Weekly Belly Dance Classes in Baltimore, MD
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Student Resources

To let me know you are coming to class or if you have any questions please contact Shems at shemsdance@gmail.com

Next regular session start date is Tues July 28 & Thurs July 30, 2009. I will be fresh from my dance study trip to Turkey and will bring back lots of great dance information to share.

NEW THIS SESSION (April 28-June 4)

I will be going to Turkey for about 3 weeks in July to study dance and have fun which will cut the session in half.  I have arranged subs for the 3 weeks I'm gone in Basics and Essentials, so you don't have to miss out on that refreshing night of dance that is so rejuvenating every week.  Technique will be on break while I'm gone, so we'll have a short session.  Details as follows:

• Veil Dancing - Belly Dance Essentials will be learning to float silk, using the veil as a graceful extension of your dance.
  
  
• Short Session for Technique - Technique and Musicality will only be meeting for 3 weeks this session.
  
  
• Discounts for taking multiple classes - You can get $15 off each additional class you take (pro-rating will no longer be available - see details below)

Location
Harbor East MAC
655 President Street
Baltimore, MD 21202
410.625.5000

You will love the friendly staff and the luxurious studios, wonderfully suited to bringing out your inner dancer. You do not need to be a member of the MAC to take classes.

Class Prices and Registration
Each 6 week session will be $75 ($60 for MAC members), drop in rate $20 ($15 for MAC members). If you register for more than one class per session you get $15 off the price of the of each additional class, so two classes would be $135, three $195 and so on. No pro-rating or other discounts apply. Currently, registration is handled the first day of classes, please contact me to let me know you are coming and arrive early the first week to take care of registration.

Make-up Classes
You are welcome to make up any classes you miss by attending another class at the same or lower level within the same session, just let your instructor know you plan to do this. This doesn't carry over into the next session, it is your responsibility to make up any missed classes.

Ethics & Behavior Guidelines
Shems holds ethics and good behavior in really high regard and expects her students to do the same in and out of class. It is important to present the dance in a positive light and build a supportive community. Please see Shems's Ethics and Behavior Guidelines for her students here.

Class Descriptions
Shems' class offerings will adjust and expand over time to give you the opportunity to study a full and diverse curriculum, allowing you to reach the highest level that you desire.

Belly Dance Basics
Belly Dance Basics introduces and drills foundational belly dance vocabulary, body isolations, posture, movement articulation and body lines. There is some cultural background given. Special attention will be paid to proper body alignment, and clean execution of movements. This is the class you should start with if you are brand new to belly dance. It is recommended you continue to repeat this class until you have a good mastery of your basic belly dance movements and isolations. This is also a good refresher for more advanced dancers to practice and drill their basic movements and put extra work into improving the details. Open to all levels, drop ins welcome.

June/July session - we will be drilling foundational technique - substitute teachers for the second half of the session will be Nina Amaya or Tydirah. The format will be consistent, per my request.

Belly Dance Essentials
Building on basic belly dance vocabulary covered in "Belly Dance Basics", essentials introduces more difficult techniques and explores musicality more deeply. It also delves into props. Finger Cymbals, Sword, Veil and Various special focus topics will be covered. This class is meant to be taken continuously for about a year and revisited as often as the topics interest you. Pre-req Belly Dance Basics. Drop ins with approval only.

June/July session - Our special focus topic this summer will be dancing with a veil.  You will be required to get a veil for this class (in addition to finger cymbals if you don't already have a pair).  The veil should be approximately 45" wide and 3 yards long of a lightweight material, rectangular.  You are welcome to select a cheap lightweight material from the fabric store if you are tight on money.  I recommend getting a 6mm habotai silk veil if you can afford it.  I'll ask Nina to bring a bunch the first day of class, her prices are pretty reasonable, you can also pre-order by contacting Nina http://marylandbellydance.com/ninaamaya/   Veils can also be purchased online through other belly dance vendors. 

Technique & Musicality
Steps & movements are taught, built into musical phrases. Focusing on building both dance vocabulary and musical connection, this class will delve into complex technique, layering, transitions between movements, rhythms, dance building, improvisation, and cultural context. Previous belly dance experience required, this is an advanced class. This class will be continually introducing new material and is meant to be repeated in an ongoing fashion. Pre-req Teacher Approval. Drop ins with approval only.

