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Browse by Class Bellydance
Basics | Bellydance
and Beyond
| Bellydance Cardio and Combos | Bellydance Choreography and Interpretation | Bellydance
Essentials | Bellydance with
Setareh | Dances
of Persia and the Silk Road | Browse by Teacher Amanda
| Courtney
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Delanie
| Eme
| Farima
| Hala
| Jill | Lili
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Ongoing Classes |
Class Teachers | ||||||||||||||||||||||
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Learn and master basic moves for the beautiful artform of Bellydance. We will break down new movements each class, forming them into practice combinations. Key Near Eastern rhythms provide the basis for the movements and combinations so students will become familiar with the rhythms that underlie Bellydance. Each class begins with a thorough warm-up and workout to prepare the body for dance, as well as drills to improve isolations. Geared for Beginners to Bellydance, as well as Intermediate students who want to improve dance technique. No prior dance experience needed. New sessions begin every two months, and drop-in students are welcome. Current session dates and topics listed on AmandaDancer.com.
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Bellydance and Beyond - Mixed Level Expand
your knowledge of Bellydance... and Beyond!
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  Amanda is co-owner of Halanda Studio. She has over 20 years experience studying and performing Near Eastern Dance, as well as 19 years studying Classical Ballet. She was a member of Alexandra King's Seher Dance Ensemble for five years, and performed extensively throughout California as a Folkloric Dancer with the UCSB Middle East Ensemble, a 60-member university music ensemble under the direction of Dr. Scott Marcus. Amanda has been a member of San Francisco's Hahbi'Ru Dance Ensemble since 1999. She also performed Turkish folk dance with the Yore Folk Dance Ensemble from 2003 through 2006, Algerian dance with Danse Mahgreb in 2004 and 2005, and Bollywood Dance with Naach Duniya from 2006 to 2008. Since 2005, she has performed extensively as a soloist throughout the Bay Area. In 2008, Amanda formed her own troupe, Karavansaray Dance Company, to present folkloric and Oriental dances of the Near East. Amanda specializes in Oriental dance (Bellydance) and Turkish dance styles, including Turkish Oryantal, Folk, and Romani Dance. She is accomplished in Oriental, folkloric, and classical dance styles from throughout the Near Eastern world -- from North Africa to the Levant, and from Turkey to Central Asia. Although her dance style is traditional, it often includes modern music, and always a sense of fun. For more information, please visit Amanda's website: AmandaDancer.com |
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Bellydance Choreography and Interpretation Now that you've learned the basics, learn how to put bellydance to music! Bellydance is deeply rooted in the culture and music of the Middle East and this class will explore different choreographies from around the region to help you prepare and polish your performances. This is an intermediate level class, and dancers should have a good base of knowledge of bellydance isolations when they attend. We may use veils or finger cymbals, depending on the choreography we're learning. Class will consist of a warmup, basic isolation drills, and choreography. Wear comfortable clothes that allow you to move and a simple hip scarf if you have one. Bare stomach is optional. Drop-in students are always welcome!
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Learn the graceful art of Bellydance while building flexibility, agility and strength! This class will focus on building a vocabulary of movements and isolations, as well as muscle control. Each class will begin with a thorough warm-up and stretches. We'll work through the major and minor muscle isolations, improving agility and quality of movement, and we'll put those isolations into action with fun combinations using American Cabaret styling and interpretation. This class is great for beginners who want to learn Bellydance essentials and for more experienced Bellydance students who want to drill their technique and explore the American Cabaret style. Wear comfortable clothes that allow you to move and a simple hip scarf if you have one. Bare stomach is optional. Drop-in students are always welcome!
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For more information, please visit CourtneyBellydance.com |
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Power Flow Yoga is a dynamic Vinyasa practice that focuses on strength and flexibility to challenge the body utilizing classic and innovative Ashtanga yoga postures. It is a vigorous class geared to actively stretch and strengthen the muscles simultaneously while linking the breath with movement. Each class is different with a focus on specific postures and parts of the body. It is an all-level class, although a general level of fitness is advised. Be prepared to move!
