Belly Dancing Styles and Levels

About the Levels

We understand that everyone is different and some  learn faster than others. Therefore the above structure is self paced and not subject to examinations.
Our classes are structured into the following components
Warm ups: Posture checks: Isolations: Technique: Combinations: Choreography: Stretches & Cool Downs:
Belly Dancing is a low impact activity & an excellent way to improve your fitness and flexiblity. Our teachers provide a safe, relaxed but structured dance environment which allows students to learn the basic skills of Belly Dance at their own pace before moving on to more challenging movements and concepts.
An exciting range of of courses are available, catering for the beginner through to dancers at performance and professional levels.

For a description of the choreographies for term 4 please click here

About the Styles

Belly Dance

From the swirl of an arabesque, to the percussive intensity of a shimmy: this ancient art form is all this and more. We use a variety of tempos, rhythms and melodies from drum solos to rich orchestral music, from light hearted to deeply romantic, using flowing, lyrical, and sharp movements, improvisation and veil work, focusing on emotional connection to the music.

There are a number of styles that fall under the umbrella of Belly Dance; they can include Beladi - urban folk, Saidi - an earthy style from Upper Egypt, or Kaleegy from the Gulf region of the Middle East.

World/Tribal Fusion

A contemporary style of dance that blends ATS tribal steps and movements with Belly Dance and other ethnic styles such as Turkish North African and Classical Indian. We sometimes including modern dance influences, (for example Hip Hop). This dance genre allows the choreographer the freedom to use a range of music from electronica to Hip Hop, Gothic, Gypsy, and earthy traditional pieces, and to incorporate exotic rhythms like the Turkish 9/8 or break beat. Props such as finger cymbals or swords may also be included

Oriental Fusion

We blend the Belly Dance repertoire with modern moves taken from a variety of dance disciplines to create funky dramatic choreographies, using modern remixed Middle Eastern music, sometimes incorporating props such as veils, swords and finger cymbals (zills)

Tribal Style

Tribal is a group orientated dance style that was conceived in San Francisco in the 1980's. It's base is in belly dancing but it adds influences from Flamenco, North African & Indian dance traditions. It has a wide repertiore of steps and floor patterns teamed with elegant arms and upper body carriage. It uses a vocabulary of cues and transitions that go together with the steps and floor patterns to form exciting dance "jam sessions". Women from diverse backgrounds dancing together enjoying this wonderful dance form that is as powerful as it is beautiful and elegant.

Tribal style is often accompanied by the dancers playing Zills or finger cymbals.

Tribal Basics

This is an open level catering for dancers of all levels. You will learn the basic steps and concepts of Tribal Style Belly Dance, focusing on improving posture and ataining elegant upper body carriage. There is also a regular time set aside where we will begin to learn to play the Zills

Latino Belly Fit

If you like Zumba you'll love this. Latino Belly Fit is a one hour work out using easy combinations and funky music, starting off with a 10 minute warm up, followed by the latino section - 15 minutes, then the "Bellly" section - 15 minutes, moving on to a combination of the two for 15 minutes - hence Latin belly fit, finishing with a 10 minute cool down and a 5 minute stretch. It is suitable for all ages and fitness levels, with a focus on fitness conditioning and endurance. Bring a bottle of water you'll work up a sweat!