Belly Dance Classes in MD (Bethesda, Chevy Chase, Kensington, Rockville)?

[Anonymous]

Any personal recommendations for studios with great belly dance classes? Teachers to seek out or avoid?

Thanks!

[Anonymous]

How serious are you about learning to belly dance? Is this simply for fun, exercise, do you want to perform, or just dance well enough in front of other people that you don't make a fool out of yourself?

There are many styles and lots of different prices. Can you take criticism? Will you have time to practice?

I belly dance and I love it! But, I went through many teachers and I had to undo some bad habits from bad teachers. So, if I know what you are looking for I can help point you in the right direction.

[zumbamama]

Sahara Dance is great and is right in your area. I have taken Rachel Brice workshops there...she rocks.

[Anonymous]

Sahara dance is expensive, crowded and you don't really learn to dance. You do choreography which is a "fusion" of different styles such as arabic/indian tribal, modern etc. It is not pure Egyptian belly dance. It took me a couple of years to break all the bad technique from the teachers at Sahara. And I am not alone. But, if you want to perform and make a fool of yourself they have school performances on a regular basis.

If you want to dance to a live Egyptian or Arabic band for example or dance for Egyptians who will know the difference then you have to study with Egyptian teachers.

[zumbamama]

thanks for the insight...only took one workshop there and it was with a guest dancer who travels the world. But are not those classes you are talking about called Tribal Fusion?...which would understandably be different than classical oriental/egyptian styles, not necessarily bad technique? I can't say, my classical training is in ballet, and my niche is Latin. But I have taken a few belly workshops, all in different styles, and think they are all fun. What do you think of Saffron over in Clarendon?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Sahara dance is expensive, crowded and you don't really learn to dance. You do choreography which is a "fusion" of different styles such as arabic/indian tribal, modern etc. It is not pure Egyptian belly dance. It took me a couple of years to break all the bad technique from the teachers at Sahara. And I am not alone. But, if you want to perform and make a fool of yourself they have school performances on a regular basis.

If you want to dance to a live Egyptian or Arabic band for example or dance for Egyptians who will know the difference then you have to study with Egyptian teachers.

So, any teachers recommended for those want to learn classic belly dance technique?

[Anonymous]

I used to go to Joy of Motion a few years ago. Laurel Gray is fun.

[Anonymous]

Faten over at Saffron is the only teacher I would take classes from. You can go to Fatensalama.com Most of the professionals in the area have studied with her.

There is Joy of Motion, which has a good selection of reasonably priced classes. I personally like Artemis and Yasmin. Yasmin is pretty strict and has great technique but her dancing style is not liked by everyone. But, once you have good basic technique you can focus on your own personal style later on. Go to serpentine.org

Azza Mounib teaches beginner classes for the best prices ever through "Arlington County parks and recreations classes" (google for the schedule) and has advanced and private classes in Alexandria. Go to azzamounib.com

Those are my top picks!

[Anonymous]

Thanks!

[zumbamama]

What about modern tribal styles? Or are you classical only?

[Anonymous]

I'm mostly classical but if I were to do tribal then I would try to find a troupe that I really liked and get in with them. Joy of motion also has tribal classes. Marta is very nice and teaches lots of tribal stuff. Her site is www.moveyourbelly.com. Also, google tribal belly dance troupes.

But, for god's sake whatever you do stay away from that goth shit. They butcher anything remotely belly dancing!