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 Delanie fell in love with yoga in 2003 and has practiced regularly ever since. She received her Yoga Alliance instructor certification in 2008 through The Joy of Yoga teacher training program. She teaches power vinyasa flow-based classes which are both vigorous and deliberate. Delanie is also a Balanced Body trained Pilates instructor and incorporates functional anatomy in all of her sessions. She has studied closely with Rusty Wells, Janet Stone, Kent Bond, Jennifer Prugh, Tom McCook, and Lisa Graham. She teaches yoga and both Pilates mat and Reformer at several corporate locations in the Bay Area. In addition, Delanie is a Certified Massage therapist and has had a private practice for the past 10 years. She draws from her hands-on experience with the body and interest in anatomy to promote proper body mechanics throughout all of her classes. For more information, please contact Delanie at delaniecmt AT yahoo DOT com |
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Vinyasa is a sanskrit word meaning "to place" (nyasa) "in a special way" (vi). Vinyasa flow is a style of yoga in which movement is linked to breath, and a sequence of poses is linked together to create a dance-like flow. Bring some movement into your morning with this dynamic, warming practice. Beginners welcome, donations appreciated. Please feel free to contact Eme with any questions at naimadances AT yahoo DOT com.
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 Eme has been practicing yoga for six years and recently earned her teaching certification through the Frog Lotus Yoga Training program. For more information please email Eme at naimadances AT yahoo DOT com . | ||||||||||||||||||||||
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Dances of Persia and the Silk Road Technique and Choreography - All
Levels Tuition Policy: Payments can be made by check or cash. There are no carry-overs between sessions. Classes missed in one month may not be carried over to the next session.
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 Farima Berenji is an artistic
director, performer,
choreographer and dance activist committed to the preservation,
revitalization and innovation of dance, art, and culture. She holds a
B.S. in Health Science and a Minor in Art History and the Performing
Arts, as well as an M.A. in Anthropology and Archeology with a special
emphasis in Egyptian and Persian studies. Her love of dance has led her
on an extraordinary life long journey. Over the years she has traveled
to various countries learning, teaching, performing, and advocating
art, culture, and dance to help bridge cultural gaps and create
respect, love, and unity among people of all backgrounds. Farima continues her passion by teaching various dance styles, specializing in dances from the Silk Road (Persia and Central Asia), Middle East, Tribal Fusion, Sufi and Sacred Dances, Ballet, and Theater, as well as teaching Persian and Egyptian History, art and crafts, and cultural awareness. Farima is currently the artistic director of Farima Dance Company, a principal performer and an instructor for Ballet Afsaneh (a critically-acclaimed and internationally lauded performance ensemble that performs dances from the Silk Road), as well as a performer for Miriam Peretz Dance Ensemble, guest performer for Payvand and Chinese Performing Arts of America, and the Visual and Performing Arts Coordinator and Instructor for the City of Sunnyvale. For more information, please visit Farima's website: FarimaDance.com |
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All Levels
Intermediate/Advanced
Technique: Combinations and Drills The subtleties of the Egyptian
Oriental Dance form. Current session topics are on HalaDance.com.
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& Performance: In this class, we learn a full Egyptian dance routine and perform it. We learn and practice the art of performing and experiment in casual, friendly venues to hone our craft. This class is perfect for students who want to experiment with performing without the demands of being in a professional dance company as well as dancers who would like to start a performance career. Performing opportunities included!
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Class and rehearsal for the Hala Dance Professional Troupe. Under her direction, the Hala Dance Troupe studies and performs dances from Egypt, the Arab world and the Middle East. They perform at cultural, international and Arabic festivals all over the Bay Area and were selected from over 115 dance companies to represent Middle Eastern dance at the San Francisco Ethnic Dance Festival in 2004. The Hala Dance Troupe welcomes all serious dancers interested in performing and authentically representing Middle Eastern dances and cultures. No one will be put on stage until they are 100% ready mentally and physically. No previous performance experience required. For details please contact Hala though her Web site (link below).
