Bellydance classes and tuition

Anyone can enjoy the experience of learning to belly dance! If you have never danced a step in your life, or if you are experienced in other types of dance, come and explore this healthy way of movement.

Classes at the Oasis for Dance are a combination of fun, passion with a focus on comradeship, technique and love of the dance. Wrap your coin belt around your hips and enjoy moving your body to the rhythm of the Middle East.

This page provides you with

• Term Dates
• Class Timetable
• Class Fees
• Workshops
• FAQ
• Dance Levels
• a Registration Form for classes and workshops.

After having been to my classes or workshops I appreciate you take 2 minutes to complete my feedback form. Thank you.

There is also a questionnaire form to let me know about your expectations of the classes and where you want to go with it. The more I know about your goals, the better I can support you in it.

[clicking underlined words should lead to the appropriate part on this page, please let me know if not]

 

TERM DATES 2008
Term 1
A 22 January- 8 March
B 4 March - 19 April
The Oasis for Dance is closed: 6 February (Waitangi Day) and 20 - 25 March (Easter).

Term 2
A 5 May - 7 June
B 9 June - 3 July

Term 3
21 July - 27 September

Term 4
14 October - 18 December

The Oasis for Dance is closed: 27 October (Labour Day).

 

CLASS TIMETABLE

Day	Location	Time	Class	Teacher
Monday	Santarelli Dance Studio	6:30-7:30pm	Level 2	Dallia
Tuesday	Eden Community Centre	6-7pm	Level 1	Dallia
		7-8pm	Level 2	Dallia
		8-9pm	Level 2	Dallia
Wednesday	Santarelli Dance Studio	6-7pm	Rhythm/Drum	Dallia
Thursday	Santarelli Dance Studio	7-8pm	Level 1	Dallia
	Santarelli Dance Studio	8-9pm	Level 3	Dallia

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

VENUE:
Eden Community Centre-Mt.Eden War Memorial Hall, 489 Dominion Rd., Balmoral (next to KFC)

Santarelli Dance Studio, 75 Felton Mathew Ave., St.Johns

CLASS FEES:

10 weeks discount of $120 paid full before class starts, $13 per class if paid full after class started

Drop in class: $18

Fees (please take note)

Payable in full before term starts for discount offers

Non-refundable

Missed classes can be made up within the same term only in classes that offer free space

Discount:
Pay the full term for two classes per week BEFORE the new term and get 10% off the second class.

 

Click here to download a course description.

Click here to register for classes or workshops.

 

WORKSHOPS

BEGINNERS WORKSHOP - 1 February

Come to this 2.5 hours workshop as an introduction to Belly Dance
or to refresh and deepen your understanding of the moves and routines you have done in the weekly class.

After a gentle warm up we will learn Routines A-C and will put them together into a short mysterious veil dance. The catchy tunes and feminine moves guarantee to lift up your spirit and empower you as the beautiful woman you are.

Venue: Santarelli Dance School, 75 Felton Mathew Ave, St.Johns

Time: 10-12:30pm

Cost: $45

Places are limited to 12 ladies only!!! Be quick to reserve your space.

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Click here to register for a workshop or a course.

 

ISOLATION TECHNIQUE AND STRENGTHENING DRILLS

We are lucky to have Rebecca sharing with us the art of the glutes squeezes, based on the Suhaila Salimpour Technique.

Learn to isolate your muscles for sharp accents and complex layers that will amaze your audience. At this 2.5-hour workshop, Rebecca will cover isolation technique as well as strengthening exercises and drills to perfect muscular independence in your dance. We will focus on lower body isolations, including gluteal isolation and strengthening. The workshop will include a warm-up, conditioning exercises, and drills for independent muscle control and travelling with isolations. All levels are welcome; for more advanced dancers, more complex layers will be offered.

Please wear comfortable clothes, but no skirts (to keep your body safe, Rebecca will need to be able to see your posture from head to toe). Feel free to bring a yoga mat, as we will be doing some exercises on the floor. Bring a towel, if you like, and lots of water--you WILL sweat!

Click here to learn more about Rebecca.

Time and price still to be confirmed. 

At this point we consider 17 January,  2-4:30pm.

 

SLOW AND FAST MOVES

Learn slow moves to develop more variety for your sensual dancing; From Head circles, undulations, figure 8's to the Egyptian Jewel. 

Fast moves such as shoulder shimmy, hip accents and drops and various shimmy walks add lots of energy to your dancing and is a fun workout.

Date: 18 January

Venue: Santarelli Dance School, 75 Felton Mathew Ave, St.Johns

Time: 10-12:30pm Slow Moves

          1:30-3:30pm Fast Moves

Cost: $45 each workshop or $80 for both

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ORIGINAL A-Z TEACHER TRAINING

Coming up in May 2009. More information will come up soon.

 

ORIGINAL A-Z TEACHER TRAINING

14/15 March. More information will come up soon.

 

Click here to register for a workshop or a course.

 

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FAQ

What shall I wear?
Please wear comfortable clothing that allows free movement, like what you might wear to a yoga or exercise class.
Leggings, stretch or loose pants
Leotard or tight top
Bare feet or dance shoes
Hip Scarf

How shall I pay the fee?
- payable in full before start of term or in first lesson

- non-refundable

How much are private lessons??
$60 per hour (1 person) - plus studio hire

($10 discount for enrolled student)

$75 (up to 4 people) - plus extra studio hire.

