Academy
Contents:
- Term Class Curriculum - Arabesque Comprehensive Curriculum
- Drop-In Classes - Arabesque Recreational Curriculum:
- Foundation
- Beginner I
- Beginner II
- Intermediate I
- Intermediate II
- Advanced
- Specialty Classes:
- Just Dance
- Belly-Hop
- Folklore
- Ballet for Bellydancers
- Choreography
- Props and Technique Drills
- Yoga for Bellydancers
- Kids
- Youth
- Summary
The Arabesque Term Class, Comprehensive Curriculum
Arabesque presents its New Term Class Curriculum starting again - September,2010!
Cover 10 levels of Bellydance technique including the important contributions of each of the famous Bellydance legends as well as an in depth study of many Folklore styles.
The Arabesque Comprehensive Curriculum will feature Foundation classes plus TEN new levels with more steps and more information!!
Created to better prepare students to participate in the Arabesque Professional Course and to create fully rounded artists and ambassadors of Middle Eastern Dance, particularly the glorious Bellydance
Foundation Level remains basically the same as in the old curriculum and is still on a drop-in basis. Some students may need to take this class only once and some may need to take it up to 15 times depending upon past dance experience and aptitude. The purpose of the Foundation class is to establish proper posture, basic isolation technique, the 10 basic accents and grasping the awareness of how Bellydance movement is unique and different from all other forms of dance.
The following ten levels take a minimum of 12 classes each in term sessions.
Each level will teach students the following:
- appropriate technique for each level of approximately 2 new steps per class
- one new Arabic word per class that is helpful to Bellydancers (totaling 121 words over the whole course)
- an in depth education in a Bellydance specialty or Folklore including the steps, nuances, character, history and culture
- the dance style, steps and historical significance of the most influential Bellydancers over the last 70 years
Level One
Specialty - Saiidi
Dancer - Tahia Carioca
Level Two
Khaleegy
Samia Gamal
Level Three
Mohamed Ali St., Tannoura
Naima Akef
Level Four
Veil work
Nagua Fouad
Level Five
Port Said, Hagallah, Nubian
Sohair Zaki
Level Six
Segat, Zaar
Fifi Abdou
Level Seven
Shamadan, Sword, Floorwork
Mona El Said
Level Eight
Assaya, Tahtiib
Dina Talaat
Level Nine
Milaya, Ghawazi
Aida Nour, Tito Seif
Level Ten
Exploring differences in Folklore character portrayal
Breaking the Rules of Technique & Style
Creating Your own Technique and Style
New Term Class Curriculum starts Septemeber 13,2010!
See Schedule effective September 7, 2010 here
Beginner I & II levels = New Curriculum Levels 1-4
Intermediate-Advanced levels + New Curriculum Levels 5-10
Term Class - Comprehensive Curriculum Pricing:
$175 plus HST
Each level runs for 3 months, one class a week
Must pre-register
* Regular Drop-in Recreational Curriculum Classes are still available - mix and match with the New Curriculum!
The Drop-In Class, Arabesque Recreational Curriculum
Covers 6 levels of Bellydance technique as well as Specialty Classes. All classes are designed so that a student can join at any time in any level. Each student decides for themselves where they feel most comfortable.
When learning to Bellydance, one should understand that the quantity of steps in one's repertoire does not account for much if the foundation of each realm of movement is not mastered. In other words, quality, not quantity is the key. When the foundation of each of these movements is mastered, then the student's body is trained to move like a Bellydancer. There are limitless ways to undulate, or shimmy but the way in which any movement is executed determines whether she or he moves like a Bellydancer or not. When the basis of this movement is intact and coupled with a strong understanding of Arabic music, culture and folklore, then any movement that your body creates out of expression of the music is Bellydance. Think of the moon as the goal of Bellydance movement. Then, think of all the infinite steps to learn as fingers pointing to the moon. It is the moon one wants, not the fingers.
