BellyDance For FUN
About
Having fun while dancing is the most important thing that I try to teach my students. Of course, our classes include details on technique, and we get a good workout. But we ALWAYS have some laughs!
Students with very little experience (or no experience) are my favorite type of students. They are always surprised at how quickly they make progress! I enjoy seeing their smiles at the end of each class, when they realize, "HEY, I did it!! "
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Frequently asked questions
What is your typical process for working with a new student?
Hello, new student! Welcome to the fun world of Raqs Sharki, also called "Oriental Dance", or "BellyDance." Joining a class is easy, check out this FaceBook group for dates/times in the greater Springfield, Massachusetts area or email me at [email protected].
https://www.facebook.com/groups/Bellydanceforfun/
Classes are limited to 15 students. Students sometimes have previous Raqs Sharki experience, and sometimes they have no previous bellydance experience. In my classes, our goal is to have FUN with music, and encourage each other to laugh! Why not try it?!
What education and/or training do you have that relates to your work?
I started BellyDance in 2012, and have studied with Faranah, Shifah, and Sheena here in Massachusetts. These wonderful women introduced me to a beautiful and feminine physical activity that is low-impact and lots of fun.
During the pandemic, I was fortunate to continue learning with some online instructors in North America. My favorites are The Inner Dancer (Samantha Karim), Sahira, and Cassandra Fox. I've enjoyed specialty workshops in Silk Veil Techniques with Aziza, and exciting finger cymbal (zil/sagat) intensives with ZHelene, Melissa Gamaal, and Sahira.
In the Boston area, I've been able to dance to live music, which is an incredible experience! I've met some great people over the years, and I hope that you will, too!
I enjoy using traditional Middle Eastern music and sometimes contemporary popular tunes with my students in class.
Do you have a standard pricing system for your lessons? If so, please share the details here.
Pricing is reasonable, at $20 for a group lesson, or a series of six goup lessons for $100. Private lessons are $50/lesson (plus travel time if I go to you.) The locations of my classes vary; frequently they are in a local town hall, or a school, or a community center in the greater Monson/Springfield area (western Massachusetts.)
How did you get started teaching?
I started teaching when a friend asked me to offer lessons! (It was a nice compliment.) That first class was so much fun, I decided to continue as long as there are people interested in dancing with me :)
What types of students have you worked with?
Beginning students have such enthusiasm for this form of dance, it is always exciting to work with them. Some people want to learn Raks Sharki (BellyDance) for a special event, while others simply want to enjoy the exercise it offers. I accept adult students of all ages, we all bring something special to the class!
Describe a recent event you are fond of.
The Cairo Cabaret Show is a western Massachusetts Bellydance performance event that I fully support. The organizers host events about five times a year, and dancers come from all over the Northeast to enjoy these special events. https://www.facebook.com/cairocabaret/
What advice would you give a student looking to hire a teacher in your area of expertise?
I suggest that students look for a teacher who is able to meet their goals... some teachers prepare you for a professional career as a dancer, while some teachers prefer that you free-style your way through each class. My classes focus on the beginner dancer and the hobby dancer. We learn new techniques and even some music theory. But mostly, we focus on having FUN!!
What questions should students think through before talking to teachers about their needs?
It's helpful to the teacher if the student has a specific goal... for instance, "I want to be able to do a short dance for fun, at my town's fundraising talent show." Or, "I want to learn everything I can about being the best dancer possible." Or, "I just want to have fun and stay limber." All of those goals are acceptable and reasonable. And they will help the teacher point you in the right direction.