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Sunroom Belly Dance

Claremont, CA 91711

(909) 621-0224

Classes in American Tribal Style^® belly dance

Class times (please see below for any cancellations):

Level 1: Dance Fundamentals ~ Mondays 7:00 - 8:00 p.m.

Middle Eastern Rhythm Identification ~ held occasionally on Mondays and

Wednesdays after dance class.

Level 2: Tribal Combinations ~ Wednesdays 7:00 - 8:00 p.m. except

for the 4th Wednesday of each month; that week, class is held on

Friday at 7:00 - 8:00 p.m.

Cancellations:

Please check back later.

Class content:

Level 1: Dance Fundamentals (1 hour) ~

This 6-class series introduces dance posture, basic fast and slow steps, zils

(finger cymbals), and group formations in which dancers take turns leading

and following. Beginning ATS® dancers should start with this series, even

if they have studied other styles of belly dance. More experienced ATS dancers

are also encouraged to attend Level 1 classes. If you want to master this

beautiful dance form, you should repeat the Level 1 and 2 series many times.

I still take Level 1 and 2 classes with my own teachers. There's no such thing as

too much drilling of the basics!

Week 1	Posture, Puja, Taxeem, Hand Floreo, quick intro to the 4 basic fast steps (Egyptian, Arabic Undulation, Pivot Bump/Choo Choo, Shimmy Step).
Week 2	Arm Undulations, Egyptian, formations for leading and following.
Week 3	Zils, review and drill.
Week 4	Bodywave, Arabic Undulation, review and drill.
Week 5	Torso Twist, Pivot Bump/Choo Choo with Arms 1 and Arms 2, review and drill.
Week 6	Circle Step, Shimmy Step, review and drill.

Level 2: Tribal Combinations (1 hour) ~

This 12-class series covers intermediate fast and slow steps, group formations, and

zil rhythms. It also emphasizes practice in leading and following, changing leads,

and group improvisation with the Level 1 and Level 2 steps. Participation in Level 2

by instructor permission only. Generally, students should take the Level 1 series three

or four times before they are ready for Level 2 classes.

Week 1	Walking Taxeem, Walking Bodywave, Reverse Turn, review and drill.
Week 2	Turkish Shimmy with half turns, with quarter turns, and with diagonal turns and flamenco arms (TSWAT), review and drill.
Week 3	Chorus, Reach and Sit, review and drill.
Week 4	Propeller Turn, Corkscrew Turn, review and drill.
Week 5	Arabic Hip Twist with half turn, review and drill.
Week 6	Camel Walk in 2 versions, review and drill.
Week 7	Double Bump, Single Bump, review and drill.
Week 8	Ribcage Rotation, Arc Arms, review and drill.
Week 9	Up2 Down3 with military zil pattern, review and drill.
Week 10	Arabic Shimmy with Arms and Turns (ASWAT), review and drill.
Week 11	Shoulder Shimmy / Hip Drop, Ghawazee Shimmy Combo, review and drill.
Week 12	Reverse Taxeem, Head Slides, review and drill.

Middle Eastern rhythm identification (10 minutes) ~

Occasionally and by request I offer a unit on selected Middle Eastern drum rhythms

immediately after Level 1 and 2 classes. This instruction helps students recognize and

understand the rhythms we most often dance to in American Tribal Style belly dance.

Participants need not have drums; we listen to recordings and follow the rhythms

with our hands and zils (finger cymbals).

Week 1	Rhythm unit on Beledi (also called Balady or Masmoudi Sagir).
Week 2	Rhythm unit on Saidi 1 and 2.
Week 3	Rhythm unit on Maqsoum.
Week 4	Rhythm unit on Fallahi (also called Felahin).
Week 5	Rhythm unit on Ayoob (also called Zaar).
Week 6	Rhythm unit on Karachi.
Week 7	Rhythm unit on Malfoof (also called Leff).
Week 8	Rhythm unit on Wahda Kabira (also called Waheda, Wahida).
Week 9	Rhythm unit on Chiftetelli.
Week 10	Rhythm unit on Masmoudi Kabir.

Sunroom Belly Dance