What should I wear to class?

Wear clothes you would wear to work out.  Yoga pants, tank tops, sports bras, etc. are commonly seen during class.  If you are comfortable showing your belly, then do so!  We love it!  However if you do not want to show your belly, feel free to cover up.  Consider wearing clothing that fits well and will show your body’s movements below.  Having something to tie around your waist will show off your hips nicely and can be helpful to accentuate movement.

Belly Dance for Beginners

If you are brand new to belly dancing, this is the perfect class for you!  Our beginner class starts with the most basic of Belly Dance moves.  We break down each move to its basic core and work our way up.  No previous dance experience of any kind is needed for this class.  This is also a great class for Intermediate and Advance students who want a refresher on the basics and want to improve their technique!

Intermediate Belly Dance:  For those students who have completed “Belly Dance for Beginners.”

So, you’ve got the basics down---Now it’s time to move up!  Intermediate Belly Dance is for those students who have completed Belly Dance for Beginners course and/or have a good feel for the basic moves as taught by Ancient Arts Dance.  Learn more complex moves and choreography, and begin to build your Technique.  Zils Required.

American Tribal Style (Bellydance)

A style of belly dance that is all Improv.  In a group setting, a leader cues a group and the group follows.  It is known for its Earthy costuming and sassy attitude!  Drop in anytime!

Belly Dance: Advance!

This class is for students who have completed Belly Dance for Beginners and Intermediate Belly Dance Courses.  Focus on building strong technique, performing difficult choreography, drilling, and dancing with Props.

Hip Hop for Kids:  Ages 5-13

 

Hip Hop for Adults

 

Hip Hop Aerobics

This is a great cardio work out and is lots of fun!  No previous dance experience is necessary.

Stage Performance

Have you always wanted to mesmerize an audience, but didn’t know how?  Now you can!  Learn what the pros do to make their performances great!  Stage Performance, Facial Expressions, Improv dancing and Diva attitudes are covered!  For all students who want to focus on building their performance skills.

∞ Bollywood:  the common term used to describe the “Hollywood,” or Movie industry, of India.  Also known as a style of contemporary Indian Dance

∞ Drills/Drilling:  Practicing a move or sequence over and over so that you get it right

∞ Hafla:  Arabic term for family gathering that Belly Dancers use to describe a get together for open dance and performances with other Belly Dancers

∞ Improv:  i.e. Improvisational Dance.  Hear that beat?  Dance to it!  Make up a dance as you go along!

∞ Props:  Zils, Sword, Veil, Baskets, etc.

∞ Technique:  Generally used to describe the skill and personal flare of a belly dancer; how that skill is executed

∞ Zils:  Finger Cymbals (Get yours!: SAROYAN)

∞ Choli:  Traditionally, a midriff-baring blouse worn in countries where the sari is worn.

∞ Circle Skirt:   A very full skirt, made up of many panels, so that when the dancer spins, it billows out into a circle

∞ Costumes

∞     Cabaret: bright, colorful costumes with LOTS of shiny accents and noisy              coins

∞     Tribal:  darker, more earthy costumes, lots of layers, more of a gypsy/             vagabond look

∞ Harem Pants:  Puffy pants, usually worn under a skirt in tribal style dance

∞ Hip Accents

∞ Coin Belt:  Jingly madness!  Usually a string of shiny coins, sewn together in different ways (triangles, dangles, half circles, etc.).

∞       Hip Scarf:  More jingly madness!  These staple of belly dance costuming              come in a variety of sizes, shapes, colors, designs, and may come with shiny              coins or just beads.

∞       Tassel Belt:  Used in tribal style dance costuming;  a belt with puffy tassels or              long color full strings of some kind of material. These can range from very   ornate to              very simple.

∞ Sari:  Traditional Indian outfit worn by women consisting of a strip of unstitched cloth, from four to nine meters in length that is draped over the body in various styles

∞ Veil: A long, silky piece of colorful material that is part costume, part prop!

Important Clothing Items

Bellydance Buzzwords

Descriptions of the Classes

Frequently Asked Questions