Class Guide

 Why take a class? Why not just buy a video?:

  Most who have done so and then resorted to classes will tell you that there exist very few videos that cover the basics in depth regardless of what they claim. Concerns arise with not using the proper posture and not having the proper body strength and flexibility to perform what is being asked of the viewer. Videos are wonderful supplements for someone with a bit of knowledge in Belly Dance but they are no substitute for an Instructor.

 For those venturing out to take a class for the first time:

  First off…Belly Dancing is not reserved only for young and exotic looking females who are below a size 4. The dance accepts all regardless of age, size, ethnicity or gender. Having a physical disability will not necessarily exempt someone who wants to learn either as there are so many aspects of the dance to be a part of. You are not required to have prior dance experience. Most Instructors will assume unless told otherwise in a beginner’s class that you are, in fact, a beginner. They will also be able to tell if you have a background in dance. It is perfectly okay to have no experience, in some cases it is advantageous because you enter with an open mind and this is essential for a new student.

  Each Instructor and class is different and there are many different styles of Belly Dance amongst the broad tent style terms of Tribal, Cabaret and Mix or Fusion. Some of our Instructors are listed under Defying Definition or Mix because either they prefer not to be categorized and fuse many elements or they specialize in a specific style that simply defies definition. If you are unsure of the different styles it is advisable to do a bit of research on the internet. You will come across many articles and we will list two national sites (see bottom of page) which provide a tremendous amount of information for Belly Dancers who are beginner thru advanced, hobbyist to professional. If still unsure, inquire with some of the Instructors listed on this site who would be more than happy to describe what they do. Some may even offer a free or reduced drop in rate so you may see what they do.

Finally: It is extremely important to understand that Belly Dance is not Exotic Dancing nor is it designed to entice members of the opposite sex . Sadly American Television and movies have greatly distorted the concept and understanding of Belly Dance. If entering a classroom for this purpose, it may be wise to reconsider as Belly Dance is a serious discipline not unlike other forms of professional dance. Belly dance is designed for fitness and fun for a new student and as a professional discipline for future performers who seek...not  sexual attention...but to express their passion and who have a full understanding of the history, culture and proper behavior of the specific discipline they have studied.

 On choosing a teacher:

  Most new students will seek an Instructor who is close in distance to them. As a dancer becomes more advanced they will be more willing to travel and seek a teacher they admire or one that teaches a style they desire to learn. When choosing an Instructor, make sure you have information on their background and training. They are required to know the form of dance that they teach well enough to teach it. Being a professional dancer in other forms of dance who takes a six to eight week crash course in Belly Dance is generally considered unqualified.  A talented and seasoned performer however, does not ensure a good teacher and vice-versa. If you are seeking a class then you want a good teacher. In the world of Belly Dance there is no official manner in which to monitor teachers. There are certain major entities who offer certifications in their style and require rigorous training but aside from this there is no state or federal mandates. Many of our NJ teachers are professionally certified teachers, Elementary thru High School though. Most Instructors, regardless, take the profession seriously and their number one priority is injury prevention. However, many are not professional trainers nor medical personnel so it is important, as a new student, to know your own limitations and be honest about any medical conditions you have upfront.

  As stated before, classes vary according to Instructors. Some classes are very fast paced and others very slow. Find one that is suitable for you. Ask yourself if you would prefer a class that moves fast and gets everyone working hard and dancing from the moment you step in the door or one where the instruction is slow paced and every aspect is broken down. Because you are a beginner, seek an Instructor who not only has experience with beginners but one who is patient and supportive. Costs for classes range generally between $10 to $15 per hour. South Jersey tends to have more reduced costs then the Northern region of the state and it is in direct correlation to overhead costs. If cost is a concern then it is important to keep in mind the quality of education you will be receiving and the Instructor’s costs involved in running a class which include facility costs, travel and sometimes insurance expenses. Not to mention, they, themselves have spent many years as students and have put much expense and time into their craft.

