Required: None
Props: None Video (requires fast internet)
|
|
Baby Boy is a contemporary R&B–dancehall song by pop singer Beyonce Knowles.
It features Jamaican artist Sean Paul. This reggae fusion song is very fun,
flirty and sassy.This dance to Baby Boy was choreographed by Nazeem Allayl
member Lamia. Her choreography is a great introduction to reggae dancehall
with a belly dance slant. It was inspired by Beyonce's style which is all
about fluidity and moving her hips. Many of her moves are performed as
though someone is going to take a picture at any moment, so each move is
specially placed to be picturesque. This reggae/belly dance fantasy dance is
so much fun to do and is sure to bring out the superstar in you!
Props Required: None
Props: None Video (requires fast internet)
|
Technique Course (Level I)
This class will focus exclusively on belly dance technique. Your instructor will go over basic moves with you in great detail -- breaking down individual moves and showing you ways to establish and improve your belly dance technique. This class gives you the workout of your life! Be ready to sweat, burn off some serious calories, and work hard!!
The difference between this class and a choreography class is that in the technique class you focus on individual areas of the body and establishing the muscle memory for individual moves throughout the six-week course, whereas in the choreography classes you learn an entire choreography to a piece of music during the six week course. Both kinds of courses are technique driven and will give you a great workout. They just have different focuses, i.e. the Technique Course focuses on repetitive practice of individual moves, while a Choreography Course progresses through a specific choreography.
Props: None
Belly Dance Workout (Level I)
|
Are you thinking about taking belly dance classes, but don't want to commit to a six week course?
This course accomodates irregular work schedules as it is
pay-as-you-go.
Cost: $10 / session
Get exposed to body undulations, turns, shimmies and upper body isolations of this ancient and beautiful dance form.
|  |
Attire
Loose workout cloths, thick socks or ballet slippers. - Open to all Levels.
Workout
This class emphasizes the "workout" aspect of bellydance to Middle Eastern, Latin, and Urban music. Each week, the focus is on one aspect of belly dancing without relying on prerequiste knowledge. So anyone can join at any time, perfect if you just want to dance and sweat!
Walk-ins welcome
By popular demand this class is a pay-as-you-go, $10/session. Each class is independent of the other so students may join at anytime.
- Want to learn how to do all of those super hot Shakira style hip undulations?
- Want to learn how to do those cool chest & torso undulations?
- Want to learn how to do chest & hip locks like Shakira?
- Want to learn how to do the hip-roll?
- Want to know if your hips don't lie?
|  |
Belly Dance Cardio - Beginner Lvl 2
Nothing sensuous about this class: We warm up and then don't stop the music till the end of class, and we mean business.
Shimmy your body to gain stamina while burning calories and toning legs and arms.
Props: None
|
Cost: $10 / session
Prerequisite:
Any 2 Beginner level courses
|
Get exposed to body undulations, turns, shimmies and upper body isolations of this ancient and beautiful dance form.
Belly dancing not only works your midsection, it makes for a full-body workout that shapes and tones muscles, including transverse abdominals, tones the upper body, obliques, glutes, quadriceps and calves by isolating the muscles through stretching and exercise, including lunges and belly flutters, hip circles, and shimmying.
("From Flab to FAB: Belly Dance your way to Fitness",
Ebony Magazine, August 2007)
| 
Working the abdominal muscles
and the thighs
"Within six weeks - if you practice at home - you can lose inches"
(Ebony Magazine, 8/07, pg 102). |
All levels Dances
|
Bollywood and Bhangra style dances are fast and involve jumping, dropping and rapid arm movements. In this class students will learn the basics of typical Bollywood and Bhangra style dancing moves, including frequently used steps, hand gestures, and head and eye movements. We will learn some high energy routines to happy, high energy music.
Compared to our Belly Dance classes, the Bollywood course is faster and more intense.
Props: N/A
Video (requires fast internet)
|
|
|
ATS Techniques and Formations: You will learn the moves, combinations, and formations from the different flavors of American Tribal Style Belly Dance, including Jamila Salimpour/Bal-Anat, Carolena/FatChance and Kajira/Blacksheep styles. ATS moves are mostly borrowed from Middle Eastern belly dance, so you will encounter your familiar Figure 8, Shimmies, etc. What makes ATS special is what it does not have: ATS does not use choreographies, but instead relies on a lead dancer improvising and giving signals/cues to the fellow tribal dancers. Thus, ATS is best performed in groups (tribes), and requires a common "vocabulary" of moves/combinations and their cues.
Props: Zills
Video (requires fast internet)
|
|
|
You will learn the moves and combinations that dominate the Tribal Fusion style of belly dance. Tribal Fusion has its origins in another form of dance called American Tribal Style (ATS) belly dance, which we also teach, but only b/c many of its creators are former ATS style dancers. It really has nothing to do with ATS at all: Unlike ATS, tribal fusion frequently uses choreography, it is frequently performed solo, and the costume uses a bra/belt combination with pants, not choli tops and skirts like ATS does. It uses none of the cues/formations that ATS does.