Foundation
This is the most important level. Advanced students should revisit this level from time to time. It may take one class or it may take up to 10, depending on the students pace and past dance experience. Foundation class is different from the other levels in that it is the same class every time, and does not incorporate choreography or folklore. Everyone, including seasoned professionals, must take at least one Foundation class in order to get any benefit from the rest of the Arabesque levels. Key principles are established in Foundation Level which are the basis of any Bellydance step. If a student requires a number of Foundation classes, sometimes it is a good idea to drop into a Beginner class every now and then, in order to avoid boredom (seeing as the same thing is taught in Foundation every time). If your schedule permits, try a variety of teachers. One step may click with one teacher's explanation and another with a different teacher. Before moving on to Beginner I, the student should have discovered lower abdominal muscles and have learned how to relax back muscles. The student should be able to isolate his or her hips without any upper body movement and vice versa. The student should have experienced and understood that a hip movement does not come from the hips but rather from the legs that give the momentum and the abdominal muscles guiding the direction of the hips. Likewise, chest lifts are accomplished by pushing up with the upper abdominal muscles, not by pulling up with the shoulders. Learning to relax muscles, especially the back, and use the easiest and smallest amount of effort to execute a movement is what is discovered in Foundation Level. Hip shimmies as well as hand/wrist movements are introduced at this level but the student is not expected to master them. These movements are usually an ongoing process, which are constantly honed throughout all the levels.Beginner I
Beginner I is where the fun starts and the student will learn actual steps. Almost all of the quintessential Bellydance steps are taught in this level. These are the movements from which later on, one will be able to draw from, and with which, one will be able to layer and elaborate. Getting all of these steps is important but more important still is remembering the basic principles learned in Foundation level and how they apply to each of these Beginner I steps. When the student sees the connection of these principles to all of the movement and can execute these, then she or he is ready to move on to the next challenge. Another important factor to take into consideration is the fact that each movement has a corresponding arm position. This arm movement is just as essential to the accomplishment of the step.Beginner II
Beginner II is where the foundation of Egyptian technique is introduced. There is a greater awareness of how amazing the abdominal muscles can be and how mastery over them can change the look and integrity of all previously learned steps by the student. A new grouping of steps is introduced at this level, but what must be mastered before moving on is the vertical drop technique and how it can be applied to many movements. By learning even more steps with slightly more difficulty and discovering a deeper understanding of what abdominal muscles are capable of, the student should now be able to really execute every movement including shimmies with ease and fluidity. If the student is having difficulty with any of the Beginner steps, the student should not continue to Intermediate. Things to look out for are the vertical drop, maya, basic shimmies and 3/4 shimmy technique. The student will need a firm foundation in these movements in order to attempt Intermediate steps. (Please consult with a teacher or take a Skills Assessment before advancing to the next level.)
Intermediate I
Now a student begins to feel like a dance artist and can relish in the fact that she or he has rare and special physical skills. The theme of Intermediate I is layering. One movement in one part of the body is performed at the same time as another in a different part of the body and even at different rhythms. Sometimes, one is layering as many as four different movements simultaneously. This is impossible without accomplishing the Beginner technique. As usual, new steps are introduced, but, transition between steps and flow are the focus. Intermediate takes the meaning of coordination to a whole new level. Once the student can perform sequential movements with ease, is stable on his or her toes for any step, and has added the perfection of Egyptian abdominal work with a vertical slide and the fish step, this student is now ready for Intermediate II.
Intermediate II
Challenging steps, vigorous muscle workouts, speed and accuracy are now the focus in Intermediate II. The dancer has arrived at the point where he or she is able to create the illusion that the movements are easy and natural and that the dance artist was born moving this way. The greatest challenges are found here. There is much groaning in class, but this is where it all comes together and mesmerizing art is created. New realms of movement are introduced which emphasize grace and poise. Before moving on to Advanced, it is a good idea to revisit Foundation and Beginner classes where a whole new appreciation of the basics is experienced and will finally ground all of one's technique. The dancer is ready for Advanced once this new level of understanding and experience of movement takes place, and once the dancer can perform ALL techniques and combinations with ease and grace.Advanced
Advanced level is the important time to make a complete shift of attitude and approach to the dance. Now the dance artist will feel as if she or he is starting at the beginning all over again. This level may take longer than all the other levels put together. In Advanced, the student will learn a few new showbiz and showstopper moves but now is the time to forget all about technique. It is finished. There are infinite Bellydance moves and styles. At this point, adding more to the repertoire will not make the student a better dance artist. The body is finally conditioned and trained to express itself the way a Bellydancer does, so now, finding that expression is what matters most. The dance artist will find any previous introduction to Arabic music and folklore very helpful at this time. Mastering each folklore will take as long as it took the dance artist to get this far. Learning how to communicate with movement, understanding Arab music theory and learning a wide variety of folklores are like the new fingers pointing to the moon. This time the fingers are emphasizing the meaning of the movement; where does the movement come from? Where does it meet the music from which it is derived? Here is where the dance artist's body becomes a vehicle of communication where its movements and nuances tell a story and move an audience emotionally. Now the dance artist finally begins to experience and express that innate femininity and the timeless archetype one glimpsed at in the Foundation class. Now the fingers are folklore, Arabic music and personal expression, and all point to the bright light of the moon, working together to reveal the mystery of Bellydance.