June/July session - this will be a short session 3 weeks in duration. If you'll bravely stick with me and trust me, I'll bring good material for study each week.

Student Resources
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Belly Dance Workbook - I recommend that my students at all levels complete this workbook at least once. You may work at your own pace.

Belly Dance Essentials Homework

Belly Dance Fundamentals Homework

Technique and Musicality Homework

Other Resources

Articles

Places to buy practice wear for class & hip scarves

Belly dance movement vocabulary guide

Picking a belly dance name

Music used in class

Lyrics of songs used in class

Music Recommendations

FAQ:
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Do I have to be a certain age, weight, body-type or gender to participate?

No, in fact one of the wonderful things about Oriental Dance is that it's body friendly, low impact exercise as well as a beautiful art form appropriate for all different kinds of people. I have personally witnessed all genders, body types and ages excel in Oriental Dance even as professional level performers as well as gain great enjoyment and other health benefits from it's practice.

What do I wear to class?

Wear something which will allow me to see your body to check you alignment and will allow you to move freely. I recommend stretchy, fitted exercise or dance clothing. In addition to this I ask that everyone wear some sort of shawl or scarf around their hips to accentuate hip movement. Soft soled dance shoes are optional. You may also dance barefoot.

What will I be learning? What style do you teach?

I teach a combination of Egyptian, a little Lebanese and Vintage Oriental approaches to Oriental Dance (aka belly dance). I will specify where the steps are coming from and discuss their musical and cultural context. Appropriate folkloric and ethnic dance forms and their contributions to Oriental Dance will be covered. Over time, props, performance skills, improvisation, musical understanding, and more will be covered. If it is your desire, I'll be happy take you all the way from understanding basic movements to dancing like a professional.

What class(es) should I take?

Wondering where the familiar beginner, intermediate & advanced labels are?
- If you are entirely new to belly dance, take Belly Dance Basics
- If you've trained in belly dance before, but not with me, I recommend taking Belly Dance Basics at least once so you can get a good review of what I consider my basics, you may also decide to enroll in Belly Dance Essentials, which is accessible to a range of levels but is more challenging than basics.
- If you've trained to an advanced level with another instructor and want even more of a challenge than Essentials offers alone, I recommend taking Essentials in conjunction with the Technique and Musicality or just Technique and Musicality. You will need to get my permission to take Technique and Musicality as it is a very challenging class and a strong grasp of the basics is really important.

What does it cost?

Each 6 week session will be $60 for MAC members and $75 for non members. Drop in rate $15 for members, $20 for non-members. Currently, registration is handled the first day of classes, please come early and ready to dance. I will notify you when pre registration comes available.

How do I pay?

Registration will be done at the start of each new class session. Just come a little early the first week of the new session, ready to register and dance.

Teaching Philosophy
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There are many different reasons people choose to study Oriental Dance, however my objectives in teaching are to help each person who studies with me to become a beautiful and skilled dancer with cultural knowledge and sensitivity as well as the ability to entertain an audience. Rather than just teaching a set of moves, I try to offer building blocks for creating polished performances from the most simple choreography to the most complex. The natural side effects of my classes are exercise, fun and a great feeling of confidence and accomplishment.

In the Middle East dancing is used for celebration and to build a sense of community between friends and family. This feeling of community is what I encourage. I want my students to get to know each other and to cheer for each other. It is not a competition, each person will progress at her own pace and each person will become a beautiful dancer in her own right.

My Dance and Teaching Style

I have been trained in American, American Tribal, Egyptian, Turkish and Lebanese styles of Oriental Belly Dance. I've supplemented this with a great deal of study and research in ethnic & folkloric dances from all over the Middle East and North Africa. (Please see my dance resume to get an idea of the range of my studies). My teaching reflects the common foundation found in all of the Oriental Belly Dance styles. However, I do lean heavily towards Egyptian style Oriental technique, especially as my students become more advanced. Props that I'm trained in include sagat (finger cymbals), veil and double veil, sayf (sword), assaya (cane) and shemedan (candelabra). Other areas I consider my particular dance strengths include Egyptian Oriental technique, musical interpretation, drum solos, sagat and veil. I also teach floorwork.