Click here to register for a course or workshop.

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DANCE LEVELS for Middle Eastern Dance in the Oasis for Dance

The following scheme will help you to estimate your dance experience and knowledge and to find the right level for you.

ABSOLUTE BEGINNER

• You have no experience with Middle Eastern Dance/Bellydance
• You have no or little experience in other dance forms
• You like to get to know Middle Eastern Dance/Bellydance

You are an ABSOLUTE BEGINNER student if most of the points apply to you.

BEGINNER

Dance experience:
• You have some experience with Bellydance
• You have danced less than one year or practise little
• You can dance the six elemental movements in place (vertical, horizontal, sagittale, rock, twist, thrust). This is taken from the ESTODA Dance technique.
• You can dance Routines A-E.
Rhythm:
• You can hold the rhythm most of the time.
Control of Body:
• You can dance with awareness of right and left, front and back
Behaviour:
• Curious, open or closed up

You are a BEGINNER level dancer if most of the points apply to you.

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INTERMEDIATE

Dance experience:
• You have been dancing 1-3 years and practise more or less on a regular basis.
• You can dance the six axes in space with level changes.
• You can dance hip shimmy, basic hagalla and ¾ shimmy in medium speed
• You can dance with cymbals and veil.
• You can dance Keti Sharif's original A-Z Routines
• You start to improvise.
Rhythm:
• You can count "4" and can find the one.
• You can recognise beladi, chiftetelli, saidi and can play triplets with the cymbals
Control of Body:
• You have good isolation skills.
Expression:
• You learn to smile.
Repertoire:
• You can dance short and simple choreographies.
Background:
• You have superficial knowledge about oriental countries and their culture.
Behaviour:
• Unconfident, doors open up
• Positive: It is fun to learn
• Negative: Doubts- Will I ever learn this?

You are an INTERMEDIATE level dancer if most of the points apply to you.

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ADVANCED

Dance experience:
• You have been dancing for more than 4 years and you practise often and intensively.
• You can dance different and layered shimmies and hagalla in fast speed.
• You can dance drum solos and more advanced veil technique.
• You can dance routines with different hand gestures, turns, accents, shimmies and undulations.
• You can dance well with cymbals, veil and cane and have some experience with different folkloric dance styles.
• You can improvise well.
• You can dance all of Keti Sharif's original and advanced A-Z routines.
Rhythm:
• You can recognise and dance to Maksoum, Masmoudi, Malfuf, Ayoub, Khaleegy and can play beladi on cymbals.
Control of Body:
• You have good isolation skills, good posture and beautiful hands and arms.
Expression:
• .You can distinguish different moods.
Repertoire:
• Complete dance routine
Background:
• You have knowledge about customs and traditions of countries of the Middle East and their most important artists (Dancers, singers, musicians and teachers)
Behaviour:
• You become more ambitious.
• Performance world is opening up.
• Positive: You have a confident appearance
• Negative: You are jealous and copy others.

You are an ADVANCED dancer if most of the points apply to you.

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MORE ADVANCED

Dance experience:
• You have been dancing for several years, practise regularly and develop yourself continuously further.
• You can dance long and complicated combinations with numerous changes in speed, direction and level, using space extensively.
• You can dance with live musicians.
Rhythm:
• You can recognise and dance to Fellahin, 9/8, Samai and other specific rhythms.
Control of Body:
• You control turns with various dance props. You control sophisticated turns and arabesque turns.
Expression:
• .You know which expression is used for which dance and why.
• You develop personalities in your performances.
Repertoire:
• You have experience in choreographing.
• Your repertoire expands from classic to modern and includes dances of different styles and moods.
Background:
• You have expansive and intense knowledge of the Middle Eastern Culture, including literature, architecture, language, religion and artists.
Behaviour:
• Stage performances are opening up.
• Positive: You display sincere collegiality.
• Negative: You try to force success, also through unfair behaviour.

You are a MORE ADVANCED level dancer if most of the points apply to you.

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MASTER

Dance experience:
• You have excellent choreographic and improvisational skills.
• You have been dancing and performing for numerous years.
Rhythm:
• You recognise rhythms immediately and know which movements to dance to it.
Control of Body:
• You can harmoniously combine fast and slow movements according to the music with ease and virtuosity.
Expression:
• .Your expression is absolutely convincing. You can enthuse, evoke feelings, play with energies and use pantomime.
Repertoire:
• You have a big repertoire and expand it regularly with your own or bought choreographies.
• You can improvise without problems to unknown music.
Background:
• You are at home in the Middle Eastern world and specifically deepen your knowledge.
Behaviour:
• You enjoy public recognition based on your actual ability, keep in touch with the scene and contact with colleagues.
• Positive: You always behave warmly and correctly.
• Negative: not possible; you would not be a master dancer.

You are a Master dancer if most of the points apply to you.

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Please complete the form below to register for a course or workshop.

 

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Questionnaire

I am serious about teaching belly dancing to a high standard and do appreciate your time and effort to complete this questionnaire. This will help me to offer you the best help in your journey of belly dancing.

 

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Please take 2 min to fill in the feedback form. Thank you.

 

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