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 Hala has been dancing to the rhythms and melodies of the Middle East since she was a child in Alexandria, Egypt. She has been praised for her authentic form, elegant style and immaculate rhythms. Captivating audiences with her passion and energy, Hala performs solo and with her troupe. Hala teaches and performs her native dance all over the world. Her dance troupe was selected from over 115 dance companies to represent Middle Eastern dance at the prestigious San Francisco Ethnic Dance Festival in 2004. In 2005, she performed with master percussionist Hossam Ramzy in London, England and presented her native art at the Los Angeles County Museum of Arts in celebration of the King Tut exhibit. In 2006, she was elected the Vice President of the San Francisco Bay Area chapter of MECDA (Middle Eastern Culture and Dance Association). In addition to performing and teaching, Hala leads dance tours to Egypt, hosts dance workshops and shows with Master Egyptian and international teachers, conducts teachers training seminars and provides information, performances and assistance to schools, cultural institutions and magazines on the origin and survival of this beautiful art form. For more information, please visit Hala's website: HalaDance.com |
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*NEW* Bellydance Cardio and Combos For dancers of all skill levels, this class is
designed to improve your stamina, work your curves, and provide
combinations of many styles to add to your repertoire. Please note: this class will not meet May 31 through June 28.
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 Jill is a bay area belly dancer who has been
active in the community from San Francisco, CA to Madrid, Spain. She is
a passionate dancer with a deeply-rooted love for the art, embracing
multiple forms of the dance from traditional Egyptian and Cabaret to
Tribal and Fusion. She took her first class over 10 years ago and has
been promoting bellydance since. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
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Let's Party! This class creates a party-like atmosphere with upbeat Latin and international music that is incredibly fun and easy to follow. Participants of any skill or fitness level are welcome. Zumba is an effective aerobic workout while at the same time targeting your legs, abs, glutes, and arms. You will leave the class sweating and satisfied with your workout. For teens and adults. Purchase a 5-Class card and get one class free.
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 Lili has been doing Zumba for over six years and got her teaching certificate from Beto Perez, the creator of Zumba, himself. She has been training with Joe Valderrama and Adriana Carr, who are the best of the best in the Bay Area. She is an athlete training with Brian Nunez, creator of FNS and one of the coaches on "The Biggest Looser" TV show. She has a strong passion for Zumba and would bring that passion and energy to all of her classes. She is also an active member of Zin (Zumba official network). You can review her profile at: www.zumba.com. |
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HOT HULA fitness is a fun, new and exciting dance workout. It provides a “total body workout” in 60 minutes. HOT HULA fitness isolates your larger muscle groups, increasing strength and definition to your core with specific emphasis on the abs, glutes, quads and arms. Inspired by the dances of the Pacific Islands, HOT HULA fitness incorporates easy to perform dance movements set to the sounds of traditional Polynesian drum beats fused with funky Reggae music, resulting in a modern, hip fitness workout. All ages and fitness levels will enjoy HOT HULA fitness and you don’t need to know how to dance hula - just bring your smile and have FUN!! Join the hundreds of HOT HULA fitness enthusiasts toward achieving weight-loss and fitness goals. You'll sweat away the calories while having fun. Wear workout gear shorts/tights/tank or a paero. Bring a towel and water. All Levels: You go at your own pace and no prior experience necessary.
