Level Map

To get started, check out this mapping of our new technique levels to the old class names. 

Core Techniques

One of the features of the new curriculum is a list of core techniques for all Beginner and Intermediate levels. Look at the Sahara Dance Curriculum Summary page for the key things you need to become proficient in at each level, alongside general skills of musicality, expression, and body awareness. Identifying the technique that you are still working to learn will help you know where you should be.

Core Elements Skill Levels

For the Advanced technique levels, we have identified the 6 essential elements of a dancer’s toolkit and provided a description of the skill level you should be able to demonstrate for each element before progressing onto the next level. A student should be able to perform at the Advanced 1 level for all 6 elements before moving to Advanced 2. 

For example, If you are brilliant at turns but still working on layering, we recommend that you sign up for the lower level class and focus your personal practice and in-class attention on developing the areas that you need to work on before moving up. 

Specialty Classes

Our workshops and specialty classes, such as fusion, samba, and bollywood, don’t fall under the curriculum revision; however, you can look for the 3 level labels (Beginner, Intermediate, Advanced) in the class descriptions to help know if a workshop or specialty class is right for you.

Technique Assessments

Still need advice or have questions? Sign up for a Technique Assessment where you can get review the curriculum choreographies of each level. Select two Sahara Dance curriculum teachers of your choice to offer feedback and placement recommendations on how to best level up your dance.

For those new to the studio, guest passes are also a good way to help figure out which class(es) are best for you.

What’s New?

• The new Sahara Dance curriculum consists of 9 levels – 3 each for beginner, intermediate, and advanced dancers. You’ll see a simplified system of names to more clearly indicate the path students should take through the core levels
• For each beginner and intermediate level, we’ve identified core technique elements that a student needs to be proficient in before moving on to the next level. We hope this will provide greater clarity about what is most important at each level and will aid students in knowing when they are ready to move up.
• For the advanced levels, the focus moves away from learning new technique and shifts to developing as a dancer. We have identified 5 essential elements of the dance, along with the skill level for each, that a student should be able to demonstrate to make progress.
• There is a new focus on building improvisation skills across all levels.
• We’ve updated our cultural context lessons to:
  • • • emphasize more consistent learning of important Middle Eastern rhythms and musical genres
      • ensure basic understanding of common folkloric dance forms
      • provide more historical context
      • incorporate current cultural trends that dancers need to understand.

Fun fact: When Sahara Dance opened in 2002, mahraganat music hadn’t been invented yet! It’s one of the new additions to the cultural context part of the curriculum.

More Details Coming Soon

As we prepare for the fall class session in the coming weeks, we will be publishing more information about the refreshed curriculum, including helpful guidance on how to find the right level. 

In the meantime, mark your calendar for Saturday, September 7 from 1:30 – 4:30, when we will hold mini workshops to demonstrate the new levels. Teachers will be on hand to answer questions and provide placement advice.

Join Us in This Exciting New Chapter!

We are very excited about this refresh as we continue dancing together. We invite you to join us and experience the difference that our enhanced curriculum can make in your dance journey.

For more details, class schedules, and registration information, stay tuned to our newsletter and website.