Class Descriptions
Intro to Raqs Sharqi
Mondays at 5 PM with Heather Louise OR
Wednesdays at 7:30 PM with Ella Moore
Raqs sharqi’s roots are in the social dances of the Middle East and North Africa. Learn the basic steps, shapes, and shimmies that make dancing fun and a source of connection across all ages and genders.
Beyond Beginners
Mondays at 6:15 PM or Tuesdays at 5 PM with Heather Louise
Take your basic raqs sharqi technique to the next level by learning more complex movements like ¾ shimmies, traveling undulations, and footwork combinations. Pair with finger cymbals and veil to expand your musicality and expression. Recommended for students with one year of raqs sharqi experience.
Flow Drills
Tuesdays at 6:15 with Heather Louise
Develop your technique by drilling isolations through essential pathways. This practice will develop your control, musicality, and strength by working slowly and deliberately to a variety of classic music. Each class will finish with an improvisation exploration. Best for those with at least one year of raqs sharqi experience or beginners looking for a challenge.
Technique for Tabla Solo
Wednesdays at 6:15 with Ella Moore
The tabla solo is one of the most exciting parts of a belly dancer’s show. It is known for featuring a dancer’s sharp isolations and shimmies, while also presenting opportunities for charisma and ease with rhythms. Join Ella for a series of drills, technique deep dives, and rhythm study to make your tabla solos POP. Students who take this course will be well prepared for a drum solo choreography course in the spring with a performance option.
Tabla: Beyond Beginners
Wednesdays at 6:15 with Jason
The tabla (also known as darbouka or derbakke) is one of the most important percussion instruments in the Egyptian orchestra. It lays rhythmic foundations for melodies, and its versatile sounds can also be used for dynamic drum solos. In this course, students will revisit foundations before moving on to more complex techniques and rhythms. This class will help prepare students who would like to perform a group percussion piece in the spring student showcase.
Assaya 101
Mondays at 7:30 PM with Shaunti Fera
Join Shaunti Fera for an 8-week series focusing on iconic assaya (stick) dance vocabulary. Learn tips, tricks, and techniques for this raqs sharqi interpretation of an Upper Egyptian folk dance. Bring your straight stick if you have one. We have extras to lend. No prior experience with assaya required, though students should have at least one year of dance experience.
Scholarship
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Scholarship ~
Do you have the heritage and lived experience of a culture from Southwest Asia (AKA the Middle East) and/or North Africa?
CLICK HERE to learn about our Heritage Dancer Scholarship.