TBC
TBC
TBC
That is for you to decide. I hope I can trust my students to pay what they can afford and to not take advantage. And if that varies from week to week, that is also fine.
Just turn up.
If you want to let me know you are coming or have any questions, send me an email (mahina.dancer[at]gmail.com), or drop me a message on Facebook. I can accept pre-payment by bank transfer or paypal, or cash in person.
Bellydance is a physical activity. You are responsible for your own health and wellbeing! Please see your GP if you have any reservations about whether this class is appropriate for you. Bellydance is not dangerous, but we will be moving our bodies in a way that is quite different compared to most modern lifestyles. Please pace yourself according to your own body and needs.
Modern bellydance encompasses so many different styles with many cultural influences. This is a technique based class where we will focus on bellydance moves that can be applied to a range of different bellydance styles. More advanced students will be encouraged to explore how different postures and expressions affect the style of the move, but you are welcome to focus on practicing the style of your choice if you prefer.
Many dancers (myself included) have started using the term "Transcultural Fusion" instead of "Tribal Fusion", following lots of discussions about cultural misappropriation and a drive by the dance community to begin to decolonise bellydance. This class is not intended to be a Transcultural / Tribal Fusion class, but we will cover some basic TF moves and posture as part of the exploration. We will also explore some FCBD® (formerly ATS® / American Tribal Style) moves and there will be opportunities to learn more about this fantastic group improvisational dance.
Wear something comfortable, stretchy, and easy to move in. It helps if I can see your knees and ankles, so leggins with a hip scarf (preferably no coins please) are ideal. FCBD® Style skirts and cholis are very welcome (don't worry if you don't know what these are yet!). What you wear on your feet is up to you. I dance barefoot, so if you want to wear shoes, please make sure they are clean and aren't bringing grit into the studio.
Plastic bottles of water are welcome in the studio.
Please do not bring zills / zagats finger cymbals at this point - I'm part deaf and I am still figuring out how to get my hearing aids to not respond badly to finger cymbals.
Most importantly: bring yourself, an enthusiasm for learning something new, and a willingness to make mistakes (because that is how we learn best!).
Bellydance is a feminine dance form, but it is open to everybody, and I know some excellent male bellydancers! All genders embody both masculine and feminine characteristics. With this dance, we are expressing our feminine aspects (whoever we are), but ALL GENDERS ARE WELCOME!
Not if you don't want to.
Not at all! (At least I hope not!). Beginners classes offer an opportunity to really focus on your own technique. I have experience of teaching mixed-ability classes and am more than happy to "nit-pick" and help you identify pathways for improvement - just let me know! I like to bring a mindful body awareness to teaching dance and try to strike a good balance of giving you plenty to think about without causing overwhelm.
I've been bellydancing since around 2002, and studying and performing FCBD® Style and Transcultural Fusion since 2012. I completed the nationally accredited JWAAD course "Safe delivery of bellydance" in 2011. In 2016 I graduated ATS® General Skills Classic and Modern, and ATS® Teacher Training, becoming a FCBD® Sister Studio in 2017. I have taught FCBD® Style in Edinburgh and in Oxford. Before the pandemic arrived, I tried to attend at least one bellydance training intensive per year (see my Dance C.V.), day-job allowing.