Bellydance Your Way to Fitness!

A UNIQUE WAY TO GET FIT Prepare for an exciting journey as you enter the wonderful world of belly dance, one of the oldest dance forms known to civilization. Forget the sleazy image some westerners have of belly dancers - in most countries it is revered as a highly skilled art form handed down through the ages from mother to daughter. This beautiful and feminine skill is accessible to all women irrespective of shape, size or age. Unlike ballet or jazz which require dancers to start young, most belly dance moves complement the way your body moves, and can be learned even as a senior citizen. Indeed, some of the top professional dancers in Cairo are over sixty because this dance style is enriched by experience and maturity The moves are low-impact so you can avoid undue stress on your joints. It also strengthens the pelvic floor muscles, keeps your cardiovascular system healthy and helps ward off osteoporosis. It is particularly good for people with lower back problems. The dance often focuses upon isolating different parts of the body, moving them independently in sensuous patterns. Some movements are sinuous and undulating, others are energetic and snappy. As you build up your range of moves you will be blessed with enhanced grace, balance and stamina. Of course the journey doesn’t end there - once the basic moves have been mastered you can explore different belly dance styles, enjoy the exotic and varied music, try out different costuming ideas and learn to perform with some of the props used by the modern and traditional dancer. Veil work, finger cymbals (sagat), stick dancing and even sword balancing are some of the experiences that lie ahead. THE BEST NEWS IS THAT BELLY DANCE IS FUN! Watford Class Details Beginners: Sunday @ 6.30pm Improvers: Sunday@ 7.45pm Watford Women's Center, 29 Charter Place, Watford, Herts. South Oxhey Class Details Beginners: Wednesday@ 8.30pm The Centre, Gosforth Lane, South Oxhey WD19 7AX. Harrow Class Details Beginners: Monday @ 6.00pm Improvers: Monday @ 7.15pm. 76 Marlborough Hill, Harrow, Middlesex HA1 1TY. Price Per Lesson: £5.00 Web Site: www.brainhurts.com/bellydancebliss.html Email bellydancebliss@fastmail.co.uk or call to reserve your place. Home Phone: 01923 350760. Mobile: 07900 220530. MEET THE TEACHER June is a professional belly dance teacher, performer and choreographer dedicated to sharing and raising the profile of his beautiful art form. Alongside her weekly classes, she teaches ten-week taster courses at Westfield community college during term time. She has written articles for Mosaic belly dance magazine and keeps her skills sharp and up-to-date by attending dozens of workshops every year as well as a weeks worth of dance and tuition at belly dance summer school every August. She is also a mother, a qualified nurse, a writer, an actor and manager of the “I Can’t Believe We’re Not Better Theatre Company” (registered charity no. 1100431). GENERAL CLASS INFORMATION All lessons are an hour long. We start with a thorough warm-up and finish with a cool down session. Classes are a mixture of basic technique and choreography using different styles of belly dance such as oriental, folk and modern pop Written choreography is provided. Avoid eating a heavy meal prior to class. COSTUME ADVICE You should wear comfortable clothing to class, e.g. a loose flowing skirt or leggings and a t-shirt or leotard, although you may wish to acquire something a little more glamorous such as a glittery crop top and chiffon skirt or harem pants to make you feel like a real Egyptian princess. Whatever your costume, some kind of hip scarf is essential. This can be as simple as a pretty piece of fabric or a fringed shawl tied around the hips, although coin hip scarves are wonderful to wear and add sparkle and noise. Although we usually dance barefoot, you may keep socks on if the floor is carpeted. I usually bring along a few spare hip belts to lend to new students. I also provide a small stock of goods for sale. CONDUCT IN CLASS If you have any illness or injury let me know before class starts and do not practice any exercises or steps that will irritate the afflicted area. Dance responsibly. If a move hurts or causes discomfort stop doing it immediately and omit that part of the lesson. Pain is your body’s way of telling you that something is wrong – listen to it. You can still learn by watching and listening. If you injure yourself while dancing, inform me at once. I encourage you to drink water at anytime during the class. Do not hesitate to take rest periods if you feel it necessary You may ask questions at anytime. There is no such thing as a "foolish" question. Because we are all unique, the moves we achieve with ease and those we struggle to master will differ from person to person. You must move at your own pace. Ask me to clarify if you don’t understand the movement breakdown, or if a particular move is causing you significant difficulty, no matter how many times I have covered it in previous lessons. Try to arrive promptly so we can begin on time. Arriving on time is a show of respect to your teacher, your fellow students and yourself. Of course I fully understand that work or other commitments may make this impossible, and you are still welcome to attend, but if you arrive late and miss the warm up it is vital that you stretch out by yourself at the back of the room before joining the class. If possible, attend every session. Belly dance is fun, but it’s also a physical, mental and emotional discipline. It cannot be learned with sporadic attendance. Finally, never make rude or disparaging remarks or judge the performance of others in the class or you will be asked to leave. As women, we should respect each other and celebrate our differences! I look forward to meeting you. JUNE visit my Belly Dance Bliss web site