"What should I wear to my first bellydance class?" I have been asked this question several times recently through email. I had the same question when I started taking classes. My quick response for someone taking a class with me: comfortable exercise clothing such as yoga pants and a close-fitting t-shirt, socks or ballet slippers are optional. That's what I wear to most every class I teach and workshop I attend. Oh, and I bring extra hipscarves for my students to borrow during class.
My long response that can apply to almost all bellydance classes:
Look for information in the class description regarding what to wear
or ask the teacher, if possible. If you are not able to do this, you
should feel comfortable in most bellydance classes wearing yoga pants
and a close-fitting t-shirt. Avoid baggy clothing since it makes it
more difficult for your instructor (and you) to assess if you are
executing the movements correctly. If you have some sort of scarf you
can tie around your hips, especially one with some fringe, bring it.
Hipscarves help make your hip movements more visible. Avoid hipscarves
with coins until you know if the teacher allows them or not. (Some find
them too noisy and too messy since they often shed coins and beads.)
For your feet, there are many options. Ballet slippers are a good
choice and are easy to find at your local dance supply store. For your
first class, you can even wear socks until you figure out what you
would like to use. Many dancers teach and perform barefoot, considering
it the most stable, but this is dependent on personal choice and floor
surface. Some other options are lyrical sandals, foot undeez, jazz
shoes, and dance sneakers.
Once you attend your first class, you will have a better idea what
your instructor expects you to wear. Until then, I hope my tips help
you feel confident and prepared for that first day. Have fun!
I'm always looking for new music! While I certainly have plenty of the classics to keep me busy, I love discovering new versions. It's also exciting to hear original songs from the traditional Middle Eastern orchestras. And who can resist the fun songs that the pop starts keep churning out?
Some recent favorites: Bellydance Superstars Volume 7 - This volume features mostly pop, remix, and fusion type songs. I was happy to see this album available for download (at least through Amazon) since volumes 3, 5, and 6 are only available in CD form.
Tahia's Dance
- If you haven't already downloaded all of Jalilah's albums, DO IT. They are an amazing resource for fully orchestrated versions of classics. There are nice breaks in the long songs (such as this one) in case you need to cut it for length. Anyway, this particular track is just over 16 minutes (what a bargain for a $.99 download!!!!) and has a classing intro beginning, taqsim section(s), baladi, Hassan Ya Ghouli with vocals, and an exit. It's a treasure trove, even just for listening.
Amal Hayati - This is an under-four-minutes snippet of this classic, sung by Oum Kalthoum and composed by Muhammad 'Abd al-Wahhab. I'm adding the original to my listening study list. I came across this page with a translation and the opportunity to listen to the original (essential homework before even attempting to dance to an Oum Kalthoum piece!)
Ba'ed Annak - At the end of June, I spent five days learning from Sahra Saeeda (in a group of nine dancers) and at the end of our time together, she (at our request) danced a little for us. This is one of her trademark songs. Now whenever I hear it, I can only think of her excellent dancing and how generous she is. She is exquisite! (You can see her perform to this on the IAMED DVD called, "Belly Dance!". This performance and several others can be found on YouTube. I believe the version used in those performances can be found on the CD, "Layali Zaman".)
Of course, I try to keep my list on BellydanceDownloads.com updated, so check there to see what I use for my restaurant shows and for class.
While a bellydance instructional DVD will never replace a real, live teacher in front of you in a class or private lesson, these DVDs do have their place. Your teacher may not specialize in certain props and/or techniques or you may want something to supplement and complement what you are already learning. But where do you start? If you search for "bellydance" in the DVD section on Amazon.com, you get hundreds of results. Here are a few tips and suggestions to help you sort through the myriad of options out there.
1. Read the reviews. Of course Amazon itself has lots of reviews, but be aware that the glowing reviews may very well be from the author(s) of the DVD and the negative reviews may come from individuals who have NO idea what they're talking about (!) Search on Bhuz.com in the forum for the DVD title and you will often get a more dancer-focused perspective on the DVD.
2. Do some research. Check out the dance instructor's website. Does s/he teach regularly? Is s/he recognized for that particular style? (If so, s/he probably regularly teaches workshops around the country or even the globe. You should be able to easily find information on the internet other than her/his own site about a reputable instructor.)
3. Be honest about your current skill level. If you are a beginner, stick to those DVDs that are geared towards beginners and intermediates. If you attempt something more advanced, you will likely be overwhelmed, disappointed, and may even injure yourself. Likewise, if you are already at an intermediate or advanced level, don't pick out a beginner DVD and then give it a negative review!
And there are many more! Those I have listed can be found through Amazon.com. As you become more interested in and experienced with bellydance, ask for recommendations from your teacher and friends. There are many DVDs that are more difficult to track down, but are certainly worth the money! (Hadia's DVDs come to mind.) For DVDs made from workshops taught by the bellydance stars from the Middle East, check specialty sites such as Scheherezade Imports, Dahlal, Maqam, and Bellydance.com.
Dancers in the Washington D.C. and surrounding Northern Virginia and Maryland area are so lucky to have many opportunities to study with fantastic local and guest instructors. It can be overwhelming to keep track of all of them.
Faten Salama - Local favorite Faten, Egyptian born master instructor, offers her own expertise through regular oriental and folkloric classes. She will be sponsored by Little Egypt to teach live music workshops March 6-7 in Dulles.
Saffron Dance - Located in Arlington, VA, Saffron's upcoming workshop teachers include Nourhan Sharif and Carolena Nerriccio.
Sahara Dance - Based in Washington D.C., Sahara's 2010 workshop line-up includes Bozenka, Karim Nagi, Sahra Saeeda, and Unmata.
Bellydance star Randa Kamel of Egypt is coming to the USA in March!Presented by Little Egypt of Texas, Randa will teach “Modern Belly Dance
Choreography” on March 6 and “Oriental Techniques” on March 7.All workshops and both gala shows
(Friday and Saturday nights) will be held at the Washington-Dulles
International Airport Holiday Inn.
- This volume features mostly pop, remix, and fusion type songs. I was happy to see this album available for download (at least through Amazon) since volumes 3, 5, and 6 are only available in CD form.
- If you haven't already downloaded all of Jalilah's albums, DO IT. They are an amazing resource for fully orchestrated versions of classics. There are nice breaks in the long songs (such as this one) in case you need to cut it for length. Anyway, this particular track is just over 16 minutes (what a bargain for a $.99 download!!!!) and has a classing intro beginning, taqsim section(s), baladi, Hassan Ya Ghouli with vocals, and an exit. It's a treasure trove, even just for listening.
- This is an under-four-minutes snippet of this classic, sung by Oum Kalthoum and composed by Muhammad 'Abd al-Wahhab. I'm adding the 
(after you are comfortable with Level 1)
(I don't recommend this for beginners since the movements aren't thoroughly explained.)
(Also not recommended for brand-new beginners.)
(Cheeky Girls Productions has many wonderful DVD releases.)
(Recommended for intermediate and above.)
(Definitely for beginners.)