We are thrilled to announce an exciting new offering at Sahara Dance: Technique Assessments! In case you missed it, we revamped our curriculum earlier this year to better serve our students, foster creativity, and nurture talent. The new Technique Assessment goes hand in hand with our updated curriculum by giving students the opportunity to evaluate their current mastery of dance fundamentals and technique level.

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

If you want a thorough technique evaluation, or feel like your dance is stagnating and want feedback on how you could improve as an artist, the new Technique Assessment provides you with a framework to understand your current technique mastery and receive detailed feedback and technique recommendations from any two teachers of your choice (based on availability). Technique Assessments are a comprehensive way to help you determine which classes to take the following session, including performance groups or companies!

How Does It Work?

Upon registration, dancers will automatically receive an email with a video(s) of the curriculum choreography to perform for the assessment. Dancers may further learn the choreography in classes and/or purchase the curriculum choreography workshop recording (see bottom of page).

Dancers submit their performance videos of the choreography for assessment of technique execution. Dancers may submit their performance video in costume if they would like additional feedback on artistic presentation, although this is not a requirement. Video submissions should be filmed twice, consecutively and without pause, for each choreography. For example, for the Beginner Level, you should submit one video of yourself performing Aziza twice and one video of yourself performing Zeina twice. You’ll then email your videos as unlisted YouTube links to techniqueassessment@saharadance.com.

Once we receive your videos, and depending on what option you selected when signing up, you will receive either one or both of the following evaluations:

Technique Assessment Forms

These are two separate one-page written forms, one by each evaluating teacher summarizing their recommendations for the dancer to most improve their technique and artistry.

Video Evaluations 

These are a supplemental option, and include two 10 – 15 minute recorded videos by each teacher. Both teachers expound upon, and demonstrate, how to best improve the key areas they outlined in the dancer’s Technique Assessment Forms, as well as offer additional insights.

Dancers receive personalized video and/or written feedback on their performance of the choreography for their individual dance development by two Sahara Dance teachers of their choice (based on availability, trained in Sahara Dance curriculum).

Evaluations are based on a rolling submission deadline, so you can sign up whenever you feel ready! Upon signing up for a Technique Assessment you will automatically receive access to the curriculum choreography video(s) for practice. You have 30 days to submit your video for evaluation after registration. If you find you need an extension, just let us know.

A Note About the Choreography

Technique Assessments primary objective is to see movement technique and transitions executed in time with music. If necessary, you may have the choreography playing on a screen while you film. The primary purpose is not to assess choreography memorization, though that is also a useful skill to build as you advance levels.

Additionally, curriculum choreography workshop recordings are not required for students to purchase to do a Technique Assessment, it is merely offered as a support for students who want to take advantage. It will be a spoon-fed preparation for students wanting to quickly and easily refresh or get ready for an assessment.

How Do I Sign Up for a Technique Assessment?

To sign up for a Technique Assessment, visit our Workshops page and scroll down to find the appropriate level. You can also find them listed out individually below:

• Beginner 1 and 2 (Aziza / Zeina)
• Beginner 3 (Sallam Allay)
• Intermediate 1 (Batwanis Beek)
• Intermediate 3 (Habibi Ya Eyni)

How Does This Differ From My Weekly Classes?

The technique assessment is a kind of comprehensive, personalized feedback that isn’t as easily offered in a group class as there isn’t the structured time or place for teachers to offer detailed feedback. While your teachers are likely offering feedback in class over time, it is not as a comprehensive and individualized. This opportunity is all about you!

How Do I Know Which Technique Assessment to Take?

We highly recommend all dancers, especially Advanced dancers, start with a Beginner Technique Assessment. Advanced students are often more concerned about progressing and may feel plateaued. To most effectively evaluate their technique, it’s best to start at the foundation. Challenges and problems that show up in later years causing plateau are often based in fundamental technique or posture. so looking closely to make sure the foundation techniques are all well executed helps addresses layering and complexity concerns before looking at the higher levels. By offering a rolling deadline for these technique assessments, we hope that students take the opportunity to get personalized feedback whenever best fits their schedule.

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

How long should I stay at this level?

This is a question we get a lot, about how many times a student should repeat a level before moving on. The answer is not straightforward, as each student’s dance journey is unique and may be impacted by things like whether you have previous dance experience, if you’re looking for casual fun or are driven to progress quickly, how consistently you attend class, and lots of other factors. However, the guidelines below will help give you a general idea of the path you can expect to take.

Beginner Classes

Beginner 1 covers belly dance “A to Z” as a full 15- or 16-week semester. The full semester teaches the complete Beginner 1 curriculum, including both the Aziza and Zeina choreographies (thus belly dance “A to Z”).

Beginner 1 class can also be taken as an 8-week, half-term class. The half semester includes only half of the curriculum (either the Aziza or Zeina choreography, depending on the session).

Both options are designed to be an introduction to the joy of belly dance. Most students will only take Beginner 1 for 15 or 16 weeks, but all are welcome to repeat it as many times as they like!

Beginner 2 and Beginner 3 are where you develop your foundational technique to set yourself up for future success. Most students will take these levels 2-6 times each.