  Some Instructors will have you sign a waiver for insurance purposes which generally means that they are not responsible if you should injure yourself. If you are not asked to sign anything then this most likely means that they work for a facility that cover costs and accepts responsibility. It is a way for Instructors to protect themselves in the event that something happens. Instructors do their best to prevent injury but again, each new dancer must know and understand their limitations.

 You’ve found a class and want to make the experience a success:

  If you have found a class, make sure that you know what you need to bring and what to wear at your first class. Some Instructors enjoy embellishments such as coin scarves and may even provide them for their students. Others regard it as a distraction in class. Ask first and respect the Instructor’s wishes.

  First and foremost, keep an open mind. The movements, styles, clothing and music may seem strange at first. You may even believe that you can’t possibly do what is being requested of you but you will if you are willing to dedicate the time and hard work. Belly Dancing is not easy and it takes time. Many of the Instructors listed on our pages have a background that ranges from 5 to 30+ years of experience. Give yourself time and do not compare yourself to others. Each student comes in with a different level of ability and background as well as a different body. Some are just naturally more flexible and fluid then others. This never means that you won’t be able to succeed. You will build muscle, develop a better posture and hopefully feel better about yourself in the process.  

    While it is important for student and Instructor to exemplify respect for one another it is also important for fellow students to do the same. It is never acceptable to mock or belittle a classmate. It is also not acceptable to reproduce an Instructor's choreography without their permission. Paying for class instruction does not entitle students to ownership of various choreographies or methods. Understanding basic social and professional guidelines will make the experience more rewarding and beneficial to all those involved.

  From the Instructor’s wish list: Please do not ask your Instructors to teach you how to dance like Shakira or Beyonce. While immensely talented, professional performers; their performance videos are not necessarily reflective of Belly Dance. Certain aspects tailored for music videos sometimes have little reflection on the art and are often customized for American audience. It is important to understand that they are not Belly dancers but professional entertainers. As well...certain movements would not be performed by a Belly Dancer due to cultural appropriation...which is crucial to understand.

Finally: Do not expect that you will be able to perform and/or teach in a few class sessions. It is just not realistic. There exists so much information to the world of Belly Dance that it would be impossible to compress it into one class session. An Instructor/performer must know so very many concepts and this requires years of experience. The saying that "One does not know what they don't know" rings true, regardless of previous dance training in other disciplines.

 

 For the more seasoned student:

  You have experienced the classes and have now fell in love! A good Instructor will do that for you sometimes as the passion is contagious. Have you decided what you want to do with your new skills and where you want to take them? Do you want to be a performer, join a troupe, be an Instructor someday or become a more serious hobbyist who wants to stay in shape and just loves to dance? Do you want to remain with your current Instructor or do you want to seek one who specializes in the area(s) you are seeking. This is the time when you must understand your Instructor’s limitations in addition to your own. Sometimes students prefer to remain with their current Instructor while supplementing their dancing with new styles or the addition of drumming and zil playing. Most Instructors will encourage this as a well rounded dancer is the best type of dancer to be. New Jersey offers quite a crew of specialized Instructors who are very much sought after in other regions of the country and internationally. If you want to be a Instructor then find a seasoned professional with long standing student success and observe their teaching methods. You also want to seek an Instructor who is well versed in the chosen style you wish to eventually teach. If you want to be a performer then seek those who have a performing style you admire. When entering a new class though…always seek the beginner’s level regardless of how much experience you have. Every style is different and every Instructor is different. If you find the beginner’s experience too slow for your taste and are able to perform on level with more advanced students, discuss your concerns with your Instructor. They will have a good idea of where you need to be and sometimes you need to trust their advice. Make sure you are learning the history of your dance as well. Being well rounded includes knowledge of the individual forms. You will encounter Instructors and performers though who believe many different things and may discount certain forms of the dance or conflict with one another on history, terminology and such. Do your research and decide for yourself. Most importantly though, make sure you enjoy the experience because this is what it is really all about! Happy Shimmies!

 

Great links:

http://www.shira.net/

http://www.joyofbellydancing.com/

 Comments? Questions? Additions? Write us!