Props: N/A
Video (requires fast internet)
|
|
Intermediate Level Dances
|
Cadez is a beautiful, elegant Egyptian style veil dance infused with Spanish
flair and flamenco attitude. The song is a classical piece from the
Spanish/Middle Eastern fusion genre. It will inspire you and bring out your
haughty side, as you stand proud and dance with serious flamenco finesse.
This class is a challenge, but you are rewarded with an amazing choreography
by the end of the course.
Props: A three yard silk veil is required for this course.
Video (requires fast internet)
|
|
|
Amar Haween is a modern Lebanese "folk" dance. You can throw all of your stereotypes about folk dances out the window though, because this dance is flashy, fun & rockin' out!! This dance was originally choreographed by Ibrahim Farrah, a Lebanese-American and arguably the most famous choreographer of Middle Eastern dance in the later 20th century. Although the choreography remains true to the original feeling that was given to it by Ibrahim Farrah, Schadia has changed it over the years to fit her style. Finger Cymbals were also recently added to the dance.
Props: Finger cymbals are required for this class.
Video (requires fast internet)
|
|
The dance to El Salaam was choreographed by
Schadia, with strong influences from Jillina. The song is sung by Hakim, who
is an extremely popular & talented Egyptian singer (not to mention being a
complete cutey pie!!). Middle Easterners love this song & for good reason.
It rocks! The choreography is a modern Egyptian cabaret style dance. It is
VERY cute & sassy & lots of fun to perform.
Props: None
|
|
|
|
|
La Azon
La Azon was originally choreographed by Jillina and was sassified and spiced
up to reflect the Nazeem Allayl Style by Schadia. The song "La Azon" is sung
by the hugely popular Egyptian singer Muhammad Fuad. The choreography
incorporates both Egyptian beledi and cabaret styles & is a fun celebration
of life!
Props: None
|
|
|
|
Ah wi Nuss
Ah Wi Nuss is a wildly popular song, sung by the beloved Lebanese singer,
Nancy Ajram. The dance you will be learning was choreographed by Hadil.
Hadil's choreography was inspired by Ousama Emam's original choreography to
the same song, which Hadil learned in his class while visiting Giza, Egypt.
Hadil's choreography is sweet, feminine, entertaining, and lots of fun to
learn and perform. You are going to love this choreography and dancing to
this song. It will be a pure delight & a great work out too!
Props: None Video (requires fast internet)
|
|
|
|
Chaiya
Chaiya is a Bollywood style Indian dance. "Bollywood has north Indian kathak, south Indian classical, hip-hop, disco, folk, jazz, all combined with a lot of style," says Montre Bhiwandiwala, who teaches Bollywood dancing. Bollywood music, which is also called filmi music, has always been remarkably eclectic, borrowing freely from classical Indian ragas, Sufi love songs, Bengal's baul folk music, disco and rap but giving everything a uniquely Indian twist.
Props Required: None
Video (requires fast internet)
|
|
|
|
Djenna
Djenna is to a very old Lebanese style music. In his youth, the restaurant owner Nicola himself danced to it when he was part of a dance company.
Djenna means “crazy, out of ones mind” and is usually in the context of love.
Our choreography is a modern interpretation of this song.
The video shows a partner dance version of Djenna. Imagine this being the lebanese version of
"girls going crazy for their favorite singer".
Props Required: None
Video (requires fast internet)
|
|
|
|
Insch Allah
Insch Allah, which translates to “It’s all in Gods hand”, is a very upbeat song. The singer Lapifa talks about a boy asking his girlfriend where this relationship is going, and she answers “It’s all in Gods hand”.
The Nazeem Alsabah troupe member Nahar choreographed the dance to this lovely song, and also incorporated zills. The video shows a rare version of this dance, as it is not often that you see a dance performed by 10 dancers that all play the finger cymbals.
Props Required: Zills
Video (requires fast internet)
|
|
|
|
Meniak
Meniak is sung by the Egypian singer Hakim, who is one of the Arab worlds most popular performers. The original choreographer for Menidakis Jillina, but Jenna tuned it up a notch and added the “Nazeem Allayl” flavor to it.
Props Required: None
Video (requires fast internet)
|
|
|
|
Shawaatena
In Shawaatena, the singer tells of the anxiety caused by a tumultuous romance. A more serious song than most, the choreography emphasizes technique and expression of feelings.
Props Required: None
Video (requires fast internet)
|
|
|
|
Tales of the Sahara
Tales of the Sahara was originally choreographed by Bozenka. Bozenka’s style and hence this dance is of the American genre of belly dance. The American style can be seen in the different ways the choreographer interprets the music, as well as through influence of western dance forms such as ballet and jazz on the choreography.
Props Required: None
Video (requires fast internet)
|
|
|
|