Intermediate Classes

Intermediate 1 and Intermediate 3 are about adding complexity to your dance. At these levels, you will work on combining basic moves with traveling steps, turns, and more intricate layers. You’ll also work on developing skills such as spatial awareness, musically, and expression. Most students will take these levels anywhere from 2-6 times each.

Intermediate 2 is all about learning how to use props. A good foundation in using the 3 core props – veil, finger cymbals (sagat/zills), and cane (assaya) – is required to move up, but additional experience may be gained in balancing props, fan veil, Isis wings, or other fun accessories for your dance. Most students will take this level 2-6 times.

Advanced Classes

At the advanced level the focus shifts away from learning new movement vocabulary and towards developing a dancer’s individual skill set. There is no set length of time that a dancer will spend at each level mastering the skills needed to move up. It will depend on a variety of factors, including but not limited to:

• Consistency of class attendance
• Performing and rehearsing as part of a student company
• Participation in workshops and master classes
• Personal at-home practice
• Previous dance background
• Outside learning through books, articles, videos festivals,, or lectures
• Cross training for strength, endurance, flexibility and body awareness

At this level each dancer’s journey will be very individualized and will depend on how much dancing and training one does each day and week. One dancer might be ready to progress after a few semesters while another spends several years at the same level. Advanced classes are designed to keep a full repertoire of dance movements honed as a regular maintenance practice for professional dancers. Advanced dancers are also encouraged to occasionally return to lower levels to refresh the fundamentals.

Most importantly, remember to embrace dance as a journey of enjoyment. There’s no stagnant end point, or finish line. Our bodies are unique and ever-changing.  We can relish the fresh, new feeling of each movement, without expectations. Our experience of the music, and of dancing together, is always alive with newness. What will it be like this time, in this moment?

With intention, dance can be vehicle for cultivating curiosity, delight, and unconditional friendliness toward ourselves and the world around us. May we always let the inherent joy of movement and expression lead our dance.

Have More Questions?

If you still want additional guidance on what level you should sign up for, check out our blog post ‘What Class Should I Take Now?’ or talk to your teacher!

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.

• Be patient and kind to yourself, using words of encouragement and gratitude for your healthy body, unique beauty, and good sense of adventure!
• Remember, you’re learning a new language and it takes time to master each word (movement) and construct sentences (combinations).
• With time and practice, you’ll become a fluent speaker and be able to improvise with your own accent and style.
• Enjoy discovering new muscles and finding a new medium for expression and creativity!
• Be gentle with yourself and listen to your body. If anything hurts, please let your teacher know, and modify.
• Cultivate curiosity about the felt sense of moving your body in these ways to best enjoy the sensuality inherent in the dance.
• Just show up however you are; there is no judgment and the dance is always offered for your enjoyment and well-being.
• Give yourself permission to play, make mistakes, look silly, laugh, and enjoy the learning process!

2. Be active in the community

• Come to class in-person or live-streaming! Benefit from the energy of the community, learning from others’ questions, and meeting fellow dancers.
• Ask questions!  Don’t be shy – if you have a question, it’s likely someone else has the same one and would appreciate it being asked. Have fun—you can’t fail the class!
• Make dance friends! Join a performance company and bond through a the shared goal of being on stage together, or just introduce yourself to your classmates.

3. Learn about the cultural context of the art form

• Check out specialty workshops – particularly those that are open to all levels – and explore specific styles or techniques in deeper dive formats.  Teachers will often provide supplemental materials, links and resources to explore topics further.
• Get to know the music! Explore Middle Eastern music in general as well as specific music styles on Amazon Music, Spotify, YouTube and many other places – start by searching for something as simple as “belly dance music” and see where the exploration takes you, or ask your teacher(s) for their favorite playlists.
• Attend performances and shows to support your local belly dancers and experience the dance live! Check out the next Sahara Dance production.
• Seek out resources for learning more about the dance, and follow your curiosity! Check out our specially curated resources on Instagram and Facebook by Maria, our Social Media Manager. 

4. Let your teacher(s) know your dance goals

• Stick with it and share you goals with your teacher(s). Whether you’re dancing simply for fun and fitness, or wish to perform on stage, let your teacher(s) know so you can best benefit from their guidance.
• Ask for assessments and feedback throughout the session.
• Make progress and retain movements by attending classes regularly, and live when you’re able, so you can benefit from teacher feedback.
• Practice between classes with the Sahara Dance curriculum list, class video, and/or video curriculum library (see below).

Sahara Dance Curriculum Videos

Below is the curriculum series of mini-videos to support your home practice :). Each move in the full curriculum is included in bite-sized breakdowns. The lessons are to live drumming on tabla!

Sahara Dance Beginner 1 & 2 Curriculum Overview

Sahara Dance Beginner 3 Curriculum Overview

Sahara Dance Intermediate 1 Curriculum Overview

Sahara Dance Intermediate 3 Curriculum Overview

These mini-videos are a great way to remember movements and learn the rhythms most commonly found in music for belly dance. The videos are designed to accompany the curriculum weekly and the intention is to offer a resource for refreshing your memory for home practice, if you’re inclined :).

Please note, you are not expected to purchase the videos or practice. Belly dance should, first and foremost, be enjoyable!  Come to class regardless and we will review.  Reference the videos only if it’s fun for you.