To supplement my Oriental Dance education I've also studied modern dance, ballet, body mechanics, yoga, weight training and athletic training. Although I do not claim to be an expert in any of these areas, these further studies have allowed me to assist my students in finding proper body alignment, and help them in learning exercises to stretch and strengthen their bodies to improve their fitness and ability to excel in Oriental Dance.

I have made it a point to study Middle Eastern history, culture and language. I've taken a particular interest in the subjects of women and dance within the region. I try in my teaching to help my students to avoid cultural faux pas, as well as to help them to understand the context of the dances we learn in association to Middle Eastern culture. I am continuing to pursue my studies in these areas, with plans to travel to the Middle East to study these dances in their countries of origin.

In my teaching, I utilize both improvisation as well as choreography to help my students to learn. What you can expect when you come to my classes includes warm up, technique drills, a focus topic and associated activity, then cool down. I try to respond to the requests of my students as to what direction in particular they would like to take their personal learning. I also try to focus on helping my students to get beyond just doing a series of movements into actually polishing the movements, utilizing their whole bodies, making smooth transitions, feeling the dance, connecting emotionally and becoming more complete dancers. I am constantly seeking new ways to break things down and teach concepts and ideas. I also continually attend workshops and further my own dance education however I can in order to have more to offer my own students.

Testimonials
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I would love to hear your feedback: shemsdance@gmail.com

"Shems is the best kept secret in Baltimore! She is a beautiful performer, an excellent and conscientious teacher and a lovely person!"

-Artemis (www.serpentine.org) is a master teacher, writer, historian and one of the best Turkish style dancers in the US.

"Just wanted to let you know how much I enjoy your class. I took BD for 10 years from an teacher (and well know performer) in Texas who's method of teaching was either drills or strict choreographies. She is excellent and I learned the basic, however, something has always been missing. Although I am a soloist performer, I've never felt confident about my dancing. Anyway, I finally feel like I am learning how to perform, with feeling, knowledge and from the inside. Thanks."

-Linden, a great dancer who splits her time between Texas and Maryland, about Shems' weekly classes in Baltimore.

"Hi, I was at your workshop yesterday, it was one of the best I've ever been to! Thank you!"

-Jen, Maryland Dancer, after a drum solo workshop

"I have to say that she does promote good posture, she works on it as well with her dancing. I find that she is a fun teacher that has really honed her skills as I have known her. She has become a great knowledgeable teacher. She shares important information on history and folkloric styles, she has the ability to communicate technique and flair for making it enjoyable. Works at a good pace for the students. She is always still a student and trains with others and seeks new information and ideas that is one reason why she will continue to be an awesome teacher!"

-Sumra (www.bellydancingwithsumra.com) is the driving force behind the Utah State University Middle Eastern Dance Club (USUMED www.usu.edu/shimmy). She directs troupe Shazadi, choreographs and teaches.

"Your classes contributed so much to my growth as a dancer that it was difficult for me to think of anything that you could improve upon. That said, here's what I came up with: I know that for you dancing is a very high priority, and sometimes it seemed as though you couldn't sympathize with those who wanted to dance more for relaxation than for beautiful performances and rapid improvement. The flip side of that, however, is really positive: you also push people to excel.

Your enthusiasm is absolutely infectious. You seem to know as much about Middle Eastern music, interpretation, and various dance styles as any other instructor I've come in contact with; you're also much more willing to share everything you know than any other instructor I've met.

Although students in our classes sometimes seemed uncomfortable with dancing (especially improv) in front of the rest of the class, you were always encouraging and made it fun.

As far as specific instructional techniques, I think you really excel in teaching shimmies and creative combinations (both with and without veil). Tracy Pace and I have joked many times about how we couldn't really 3/4 shimmy until you explained it in a new way to us. You're also a great posture policewoman, and your zagat instruction is awesome (I can't play a bland beledi anymore - I keep putting in the zagat beats without meaning too- heehee)."

- Sara Goeking is an avid dance student, instructor, exceptional performer and Shazadi troupe member in the Utah State University Middle Eastern Dance Club (USUMED www.usu.edu/shimmy)