 

 

Tribal

Tribal was originally derived from the stylings of Jamila Salimpour who created Bal Anat in the late 1960's in California. A student of Jamila's named Masha Archer later formed a troupe named the San Francisco Classical Dance Troupe which developed a unique style of dancing that was different from the current  styles of belly dancing of the time. A student of Masha's named Carolina Nerriccio eventually went on to form an internationally known troupe by the name of Fat Chance Belly Dance. Fat Chance Belly Dance is credited with creating American Tribal Style (ATS) that incorporates a specific series of movements and utilizes  improvisation  for performance. Today, TrIbal encompasses many different styles from improvisational formats to solo dancers. A commonality exists with a specific type of posture and presentation. Tribal Style Belly Dance is an American creation  with distinctive costuming representing the various styles and ever expanding by the creativity of troupes nationally and internationally. Despite this, one can still see the influences of Jamila Salimpour and Bal Anat and the many dimensions of the dance which combine aspects of many styles of dance such as Flamenco, Hip-Hop and Folkloric dancing. For  information on the different styles of Tribal please visit: http://www.tribalbellydance.org  ~ Anne Marie

 

Cabaret

    The"Cabaret Style"...a User's Guide...
                   by Gia al Qamar

One of the many things that draw dancers to belly          dance are the fantastic costumes. Fans of sparkle and glamour and glitz find themselves falling in love with what is called the "Cabaret" style of dance (I call it Middle Eastern Nightclub style).  Cabaret style is defined, not only by it's very sparkly costumes, but also in the presentation of the dance that is very different from folkloric or tribal. Cabaret is danced on stage as well as in restaurant settings at parties and special events.

So what is "Cabaret"?
This is a style of dance that began in about the 1940s in Egypt. The movements were cultivated from the traditional folkloric roots as well as the 'balady' (meaning the popular dances) and made to be very 'showy', glamorous, elegant and ultra-feminine for the movies and stage! The American Busby Berkeley musicals were actually a HUGE influence on the costuming and staging of Egyptian Cabaret style dance...so our U.S. history is a part of Egyptian history as well!
 

The Moves...
Cabaret style is very much about controlled elegance. It is about expressing deep emotions, from joy to sorrow and everything in-between. You'll see all the elements of the dance in this style, hip lifts, drops, shimmies, undulations and isolations, locks and pops! The music used is classic, like Um Kalthoum and Mohamed Abdul Wahab and also embraces modern hits by Hakim, Amr Diab, Natasha Atlas or Nancy Ajram to name just a few!
Movements are usually fluid and controlled with sharp accents following rhythm of the tabla (drum). Upper body posture is KEY and use of the arms to frame movements is very important to the style.
Dancing is very much a vehicle for interpreting the music and allowing the audience to see visually what is being played. The music moved through the dancer! It can be danced in groups (troupes) but is most often performed solo. It is called Raq Sharki, Oriental Dance, Balady, and more!

Egyptian Style...
Thought to be the 'classic' form of this dance, the style of dancing from Egypt has changed and grown much over previous decades. Shimmies that used to be driven from the knees are now driven more in the thighs to make the movement more delicate and understated. Egyptian style doesn't use a lot of the stage, it is done in just a few feet of space, even on a large stage. There is no floorwork no veil work other than a standard entrance, and no popping and locking...everything is fluid and often layered on top of the little 'vibration' shimmies. You won't see an Egyptian style dancer stop and do arm or chest work...it's all included in the motion of the song...Feet generally do not leave the floor...kicks and turns are subtle and close to the ground.
The movements are very 'internal' being driven by the core muscles of the abs, back and inner thighs. Arms and hands are delicate and gently frame each nuance of the dancer!
Showing emotion is essential! Zills are still played by some dancers but has fallen out of favor with modern dancers. Upbeat songs are as much a favorite of the audience as the slow, improvisational taqsim. A drum solo usually is offered at least once in a show if not more! Cane is often a highlight of the show.
Costuming..."Old School" Egyptian style dancers wore traditional bedleh. "Bedleh" is the Arabic word for 'uniform' and what is used to describe the bra-and-belt combination that we know in this country as a belly dance costume. The set could be simple elegant fabric with or without additional decoration, or an over-the-top coin or jewel, bead, sequin and glass fringe-loaded work of art! An A-line chiffon skirt (2 panel or full circle) and matching wrist and hair bands finish the basic style. To this is always added lots of sparkly jewelry, earrings, bracelets, rings, arm bands...the sky's the limit!
The MODERN equivalent of this traditional style has come into favor over the last 5-6 years. It includes a more elegant gown look with a bra with little or no fringe and a streamlined straight skirt (sometimes with a flared bottom) and often no belt. The costume is made from lame, velvets, Lycra and fused dot specialty fabrics. The look is very couture and elegant.
Just a note...Belly covers are often worn for performances at Wedding or other parties where the show of too much skin may be offensive. Beledi dresses that are like one-piece bedleh is often another alternative to the 'old school' look!