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 For more information, please contact Marie at mmanila AT hotmail DOT com. |
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*NEW* Tribal Fusion Choreography Series Floorwork and Flexibility In this 8 week series we will explore the floor,
flexibility, balance, and strength. Our class practice will
consist of a thorough warm-up, followed by stretching and conditioning
to increase flexibility and strength, and finishing with combos that
will teach you to seamlessly descend to and ascend from the floor. The
8 weeks will culminate in a choreography with the option of sword
balancing. 8-week series:
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 Michelle is a fusion dancer from San Jose. She has trained in a wide variety of bellydance styles, including Oriental, ATS, Tribal Fusion, and Modern Fusion. Michelle draws on all styles of bellydance, as well as Jazz, Modern, and Hip Hop to create dance without boundaries. Her only rules are great technique and loving what you do. Michelle was Breakthrough Fusion Artist of 2009 and her troupe, No Rules Dance, was Breakthrough Fusion Troupe of 2009. She also placed 3rd in the 2010 Breakthrough Fusion Competition. For more information, please visit www.norulesdance.com. |
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*NEW* “Queen of Props” Bellydance This
class is made for people who like to add more to their stage or casual
performance: veil, double veils, fan, fan-veils, cane, melaya, sword,
candles, and more. Please visit www.natikastar.com for more info about props, and e-mail belly@natikastar.com for any questions.
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Tribal Fusion Technique and
Choreography Tribal Fusion Belly Dance is a modern form of belly dance which has evolved from Improvisational Tribal Style belly dancing, blending elements of ITS with any other style of dance. It frequently incorporates elements from Popping, Hip Hop, Breakdance, 'Egyptian' or 'Cabaret' belly dance, as well as from traditional forms such as Flamenco, Kathak, Bhangra, Balinese, and other folkloric dance styles. The class is considered beginner/intermediate level. The first half of it we spend working on isolations, popping and locking, and simple combinations. Then we connect all the combinations we’ve learned into a choreography and practicing it for the second part of the class. No prior training is needed. Suggested attire: comfortable clothing which will allow you to move. Bare feet or soft shoes are ok.
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Turkish bellydance refers to the folk dances of Turkey. On the border between Europe and the Middle East, facing three seas, straddling important trade routes, Turkey has an ancient and complicated culture, reflected in the variety of its dances. Turkish bellydance today may have been influenced by Arabs before the Ottoman Empire as much as by the Egyptian and Syrian/Lebanese forms. Turkish law does not impose restrictions on dancers as they do in Egypt, where dancers must keep their midriffs covered and cannot perform floor work and certain pelvic movements. This has resulted in a marked difference in style - Egyptian bellydance is noted for its restraint and elegance, whereas Turkish bellydance is playful and uninhibited. Many professional dancers and musicians in Turkey continue to be of Romani heritage, which is the great part of a varied fusion in this dance. (There is also a distinct Turkish Romani dance style which is different from Turkish Oriental.) Turkish dancers are known for their energetic, athletic -- even gymnastic -- style, and their adept use of finger cymbals, also known as zills. Connoisseurs of Turkish dance often say a dancer who cannot play the zills is not an accomplished dancer. Another distinguishing element of Turkish style is the use of the karșilama rhythm in a 9/8 time signature. The class is considered beginner/intermediate level. The first half of it we spend working on isolations, popping and locking, and simple combinations. Then we connect all the combinations we’ve learned into a choreography and practicing it for the second part of the class. No prior training is needed.
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 Natika is an award winning performer, instructor, and choreographer. Her dancing career started in Russia where she performed as a member of Dance Company, presenting Russian Gypsy and Indian styles of the Rom Dance. She also performed a lot as a Bellydancer for concerts and festivals in Moscow. After she came to the U.S. Natika has been taking Raks Sharki and Tribal Belly Dance classes from many well-known teachers in the Bay Area. Thereby her unique style of dancing has arisen. Natika is a frequent attendant at workshops in the U.S. and worldwide and a participant at many U.S. festivals and competitions. She usually has something new to offer to her students and audience. Classes and performances with Natika are always a lot of fun and energy-giving. Natika's Awards: For more information, please visit NatikaStar.com |
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*Setareh* draws from many years of experience as a professional bellydancer to teach students The Basics of Bellydance and Beyond .... all the way to solo and group performances. She teaches improvisational methods, primarily focused on technique, and encourages each dancer to develop their own style and/or choreography. No prior dance experience necessary, and all levels of fitness are welcome. For more information, please visit SetarehDancer.com.
