The Beauty of Bellydance - A must read for Beginners! By Joharah of BellyUp

Bellydance has a timeless quality. Its beauty is in the organic nature of its movements and how it makes a woman feel. It allows us the freedom to express who we are as women. And whether we realize it or not, bellydance teaches us to appreciate and embrace  our bodies, our curves and the body we've got! Bellydance is accessible to all body types. Whether your intention is to study bellydance for fitness, just for fun or to learn to perform and/or go pro,  BellyUp's classes will introduce you to an entirely new world of movement, feeling and thinking. And while initially our classes emphasize how to move your body in the bellydancer way, we can't emphasize enough that this dance form is as much about your ears and your heart as it is about the physical movements. The essence of the dance form is in how you hear the music, how you feel it and how you translate it into the language of bellydance because this is what moves and captivates your audience and gives you an enormous amount of satisfaction as a student of the dance. 

At BellyUp students with no previous bellydance experience start by learning the basics of Egyptian style dance form. This is a specific way of movement and students are encouraged to take their time to build a strong foundation of skills before moving to the next level. Our classes are full of movement, fast paced and challenging. You'll be introduced to a new family of movement and travelling steps each week and from week one we start to teach you how to integrate movements and steps into bellydance combinations so you feel as though you are dancing from the very start. There is no pressure to advance or to perform, however for those eager to progress there are many subsequent levels and areas to move on to. We have two recitals a year for each location plus several Hafla and in-studio parties with performance opportunities. Those rising stars are always being watched for opportunities to Apprentice for BellyUp's dance ensemble "Ala Nar". 

All of us as Instructors at BellyUp take great pride in guiding our students on their journey into bellydance. We are always available to provide you with support and inspiration to take you to the next level as a student keeping your dance goals in mind. We are delighted to hear from enthusiastic students that really want to learn the art form. 

Our courses run in a variety of lengths depending on the season and provide students with a comprehensive overview of the various perspectives relating to basic hip work, turns, Arabesques, travelling steps including bellydance combinations and even choreography. From the first class students learn to integrate movements together. Learning to move from one to the next really makes you feel as though you are bellydancing.  We emphasize musicality from day one and developing an ear for the music and the fundamental rhythms of bellydance. 

BellyUp is known for a high standard of technique and producing top-notch dancers and well developed Beginners. Visiting instructors constantly comment on how well trained our  students are and we're very proud of that fact. Our classes are well-taught and challenging and will push your body to achieve great things - they will do wonders for your confidence level when you realize what your body can do with good training. 

Our Class Setting

While group classes are offered throughout the week, we also offer private lessons for those seeking more individualized attention beyond their class time or in place of. Our classes focus heavily on technique and Arabic rhythm which is the way in which we believe dancers progress as quickly as possible. Private lessons are by appointment. 

Class age ranges from 7 to 75. We encourage everyone to dance at their own level of fitness and stamina. The dance form is open to all ages and levels of ability.