Introduction to Belly Dance Series

Join Lady Hafsa as she takes you back in time through the ancient art of belly dancing. With cultural roots from around the world, this low impact, total body exercise is said to be one of the oldest forms of dance. This is a 6 week class series where you will learn all the basics of this art form. This ancient art is natural to a woman’s form, with particular focus on thigh and abdominal muscles. Isolating different parts of her body, a belly dancer moves each independently to offer a feminine interpretation of the music; which seems to emanate from her body as she moves. Because so many variations are found throughout the world, the original culture and purpose of belly dance is unknown. However, ancient evidence suggests that it was designed to aid women in childbirth and motherhood, strengthening their bodies and their ties to each other. This class will introduce you to “Belly Fusion”- a combination of dancing styles from the Mediterranean, Africa, and the Middle East, as well as hints of other forms of dance. This will be a fun, informative series where you can ‘get your feet wet’ in this exotic and truly feminine expression of movement. So, if you’re still undecided, here are some common misconceptions about this beautiful art form: ● Myth #1: Belly dancing is lewd dancing only performed for men. Reality: On the contrary; while belly dancing can be very sensual, it is always performed within the guidelines of artistic expression. ● Myth #2: Only skinny, exotic woman can belly dance. Reality: Belly dancing knows no boundaries in size, shape, culture, or even gender. Although predominantly performed by women, male belly dancers have been emerging all over the globe. ● Myth #3:You must be an experienced dancer to learn belly dancing. Reality: Actually, this art can be adapted to all skill levels from the novice to the master. ● Myth #4:Belly dancing can only be performed with traditional music. Reality: Not so! Dancers have performed to classical music, hip hop, top 40, and even heavy metal. What matters more than the music style is where the music takes you. We hope that you will join us for a fun 6 week class series Saturdays at 3 pm starting January 14th. The full series is $60 for all 6 classes, individual drop ins are $12/class.