About How I Teach

For the past 12 years I have been studying Middle Eastern Belly Dance in as many forms as I can find. From Egyptian cabaret and Turkish Romany to Folkloric dances and Modern Tribal. I have been featured on television in Asia and have taught workshops there as well as in the New England area of the USA.

My teaching style emphasizes three things; technique, history, and self expression / self awareness.

• When teaching dance technique I use different avenues of learning such as visualizations, muscle memory, step by step breakdowns, follow-the-leader, and so on. I also have a section on basic rhythms and music appreciation.
   
• I try to bring a basic awareness of the dance as a folk dance as well as an ever changing art form. I do this through videos, props, stories and print materials exposing students to everything from 16th century Persian court dance and costume to elements of classical Indian dance.
   
• As for self expression/awareness, I am a perfect example :-)  I am a plus-size, minority, female dancer. As a dancer and teacher I am constantly reaffirming my students that "If I can do it, YOU can do it" and that it's not so important that you dance like everyone else but that you dance like YOURSELF. At the end of each of my classes we take 5 minutes out to have "Free Dance" where I play music and tell the students to dance, in anyway that they wish, and to feel the music and express themselves in a safe and supportive environment.

Workshops

Want to bring me to your area for a workshop? Below are examples of some of the workshops I have taught. I can also create a custom workshop to fit your specific needs. Email Dance@FolkloricFusion.com for more information.

Introduction to Middle Eastern Rhythms and the Doumbek/Tabla – Beginner – 1 ½ hours
“Rhythm is the canvas and the Dancer is the paint. The two together make beautiful art.” Knowing the basic drum rhythms can help improve musicality as well as bring more confidence to your dancing. This workshop covers some basic Middle Eastern rhythms and drum playing tips. Students should bring drums and/or zills if they have them and paper and pen to take notes.

SHIMMY! – Beginner to Intermediate – 1 ½ hours
This class is all about the shimmy whether it be shoulders, chest, hips, or any other part of the body! This is a workout class meant to increase stamina and really get those shimmies to be second nature. We will work on counting shimmies, traveling with shimmies, accenting shimmies, and some layering. Bring lots of water to drink!

Belly Dance Boot Camp – Beginner to Intermediate – 1 ½ to 2 hours
This high intensity workshop focuses on strong muscle control, repetition, variety, and working up a good sweat. Some experience with belly dance is preferred

Introduction to Turkish Romani – Beginner to Intermediate – 1 ½ to 2 hours
The Romani people (sometimes derogatorily called “gypsies”) are a group that migrated from India to every corner of Europe, the Middle East, and parts of Asia. Turkish Romani dance is characterized by its attitude, directness, powerful gestures, and the Karshilama rhythm. This is a two part workshop which consists of a half hour drum intensive on the Karshilama 9/8 rhythm immediately followed by a 1 ½ hour introduction to Turkish Romani dance. 

Learn to Love 9/8 – Beginner to Intermediate – 1 ½ hours              The 9/8 drum rhythm (often known as Karsilama) is a beat usually associated with the Turkish Romani people. This class will help you “get” 9/8 rhythms and how to dance to it. We’ll also learn some variations and Romani moves.

Beginner Middle Eastern Dance I: Basic Moves – 1 ½ to 2 hours
This workshop will introduce new dancers to the basic “movement vocabulary” of belly dance. Attention will be given to warm-ups, stretching, posture, and isolations. We’ll also cover some strength and stamina building tips.

Beginner Middle Eastern Dance II: Basic Traveling – 1 ½ to 2 hours
Don’t just stand there. Dance! Learn different ways of using space and moving while dancing. We will cover walks, walks with shimmies, use of space and direction, spins and turns, and some footwork.

Beginner Middle Eastern Dance III: Basic Layering Plus Arms, Hands, and Head – 1 ½ to 2 hours
This workshop will start with a review of Basic Moves and Basic Traveling, and then begin to layer those moves. Some things covered will be adding shimmies to movements, adding arms to traveling, etc.

Shimmy to the Floor – Intermediate – 1 ½ hours to 2 hours
This intensive workshop will focus on beginning to layer shimmies on top of movements and on some levels/floorwork. We will work not only on basic techniques but on getting a feel for the style and concepts involved when dancing with these skills.

Hip Work – Intermediate to Advanced – 1 ½ to 2 hours
This workshop concentrates on adding variety to your hip movements and how they are combined without forgetting the rest of the body. Some of the things covered are positioning, audience attention, ¾ shimmy, layering, traveling, “volume” of movements, etc. Prior experience in belly dance is required.

The Improvisational Drum Solo – Intermediate to Advanced – 2 hours – limited class size
This is a performance coaching workshop intended to help students get a grasp on and improve their improvisational (and some choreographed) drum solo dancing. Students may bring a 1-3 minute drum solo piece of their own for critiquing. Students may also bring a portable cd player with headphones if they have one. Class size is limited to 4-6 students so that each student can get personal attention. Prior experience in belly dance is required.

Earth Drum Dance – All Levels (not a Middle Eastern Dance Class) – 1 to 1 ½ hours
Everything in the world has a beat; a mothers’ heartbeat, the sound of rain.  And everything in the world moves to a beat; the turning of the Earth, the cycle of the seasons.   Explore “Rhythm and Movement” and “Experience and Expression” in this participatory workshop. Wear comfortable clothes for dancing and bring a drum if possible.