Category: Beginner

Spring 2024 classes and performance opportunities for beginner or early journey belly dancers

If you’re brand new to belly dance or newly on your belly dance journey, you’re in the right place! We can’t wait to welcome you to our beautiful studio and share in the joy of learning belly dance together.

We offer a number of beginner belly dance classes throughout the week, including class recordings for review and hybrid or virtual options.

Spring 2024 classes for beginner dancers

Beginner I technique classes (8-week session)
This class is perfect for anyone brand new to belly dance! We recommend all new belly dancers take Beginner I for four 8-week sessions for a total of 32 weeks. In the first round dancers are exposed to the movements and in the second round dancers are able to integrate the movements with attention to alignment and musicality more fully.

Beginner I/II technique class (16-week session)
Have you completed 16-32 weeks of Beginner I? Join us for Beginner I/II technique, which will expand your movement base to include foundational undulations and accents, turns and layering, and explore Middle Eastern music rhythms and structure. This class will set you up for success for joining Beginner II, while reinforcing all the technique you learned in Beginner I.

Beginner II technique (16-week session)
Continue your dance journey after you’ve completed 32 weeks of Beginner I or combined Beginner I/II by expanding your dance vocabulary and expression and awareness of cultural context. Beginner II will solidify your belly dance foundation and prepare you for the next level of classes and a wide range of specialty topics.

FAQ: How many beginner belly dance classes should I take?

Great question, and one we hear a lot at Sahara Dance! We broke it all down in this blog post. Do not hesitate to reach out to your teacher or to Rachel (rachel@saharadance.com) if you have questions.

Beginner and Low Intermediate performance opportunities at Under a Desert Moon 

We are already excited for our glamorous annual spring show, Under a Desert Moon, at the American University Greenberg Theatre on Saturday, April 27. But it will be even more special to have you with us!

Performing early and often is one of the best ways to accelerate your dance journey, share what you’ve learned with your family and friends, and deepen your dance friendships. The entire Sahara Dance community loves to cheer on our new and early dance journey performers.

We hope you will join us for this special show.

Check out a video from one of our past Under a Desert Moon (UDM for short) shows to get a sense of what to expect from this exciting show! 

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Questions about which class and performance opportunity would be best for you? We want to hear from you! Don’t hesitate to reach out to your teacher or to Rachel at rachel@saharadance.com.

 

Beginner II [T]

Want To Learn to Belly Dance? Hurry, Beginner Classes are Starting Soon!

Now that you’ve decided to try a belly dance class (here are all the reasons you should and questions you may have about it), the first thing you need to do is register!

Total newbie? We want you and can’t wait to welcome you!

Beginner Classes

Our beginner level classes are eight weeks (sometimes seven weeks if there is a major holiday falling during the series), with a choice of hybrid (in-person and online) or virtual (online only) sessions.  Beginners should take Beginner I classes in eight-week increments, as many times as you like, until you feel ready to move up to Beginner II, at which point the series are sixteen weeks.

Here’s the list of classes available for newer dancers (yes, that means you!):

>> Beginner Classes

(You can also go here to see all classes, and filter by “beginner level”.)

Consider yourself a beginner, but you’ve already taken some classes?

Maybe you’re ready to take it up a notch with Beginner I/II classes or the Beginner level performance class (you know you’re dying to try…!) We also have fun open-level classes that beginners are welcome to join, such as Strengthen, Stretch & Flow, Belly Dance Cardio, Tabla I (drumming) and more. Check the schedule to see what’s on!

This will be the best gift you have ever given yourself.  Register today!

What’s New For Fall?

The Fall 2023 class schedule is up! Check out all the new and exciting classes to try.

See details and register here

New in Belly Dance Technique classes:

New in Performance classes:

  • Florencia is bringing back the Raqqesat Tahia student company, which focuses on props – all students at the low intermediate / intermediate level should make sure they have sufficient prop training before moving on to intermediate and above student companies, and this is a great way to practice the prop skills learned in technique classes!
  • Rachel will direct our famed advanced company Raqs Caravan East for the Winter Caravan show
  • Florencia’s directing a new Shaabi Performance class on Monday evenings
  • Our Lebanese Style performance group, Raqqesat Beirut, will be doing double veil, directed by Alma!

New category of classes: Conditioning!

Conditioning is extremely important to help build the strength and stamina required to make all our belly dance moves seem so effortless.  Add one or more of these classes to your dance practice!

Don’t forget to take advantage of Early Bird prices – check out the full schedule and register today!