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Group
Classes: Bellydance Basics: Saturdays 9:30am-10:30am Bellydance & Beyond - Mixed Level: Saturdays 10:30am-12pm Karavansaray Dance Company Rehearsal: Mondays 7pm-8:30pm Private Classes: Amanda is available to teach private classes, by appointment. Please contact her for more information. |
| Click on
links above to view information about each class, including location
and registration. Download a Class Flier Here For more information, please contact Amanda. New students should check here for useful information prior to attending classes. |
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BELLYDANCE BASICS:
Saturdays 9:30am-10:30am Learn
and master basic moves
for the beautiful artform of Bellydance. We will break down new movements each
class, practice them in combinations, and build them into short choreographies. Key Near Eastern rhythms
-- a new
rhythm
each session -- provide the basis for the movements and combinations so
students will become familiar with the rhythms that underlie
Bellydance. Each class
begins with a thorough warm-up and workout to prepare the body for
dance, as well as drills to improve isolations. Throughout class, Amanda emphasizes proper
posture and mindful movement to execute the moves correctly and to
avoid injury.
Perfect for Beginners to Bellydance, as well as Intermediate students who want to improve dance technique. No prior dance experience needed. Each session lasts two months, with topics rotating each session. Students may join any time during a session, although early and regular attendance is encouraged in order to progress in each subject. Please note: although Amanda does not introduce the use of Finger Cymbals ("zills") in the Basics class (so students can focus on getting comfortable with body movements), Basics students are welcome to join Finger Cymbal warm-up/practice during the first 15 minutes of the 10:30am class (no extra charge). Session Information:
New students should check here for useful information prior to attending classes. Class time: Saturdays 9:30am-10:30am Location: Halanda Studio, 1062 Lincoln Avenue, San Jose, CA 95125 Class fees: $12/class
for single class
$10/class for 3+ classes pre-paid Tuition
Policy: Advance class
payments are valid for 8 weeks from date of purchase. Cash or
Check only, please.
Registration: In class. Payment is taken in class. |
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| BELLYDANCE &
BEYOND - Mixed Level:
Saturdays 10:30am-12pm Expand your
knowledge of
Bellydance... and Beyond!
"Bellydance & Beyond" begins with a 10-15 minute Zill (Finger Cymbal) practice to learn rhythms covered in that class. Similar to the Basics class, Amanda leads students through a warm-up and isolation drills, and teaches steps, combinations, and choreographies relevant to the session topic. This class, however, takes students to the next level with layering of movements, incorporating finger cymbals when appropriate, emphasizing presentational skills, and working towards making the student comfortable with dancing improvisationally. Amanda also explores topics with a wider geographical and musical breadth, including brief discussions of cultural context when relevant. Topics will include Oriental Dance (Bellydance) technique, including layering and improvisation; Near Eastern rhythms; Zill technique; Taqsim; Veil work; Drum Solo; Turkish and Egyptian Oriental dance styles; Upper Egyptian Folkloric styles; Turkish Romani dance; Khaliji dance; Sword dance; Folk dances of Turkey, Lebanon, Greece, and Armenia; Classical dance influences from Armenia, Persia, Central Asia, and Western ballet; Cultural context and awareness. The goal of this class is to deepen each student's understanding of Near Eastern dance, improve each student's technical abilities, and train dancers who are excellent performers as well as knowledgable students of Near Eastern dance. New sessions begin every two months. Students may join any time during a session, although early and regular attendance is encouraged in order to progress in each subject and the choreographies. Recommended: familiarity with basic Bellydance movements. "Bellydance & Beyond" may be taken in conjunction with Basics class, but students should have completed at least six months of Basics class (or equivalent) before joining this class and should continue taking the Basics class until they have completed at least one year in Basics. Session Information:
Class times: Saturdays, 10:30am-12pm Location: Halanda Studio, 1062 Lincoln Avenue, San Jose, CA 95125 Class fees: $12/class for single
class
Tuition Policy:
Advance class payments are valid for 8 weeks from date of
purchase. Cash or
Check only, please.$10/class for 3+ classes pre-paid Registration: In class. Payment is taken in class. |
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| Karavansaray Dance Company
Rehearsal:
Mondays 7pm-8:30pm Prepare
for troupe performances of
traditional Bellydance and Near Eastern folkloric dance
styles with Amanda's Karavansaray
Dance Company.
Prior dance experience is recommended. Troupe membership is open to all
interested students, but please contact Amanda for approval to
join
Karavansaray. Karavansaray Dance Company members are expected to know the dances thoroughly prior to any performance, and Amanda will focus on polishing performance pieces in rehearsal prior to any upcoming shows. Performers are also expected to attend rehearsal regularly to support everyone in the Company, particularly in advance of a show. Rehearsal time: Mondays, 7pm-8:30pm Location: private studio -- please contact Amanda for details Class fees: $10/class
Tuition Policy: Cash or
Check only, please.
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| Notes for New Students |
Welcome to Near Eastern Dance:
Bellydance and Beyond!
We will have a great time exploring this beautiful artform and
taking this cultural journey together! If you are new to Bellydance,
the following information is intended to help you prepare for your
first class. If you have taken Bellydance but are new to Amanda's
classes, this information will give you an idea of what to expect when
taking Amanda's classes.What to wear: Comfortable, movable, breathable workout wear: e.g. yoga pants and
leotard or t-shirt OR unitard
skirts or loose pants (AKA harem pants or shalwar) are also okay clothes are preferably close-fitting so instructor can see body movements more clearly Shoes: optional -- some
students prefer
bare feet -- but light ballet slippers or jazz shoes are very good to
have, particularly for the folk dance sections; also good are "Hermes"
or "Grecian" sandals
Hip Scarf: also optional, but
fun to wear and very common in Bellydance classes
preferably without small beads as these often end up on the floor and will embed into bare feet (ouch!) What to bring: Finger Cymbals, AKA Zills or Sagat available at Adira's
Dance (Willow Glen) or Lunatic
Fringe (Sunnyvale) [tell them Amanda says Hi!]
Amanda will also have a few sets to borrow Props (e.g., veil, cane, etc.), if needed for the session topic (details above) OPTIONAL -- Amanda
will have any relevant props available to borrow in class
Patience, Perserverance, and a Positive Attitude You
will discover muscles you did not know you had,
develop new connections between mind and body, explore movement
"isolations," and work toward "multi-tasking" body
movements. Depending on your backgound and intensity of study,
mastering basic Bellydance technique can take months or years,
so be patient
with yourself. Use yourself alone as a metric; every student progresses
at her or his own pace, so celebrate your own breakthroughs as they come. And
be sure to smile!
: - ) What to expect in Amanda's classes: In all classes, Amanda emphasizes understanding the rhythms and music of each style as the basis for expressive interpretation and improvisation. Her dance style is traditional, but often includes modern music and always a sense of fun. Amanda takes the teaching and learning of these beautiful dance forms very seriously. Her goal is give each student both a thorough grounding in dance technique and an appreciation of the cultural context of the dances and music. Amanda's ultimate goal is for each student to become comfortable with the movements, music, and rhythms and thereby be able to perform improvisationally. Just as important is that the student enjoys the learning experience, because above all, these dances are about Joy. Therefore, Amanda keeps the tone light and encourages smiling and projecting enjoyment even as students focus on difficult movements. So, let's work hard and have fun together! |