Belly Dancing Styles and LevelsFrom 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.
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, and sometimes even includes 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, we can also add props such as finger cymbals or swords. Oriental Fusion Blends the Belly Dance repertoire with modern moves taken from a variety of dance disciplines for dramatic effect, using more modern Middle Eastern music and rhythms from electronica to Hip Hop incorporating props such as veils, swords and finger cymbals (zills) Tribal StyleTribal 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. Zills will be taught during these classes.
Beginners TribalBeginners Tribal classes start off with the basics of tribal style belly dance. Teaching the basic steps with corresponding arm positions, posture and simple floor patterns. They also include the isolations and drills that we use in a beginners belly dance class so that students can easily move from one style to another. 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! 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. |