Turkish Style...Like Egyptian style, the Turkish style of dance uses all of the same movements as its Egyptian cousin, but with a different 'feel'!
Unlike the conservative social & political climate that created the more subtle form of Egyptian style dancing, Turkish style is marked by the use of big movements and grand, upbeat Turkish and Middle Eastern music in addition to the Arabic classics and pop songs listed previously. Additionally, Turkish dancers perform to Turkish classics such as "Rompi-Rompi", "Shisheler", "Shashkin" and other favorites. Time signatures also differ, with 9/8s being the most widely used. The slow number in Turkish shows is usually a Chiftitelli, with or without rhythm.
The style is ebullient and flamboyant, with big shimmies, hip bumps, chest accents separate from other 'layering' hair tosses and accents throughout the music. This style dancer uses a bit more of the stage than Egyptian. The emotions are very much 'on display' in this style as well!
Floorwork is traditional and still performed in every show. Props, such as veils, zills and the balancing of a sword is often part of the show. Use of arms and hands (including traditional hand gestures unique to Turkish dancing) is very expressive. A Turkish style dancer may stop mid-song and just focus the audience's attention on her hand work or hip combo. The Roma (or Gypsy style as it has been incorrectly called) with its skirt accents and hand gestures has always been incorporated into Turkish Oryental style.
Costuming...Bedleh with full skirts are still very much a favorite of Turkish style dancers. Many also wear harem pants underneath, especially if they are performing on stage and when doing floorwork. Unlike the straight-cross belt of traditional Egyptian bedleh, Turkish belts usually have a "V" shape, but many designers have adopted the straight line as well. The look is opulent...many large crystal 'stones', sequins, beads, fringe is used. Skirts are chiffon sometimes layered to give a very robust look to the costume. Lots of jewelry, hairbands, necklaces, bracelets and more is used to finish the look. Costumes often come with matching wrist and ankle bands and a veil edged with beads.

American Style...Classic American style Belly Dance came into it's greatest popularity in the 50s-60s. It was then that most Americans and immigrant Middle Easterners could see dancing 'from their home countries' in great venues in NYC and NJ. The dancers were educated by some of the Middle Eastern dance masters as well as their American proteges. The combination of American jazz style dance with Middle Eastern movement gave a unique look to the style that includes not only the elegance and femininity of the Egyptian style, but also the drama and spark of the Turkish too!
Music is varied, from Greek, to Egyptian, Turkish to Arabic pop that sounds very American! The stage or dance area is used in it's entirety with large traveling steps and multiple turns. Zills, veils, sword, tray, cane, Isis wings is used (though not usually all in one show!).
One aspect of American style dancing that is always consistent is the use of what is called the 5-part set. The dancer does an upbeat entrance, followed by a slow rumba for her veil number, an upbeat pop song, a Chiftitelli and drum solo.
Costuming...The most popular mode for American style dancers is the traditional bedleh, bra and belt with skirt. In the 50s-70s, the look was usually a coin bra and belt with chiffon skirt...now you'll find American style dancers in mermaid style skirts, jazz pants, bras with unusual criss cross belly drapes...it's very creative and...like the dancing, very eclectic!

www.IDreamOfGia.com   
Belly Dance by Gia al Qamar
 

Copyright © 2007 Anne Marie & Cerisa. All Rights Reserved.