Spring is on its way and BellydanceMalta returns with a packed programme for May, featuring courses in Classical Egyptian for the complete beginner to the more experienced student, as well as various workshops aimed at giving us a taster of folkloric egyptian dances as well as spanish fusion style. The May courses will be taught by Chellcy Reitsma, accompanied by her assistant Nicole, who are flying all the way from Chicago, USA!
COURSES
INTRODUCTION TO BELLYDANCE (COMPLETE BEGINNER)
Learn basic bellydance technique, posturing, traveling steps and turns! Then put it all together in fun, yet simple short combos. You'll also learn some dance history, music appreciation and culture.
Requirements: No dance experience necessary – this is a slow-paced, first-timer
beginner class.
Dates & Times: Tuesdays and Thursdays, from 19:00 – 20:00, starting 8th May 2008.
Location: T.B.A.
BELLYDANCE FOR FUN (COMPLETE BEGINNERS, MORNING CLASS)
Explore something new and get some exercise while having fun! Learn basic belly dance technique, posturing, traveling steps and turns! Then put it all together in fun, yet simple, short combos.
Requirements: No dance experience necessary – this is a slow-paced, first-timer beginner class.
Dates & Times: Tuesdays and Thursdays, from 10.30 – 11.30, starting 8th May 2008.
Location: T.B.A.
GRACE AND FLUIDITY – LEVEL 1 (COMPLETE BEGINNERS – INTERMEDIATE)
Learn basic ballet, modern and jazz dance techniques and moves that bellydancers use. Improve your strength and basic dance technique for any dance form. This is a beginner to intermediate level class. This class will focus on basic posturing, turning, travelling and arabesques and improving balance. You will also learn the basic techniques for looking graceful and fluid and transitioning smoothly from one thing to the next and exploring weight placement.
Requirements: No dance experience necessary to Intermediate levels. 0 - 2 years of any dance experience.
Dates & Times: Mondays and/or Wednesdays, from 19:15 – 20:15, starting 7th May 2008.
Location: Garden View Holiday Complex
CLASSICAL EGYPTIAN BELLYDANCE – LEVEL 1 (BEGINNER / BEGINNER WITH EXPERIENCE)
Learn basic bellydance technique, graceful arms, travelling steps, turns and add in beginner finger cymbals. Then put it all together in a short, fun choreography. You'll also learn some dance history, music appreciation and culture. This class is for a first timer to the more experience Beginner. Unlike the Intro. class, this class will teach basic finger cymbals and sometimes use props like veil. Medium paced.
Requirements: Some bellydance experience.
Dates & Times: Tuesdays and Thursdays, from 20:15 – 21:45, starting 8th May 2008.
Location: T.B.A.
CLASSICAL EGYPTIAN BELLYDANCE – LEVEL 2 (HIGH BEGINNER / LOWER INTERMEDIATE)
Learn Intermediate belly dance technique, moves and combos. This class will mostly focus on layering moves, fluidity/transitions, and explore new more complicated finger cymbal patterns. This class will also explore props such as veils at an intermediate level. You'll also learn some dance history, music appreciation, and culture. Put it all together in a fun choregraphy! Medium - Fast Paced.
Requirements: Minimum of 6 months bellydancing experience or you must be comfortable with all the basic shimmies (including the ¾ shimmy), vertical and horizontal figure 8s, basic turns.
Dates & Times: Mondays and Wednesdays, from 20:30 – 22:00, starting 7th May 2008.
Location: Garden View Holiday Complex
WORKSHOPS
WORKSHOP: SHIMMY CLINIC 1 (ALL LEVELS)
Be prepared to shimmy your bum off (literally). Learn all of the essential shimmies! 9 hip shimmies, shoulder shimmies, hand shimmies and have fun getting a workout. This class will focus on technique and will include a short warm-up and cool down.
Requirements: All levels welcome.
Dates & Times: Fridays, from (time T.B.A.), starting 9th May 2008
Location: T.B.A.
WORKSHOP: FOLK BUFFET (ALL LEVELS)
Saiidi, Mohammed Ali Street/Shaabi. Sample two exciting Egyptian folk dances from two different areas of Egypt. Learn styling, moves and techniques that are inherent to each dance form. Have fun exploring the very different characters of each dance style and learn a bit of history too!
Requirements: T.B.A.
Dates & times: T.B.A.
Location: T.B.A.
WORKSHOP: SPANISH FUSION (ALL LEVELS)
This beginners level workshop will teach the fusions of Spanish and Latin dances with belly dance. Learn posturing, hands and arms, basic foot combinations, turns, traveling steps, and basic fan or skirt techniques. You will also learn some history of the dances. Put it all together in a short choreography.
Requirements: No dance experience required! Please bring the larges skirt you can get your hands
on and a fan.
Dates & Times: T.B.A.
Location: T.B.A.
Notes about props:
For Classical Egyptian Bellydance Levels 1 and 2 courses, finger cymbals will be provided by the organisers for each student during class practice. Skirts and fans are to be provided by the student. Spanish fusion requires very large skirts that are 15-20 yards around the bottom. Ideally the skirts should be big enough that you can comfortably lift them by the edge over your head. A flamenco skirt may be sufficient. A limited number of veils will be made available for class practice however students are encouraged to bring their own. For instructions on how to make a veil, please consult our blog. Alternatively, veils may be purchased from Bellydance Malta. Orders will be accepted until the 30th of March 2008.
AS USUAL, CLASS SIZES ARE RESTRICTED. EARLY BOOKING IS STRONGLY RECOMMENDED.
For more information please email bellydance.malta@gmail.com or call 79203432 (Joanne) or 99487814 (Jane).