Just Dance Classes
Learn as Yasmina did in the Middle East. No technique breakdown and not much talk. Just follow along to improvised dance in all styles of Arab music. Learn the differences in emotion and nuance between so many styles of Bellydance and Middle East Folklore. Technique is not important. All levels.Specialty Classes
Belly-Hop
What do Bellydance and Hip Hop have in common? Isolation and popping. Mix it up with Egyptian with Urban dance set to some very innovative new style music from Egypt. Teacher Saba is famous for this fusion style. Recreational Beginner Level 2 or a Comprehensive Level 3 or higher.
Folklore
Learn a wide variety of the characters, dance styles and nuances of so many Middle East regions such as the veiled women of Saudi Arabia, the flirtatious girl of Alexandria, the sassy maalema of Cairo, the coquettish village girl of Luxor, the strong footwork of Lebanon, the mysteries of the Bedouin, the playful fishing people of Port Said. Learn the origins of many of the steps we see in today’s Bellydance. Some Dress-Up in class as well.
Props and Technique Drills
Drill a different Bellydance technique each week and master the skill of playing the finger cymbals, balancing a sword or candelabra, twirling the Assaya or cane and the mesmerizing art of Veilwork.
Choreography
Choreography Learn choreography to small sections of Middle Eastern music in all styles. A different style of Middle Eastern dance each week. Recreational Beginner Level 2 or a Comprehensive Level 3 or higher.
Ballet for Bellydancers
Beginner/Elementary level. Combination of Ballet, Contemporary and Jazz. This class is designed to strengthen the body and to learn basic dance technique that can be applied to all dance styles and particularly the needs of Bellydancers.
Yoga for Bellydancers
Yoga and Bellydance are the perfect compliment. Agility is a Bellydancer's secret weapon. Strength and stamina while learning to relax. Exactly what a Bellydancer needs to become accomplished.
Kids
For those 6-12 years of age. A fun and energetic class full of variety and eclectic styles of Bellydance and Middle Eastern dance, Culture, Creative Movement, and Dress Up. Performance with Arabesque Junior Troupe.
Youth
For those 13-18 years of age who are too cool to hang with the kids or boring adults. Challenging and expressive Bellydance and Middle East Folklore specially tailored for young people discovering their unique voice.
Summary
Bellydance is art, and is therefore subjective. Two different students of the same age and of similar physical capabilities may look very different after one month or even 20 years of Bellydancing. If one is happy when one dances, then one has accomplished much, and obviously feel the Bellydance spirit. If other people want to pay to see a dance artist perform, then that dance artist is professional. In either case, it may take a few hours or thousands of hours of class.
In the first half of training at Arabesque, many rules and techniques are emphasized in order to condition the student's body to have strength in certain areas. Once this is accomplished, the student starts to become an artist and is free to embellish and create. A great example of this is the undulation. An undulation in Beginner can be very different from an undulation in Advanced. In Beginner, one must only use abdominal muscles while trying to let go of back muscles that often cause the chest or pelvis to lift. The student is encouraged to keep all body parts on a horizontal level. Once the student has firmly accomplished this so that it feels natural, then they are free to lift the chest or even the pelvis maintaining the integrity of the movement. The movement should still have the quality of looking like it originates in the abdominal muscles and not the back muscles.
Everyone learns at different rates according to past dance experience, aptitude and the time invested in class and practice. Jumping ahead to a level one is not ready for will only hinder one's capabilities and actually slow down the learning process. There is no race. It is the journey that counts. When a student is unsure, Arabesque teachers are there to give advice. It is highly recommended to take a skills assessment before moving to the next level to receive thorough personal feedback. If a teacher says a student is ready to move on and the student is afraid, know that the next level will be difficult for a while just like in the beginning, but the teacher would not recommend this if it were not true. One good idea is to alternate between levels for a while until the student is completely ready to move on. All of the teachers at Arabesque are dedicated to creating excellent dancers and have no interest in holding students back or pushing them too fast.
Performing at any level in Student Galas, Student Soirees, Al Haima and Layali Arabesque events is part of the learning experience. It is amazing what one can accomplish in the two weeks before a performance with a goal in mind. Also, it is gratifying to acknowledge and witness what has been accomplished so far, and to put it all together into action. Another essential component to the learning process is freestyle improvising while hanging out at Layali Arabesque and other Arabic nightclubs and parties. Here, one can again put into practice what they have learned in a more personal way while gaining a greater understanding of Arabic music and culture from which this art form is derived.
May your experience of the ancient art of Bellydance be a wonderfully inspiring journey.