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 Setareh (set-ar-aye, pronounced like ”Monterey”) is a professional Bellydance teacher and performer with more than 15 years experience. She teaches her signature techniques in group classes, private lessons, professional coaching sessions and at workshops. You can catch one of her shows at venues throughout the greater Bay Area. For more information, please visit SetarehDancer.com |
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Nia is perfect for all fitness levels because it is a non-impact cardio workout. It allows for total body fitness. We move to a variety of music using moves from martial arts (like Tai Chi), dance arts (like Jazz Dance), and healing arts (like Yoga) -- yet no experience is necessary because the teacher guides you to move at your level. It is an aerobic workout that helps with the health of the joints and muscles, and at the same time relieves stress and tension. You'll experience familiar workout cycles from warming up to cooling down. Shoes are optional. Nia is so amazingly effective that the movements can be done standing or sitting in a chair. It is recommended participants bring a mat, water, and a towel. For more information about Terre and Nia, including the different cycles of a workout, please visit HelpYouWell.com.
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 Terre Pruitt is a licensed Nia Teacher and Zumba Instructor. Her past dance experiences include Country Western couples dancing where she and her husband participated in dance competitions. Teaching different types of cardio dance classes allows Terre to share her passion and connect with many different people. Terre is also a Certified Personal Trainer with the National Council on Strength and Fitness as well as a certified PiYo Instructor. For more information, please visit Terre's website: HelpYouWell.com |
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Experience the basic moves and techniques necessary to dive into the world of Bellydance. Drill 'til your muscles BURN! Or, take it at your own pace until you feel comfortable with the moves. Students of all levels will benefit from exercises that improve strength, coordination and flexibility. Basic belly dance isolations of the hips, chest, shoulders, abdominals, and arms will be introduced and broken down in a systematic fashion so you can understand which muscles to use for each movement. Simple layering movements will be introduced as well as the basics of traveling. Short combos at the end of class will pull together fundamental belly dance moves to create short, fun combos. These combos will include some favorite tribal and cabaret moves with a little Latin, jazz, modern and hip-hop flare. All levels welcome! Please wear something comfortable, and a hip scarf if you've got one.
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Killer Drillz & Choreography - Level 1-2 Time to take your belly dance basics to the next level!! We'll start class with yoga-inspired stretching, and then dive into drills and layering moves. By breaking down simple movements and slowly building on layers, we will teach our bodies to multi-task and create more difficult combinations out of once seemingly simple isolations. Find out how many layers you can add together to create a new level of challenge for yourself! We'll practice slow and fast layers as well as traveling layers to create moves that will jazz up any choreography. Learn to walk with your isolations while layering arm and hand movements to emphasize your every move! The second part of class will focus on Fusion choreography. This class will get you ready for performing, and performance opportunities will be offered on a quarterly basis. Get ready to be challenged, and let's work our body and mind! This class is suitable for beginners with some dance experience and challenging enough for professionals. Let's have some fun!! Please wear comfortable clothes and a hip scarf if you've got one.
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 Vanessa fell in love with belly
dance in 2004 and
has been studying intensely with some of the Bay Area's leading
instructors and performers ever since. She was first
introduced
to Cabaret style belly dance with Sandra and was instantly
hooked. After studying with Sandra, she decided to explore
the
world of fusion and tribal styles by continuing her training with
Michelle Reynolds and Ashley Lopez. She has also studied
Ballet,
Jazz, Hip-Hop, Modern and Tap. She likes to credit her dance
and
teaching style to all of her teachers as they continue to be huge
inspirations to her. |
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Courtney
is an award-winning Bellydancer based in San Jose. She has been dancing
her entire life, studying ballet, jazz, and modern dance, but she found
Middle Eastern dance to be her true artistic calling. With extensive
dance training and a B.A. in Music from Columbia University, Courtney
draws from a strong foundation as she continues her study of Middle
Eastern dance.