Belly dancing lessons in Sydney
If you find gyms intimidating, pretentious or just plain boring, this is the exercise for you! In belly dance class, you will develop your body awareness and co-ordination, and enhance your confidence and creativity as well as core strength and fitness. You might even shed some excess kilos.
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Classes are held in Sydney at Lindfield 2070; Waverley 2024; Rozelle 2039 NSW Australia. See the Where & When page for location details.
BOOK for the next course, starting late January 2012
Our classes are fun, friendly and inspiring. Come with a friend or alone - unlike other dance forms, no partner is required. So give yourself the gift of an hour a week that's just for YOU to feel feminine and gorgeous!
What is Belly Dancing?
No, it's not about harems or seduction! Get those ideas out of your head. This dance goes far deeper than that. Belly dance began as a folk dance, long ago, in Egypt and surrounding areas. It was a dance of community and of celebration; it was how people partied at weddings and other important social gatherings, and a way of expressing oneself. It was something for everyone (men as well as women) to participate in, regardless of age or skill.
Only in about the past century has it been refined and put on the stage as something for audiences to watch. Now, we see elements of western dance (eg ballet) being combined with the traditional hip- and torso-focussed movements to create a more visually exciting look. (The two-piece costumes commonly seen nowadays are also a modern invention.) Modern bellydance is beautiful, expressive, and has a rich repertoire of moves using all parts of the body, from the head to the toes!
About our Belly Dance classes
Within the oasis of the dance studio, you can make new friends and improve your fitness as you learn a new skill. Be inspired to find the joy and passion in dance! You'll also gain an appreciation of Middle Eastern culture, and perhaps a penchant for sequin-encrusted exotic costuming.
The lessons also offer you a physical and mental challenge. Bellydance isn't as easy as you might think! Each class begins with a warm-up to prepare the body and get you in the mood to dance. Typically, we then revise the previous week's steps, learn new moves, and put them together into short sequences. Some weeks will have more of a focus on technique, others on musicality and improvisation; some terms look at choreography, others focus on technique. Finally, we stretch out and cool down. Class sizes are small enough to guarantee individual attention so you can get your technique right from the very start. Mothers and daughters as young as 4 are welcome - it's a beautiful way to develop your relationship!
Teaching style is focused on classical and modern Egyptian technique. Egyptian style is characterized by a relaxed, elegant and centred look, with controlled movement, and depth of expression. Currently our primary courses are offered for beginners and continuing beginners, with a focus on technique, safety, enjoyment and appreciation. Contact Rachel if you're not sure of your level. Check out the links page to sample some of the music we've used in class lately.
The Bellydance Fundamentals course teaches you posture, basic moves and technique, and footwork, as well as short combinations to encourage your creativity and expression. We explore Arabic music and rhythms, and introduce you to musical interpretation. Students are encouraged to take this course at least twice over before progressing, so that you can consolidate the basics. Courses alternate between technique and choreography, so you'll have the chance to try both.
Watch Inspire Bellydance students in action here!
Beyond Beginners and Intermediate Bellydance courses are for students with at least two terms of experience. Each term has a specific focus, and often we work on a choreography either by Rachel or an Egyptian master teacher. These courses will develop your dancing with a focus on more complex combinations and footwork, improvisation and musicality, and more advanced techniques that build on your key bellydance moves from Fundamentals classes. Depending on the level of classes, elements of Egyptian folkloric dance may be taught, as well as props such as veil, finger cymbals (also known as zills or sagat), stick (cane or assaya) and sword balancing. Some terms and special workshops will introduce choreography and the use of props. Performance opportunities may be available.
Watch "Beyond Beginners" Inspire Bellydance students in action here!
About 
classes
Zumba® fitness is the new craze right across Australia and the world! It's a fun dance workout based on spicy Latin and international rhythms, that will have you moving, dancing, clapping and sweating it out while having a blast. So if your focus is getting a cardio workout, but you're bored by jogging, treadmills and aerobics, then Zumba® fitness is for you! Find out more about it on our Zumba page and at zumba.com.
Of course, Zumba classes begin with a warm-up and end with a cool-down. In between, you'll learn several choreographies from a variety of international genres such as salsa, reggaeton and even Bollywood! Each class will revise the previous week's choreographies, adding new ones when we're ready for a new challenge.
Zumba classes are different at Inspire! Bellydance because...
- it's run as a structured course, so unlike at gyms, you won't be intimidated in your first class. We start out with lots of repetition, and as the term progresses, we learn more new choreographies and styles one by one. Plus, each week the intensity of the workout increases so your fitness will improve and you'll burn more calories.
- the teacher is an experienced dance teacher: it won't feel like an aerobics class.
- we don't just use Latin dances, but also Bellydance, Samba, Bollywood, African and more! Real choreographies with real cultural zest.
Watch us doing one of the routines here. Most of the people in the demonstration had never done the dance before: this is how easy and fun it is to learn!
Course structureClasses are run in 10-week terms where possible, aligned with school terms. This structure means that you will learn in a systematic way, with each week building on the knowledge gained in the previous classes. However, we do enough revision that new students can join in at any time. Often, term ends with an optional "hafla" (party) or night out at a Middle Eastern restaurant (not included in class fee) where you can dress up in your bellydance finest, enjoy an authentic meal, watch a bellydance show, and get up to dance with the rest of the class in a relaxed social environment. Performance opportunities may also be available. Enrolment and FeesEnrolment for one 10-week term costs $140 and may be paid by cash, cheque or direct deposit on or by the first class date. Half-term enrolment is available for $80 (5 classes), and classes may be attended casually for $18 each. Enrolments are not transferrable to other people or across terms, but you can catch up missed classes by attending another time slot within the same term (space permitting). You can even try a Zumba® fitness class if you're enrolled in Bellydance, or vice versa. SPECIAL OFFER: Enrol in two courses simultaneously and get the second one for half price! This offer includes both Bellydance and Zumba® fitness! Women of all ages are welcome. Girls aged 10-14 are half price when enrolling for a complete term with a full fee paying adult, and under-10s are just $20 for the whole term. Inspire! Bellydance reserves the right to cancel a course and offer a refund or exchange if minimum enrolment numbers are not met. |
Private Bellydance Classes
Fast-track your learning, get personalised assistance with particular techniques, or learn a choreography created especially for you! A one-on-one class with your teacher will address your individual needs and wishes, including assessing your personal strengths and weaknesses in your dancing. Other topics may include performance skills and preparation, emotional preparation, and working with props.
Small group privates are an option for 2-5 students of similar experience, wishing to work on particular techniques or develop a choreography.
Private lessons are available at my home, a rented studio, or at your home (depending on location). Prices on application. Gift vouchers are available for private classes.
Inspire! Bellydance and Zumba Fitness - Belly Dance classes in Sydney: Lindfield 2070; Waverley 2024; Rozelle 2039 NSW Australia.
ZUMBA® and the Zumba Fitness logos are trademarks of Zumba Fitness, LLC, used under license.
