Embark on a fabulous, exotic journey with Authentic Belly Dance Academy. Dance for exercise, fun and performance. Enjoy a natural aerobic activity that tones the body, increases musical awareness, and adds grace, confidence and self-esteem. Open to women of all ages. Movement and rhythms guide the dance that is shared among women throughout time and across continents. Authentic Belly Dance Academy offers four different levels of belly dance classes. Emphasis is on learning and executing dance steps with accuracy, flexibility, grace, and poise. Students of any skill level may attend any dance class, however emphasis is based on beginner, intermediate and advanced skill levels as follows: www.belly-dancing.net Beginner Classes The beginner classes are structured to allow students to develop at their own pace. You will learn to develop a sound foundation for belly dancing. We’ll explore the different music and rhythms (i.e., Egyptian, Arabic, Turkish, etc.) that make this dance so beautiful. You will build a stronger physical body with flexibility and endurance, learn the dance history and feminine artistic expressions, and discover the joy of movement. You will need to master the steps outlined in the beginner classes before moving on to the intermediate classes. Classes are taught by Neenah and Aliki. Intermediate Classes In this class, you will expand your repertoire on dance steps, rhythms, and dance and music vocabulary. You will learn graceful transitions between moves and fun combinations to build choreography. You will learn the framework for building choreography by enhancing your skills in layering movements, level changes, directional changes, and emphasizing and de-emphasizing movement to match the music. Classes are taught by Zaira and Aliki. Intermediate Zill Drill Classes This unique zill drill class will help you become proficient in playing various zill patterns (i.e., beledi, kashlimar, chiftetelli, bolero, and other variations of the 4/4, 9/8, 6/8, and 2/4 patterns). You will need to master this class before moving into the Intermediate and Advance Group on Monday Nights. This class technique has been moved to the Intermediate class on Saturday with Zaira. Advanced Classes Get exposed to sophisticated steps and skilled layering techniques. Students in this class must have the fundamental ability to play zills while dancing. Strength building and mastery of transitions in footwork and body isolations is emphasized here. We explore the explosive dynamic percussive isolations required for drum solos! This can be an aggressive workout. Advanced work with props such as veil, candle, and sword technique are taught. Advanced classes are taught by Zaira. Performance Class This class is for students that have demonstrated their dance step skills in the Advanced Group. By invitation only, members of this group will master advanced choreography, performance skills, props, costuming, and the world of entertainment protocol and professionalism. Classes are taught by Neenah on Tuesdays. SPECIAL FEATURES OF OUR CLASSES In addition to professional instruction. we offer the following: Curriculum designed to get you performing fast Organized written information, to keep you up to date on our classes and performing activities CLASS SCHEDULE Beginners Wednesday Nights 6:45 pm – 7:45 pm Saturday Morning 9:45 am – 10:45 am Intermediate Wednesday Night 8:00 pm – 9:00 pm Saturday Morning 11:00 am – 12:00 pm Advanced Saturday Morning 12:00 pm – 1:00 pm "Belly Dancing is a great escape for the mind, body, and soul. Our minds and bodies could use a little vacation from time to time."