Pathway to Teaching

Pathway to Teaching

Pathway to Teaching: Foundations of Bellydance Instruction

Weekend Seminar for Teachers and Potential Teachers of Raqs Sharqi, facilitated by Christine Yaven (Bellydance Jakarta) and Rachel Bond (Inspire Bellydance)

Saturday 25-Sunday 26 April 2026

Marrickville, 10.30-3.30pm x 2 days (total 8.5hrs of instruction)

Being a great teacher is a completely different skill set from being a great dancer. It carries a deep responsibility, and is not a pathway to embark on without deep reflection, alongside a solid set of teaching tools and know-how.

  • Curious about teaching, and wondering if it’s the next step in your journey? This introductory weekend is for you! Discover and start practising key skills needed to lead effective, accessible beginner bellydance classes. What’s the difference between simply demonstrating, and truly teaching? This one weekend won’t make you a teacher. But it will give you an understanding of the joys and responsibilities of nurturing students, and whether it’s a good fit for you. You’ll be empowered to seek further training and mentorship to guide you on your journey to becoming a teacher and sharing your love of dance.

  • Already teaching, but looking for more tools and techniques? Let’s help you learn how to structure your curriculum, plan lessons, and teach effectively to a range of students. Your own experience of teaching will be enhanced just as much as your students’, by gaining clarity around your teaching ethos and style, getting more organised, and building on your classroom skills.

This introductory program is drawn from two dedicated educators’ combined 40+ years of experience teaching thousands of classes/ students; and the training and mentorship they’ve received from renowned teachers within Australia and all around the world (including Tamalyn Dallal, Hdia, Kaeshi Chai, Belyssa, Shemiran, Keti and more).

Topics to be explored include:

  • personal motivation, mindset, skills and challenges

  • the good dancer vs the good teacher

  • Eastern and Western approaches to learning and appreciating dance, and finding the balance

  • creating coherent curriculum; structuring courses; planning lessons

  • teaching to different learning styles, and adapting for a range of students

  • understanding and managing classroom dynamics

… and so much more!

Let’s face it, 8.5 hours of training won’t make you ready to teach; it’s simply intended to be a first step in this journey, opening your eyes to what’s involved. By the end of the weekend, you will have a clearer idea of what it takes to become a quality teacher. Only you can decide whether you’re ready to dive in deeper and commit to the journey. If so, we’ll guide you to a range of resources to develop your skills and knowledge further, including other courses / qualifications, and potential mentors.

Christine and Rachel are both passionate about dance pedagogy. They want to share their passion for teaching dance, by helping to guide more and better bellydance teachers into the future!

Investment:

Earlybird $290 by 11 April / Full fee $350 / Payment Plans available

Bookings will open shortly. Please send a message to introduce yourself, and let us know where you’re at in your dance journey!

Facilitators

Christine Yaven Bellydance Jakarta

Christine Yaven

Facilitator

Dubbed, 'Indonesia's bellydance icon', Christine has over 20 years experience training and teaching Oriental Dance.

As the pioneer of Oriental Dance in Indonesia, she founded Bellydance Jakarta, Indonesia's premier Middle Eastern Dance Centre. Christine has captured the interest of local and international media and is known as one of the region's trailblazers. She is often invited to perform and teach throughout the archipelago as well as internationally throughout Asia, Australia, Europe and North America.

Christine's performances are mesmerizing, a perfect fusion of liquid motion, subtle sensuality and exquisite musicality. Her talent is only rivalled by her teaching abilities which not only spans precise technique and beautiful choreographies, but also the soul, values and heritage of Oriental Dance. She is a firm believer in artistic creativity and expression and works tirelessly to teach dancers how to be unique, creative Oriental Dance artists. As a teacher, she is warm, attentive, humorous and has a natural talent for guiding students to achieve their goals and reach their full potential.

Currently Christine teaches classes and workshops in-person, online and is a highly sought-after instructor and performer at multiple international events.

Rachel Bond Inspire Bellydance 
Facilitator

Rachel Bond

Rachel Bond is the principal of Inspire Bellydance, Sydney’s largest Oriental Dance school, founded in 2009.

Rachel has celebrated thousands of birthdays, weddings, engagements and other happy occasions, with people from all backgrounds, across a joyful 25-year professional performance career. Over that time, her understanding of Oriental Dance has shifted and deepened. Through learning from everyone she could access, consolidating her own practice (both teaching and performing), and spending time in Egypt and with Middle Eastern diaspora communities here in Australia; she has fallen ever deeper in love with this dance and the fulfilment it can bring.

As a teacher, Rachel focusses on making the dance accessible to all, without sacrificing technical precision or cultural relevance. Students find her articulate, enthusiastic, patient and inspiring, and often mention how well she explains concepts and movements so that everyone can follow and learn. She delights in seeing students grow, and in watching friendships blossom alongside dance skill. Community and cultural connection are at the heart of her practice. Within the Australian dance community, Rachel is respected for her knowledgeable and insightful teaching, making her a familiar face at festivals and events throughout the country.