Workshops

This workshop offers some upper body layering over the 3/4 shimmy as well as three different 3/4 shimmy variations in the lower body. Upper body layers include chest circles, up to down body rolls, and down to up body rolls. Each movement will be broken down into isolations and then practiced on top of the 3/4 traveling shimmy.

Each of the 3/4 shimmy variations combine an accent or shape in the hips: including hip locks up, hip locks down, twists, and slides. We’ll explore three specific variations that include these isolations.

This workshop is designed for the experienced dancer who is already comfortable with the basic 3/4 shimmy and is ready to layer and travel!

This beginning level ATS ® class starts with a warm up, then introduces basic slow moves including Camel Walk, Torso Twist, and the Propeller Turn. Fast movements will include Shimmy Step, and Turkish Shimmy, and adding a 1/4 turn to the Turkish Shimmy. Class finishes with a zil drill that rotates through the common drill patterns used in ATS® followed by a cool down.

After a quick warm up, Corkscrew Turn, Ribcage Rotation and layering Arm Undulations and Taxeem are presented in this ATS® basic class. Ghawazee Shimmy and Arabic Hip-twist are introduced and put into combos to drill with zils. Transitions and lead changes appropriate for duets and trios are broken down and drilled, then class finishes with a cool down.

This is the 4th class in Colette's Beginning ATS® series.

Belly Dance Flow Drillz have been created for the dedicated dancer as a means to drill almost all dance movements for a well-rounded daily practice. In this workshop Zoe will encourage a balance of strength, flexibility, and technique, utilizing sun salutations, Pilates, and good old fashioned belly dance. This practice will make you sweat, so drink lots of water, and you'll need a yoga mat and a towel.

This is a fun, challenging, intermediate-level belly dance choreography to "Bounce" by Solace. In this fusion piece we'll play with some locking isolation combinations, layers, funky belly-dance based traveling steps and turns as well as a few Polynesian-inspired moves. This choreography is presented as a solo piece but with a few simple modifications, it can be done as a duet.

This workshop is from the "Built for Belly Dance Conditioning Series", which are fitness-based classes for belly dancers that build strength, flexibility, and technique.

This workshop is a 3-part-power-packed belly dance, yoga, and fitness workout focusing on the lower body. Class will begin with a yoga and fitness routine for strengthening, then we will proceed to bellydance drills and a combo that focus on the legs and hips. The workshop will conclude with a yoga and stretching segment to increase flexibility and range of motion in the lower body.

The "Built for Belly Dance Series" also includes workshops on conditioning and drills for the arms and torso.

This workshop is a 3-part workout focusing on the torso. Class will begin with a Pilates and fitness routine designed to strengthen the major muscles of the trunk of the body: the upper and lower back, abdominals, and pectorals. Part two of this class is a 20-minute drill sequence focusing on movements of the torso. Part three focuses on spinal flexibility, side bends, and twists to increase flexibility and range of motion in the torso.

This workshop is a 3-part workout focusing on the upper body. Class will begin with a 20-minute segment focusing on upper body strengthening, followed by a 20-minute dance drill segment using upper body isolations and movements, and ending with a 20-minute upper body flexibility stretching segment.

In this workshop you will learn a Classic Cabaret entrance choreography. The piece starts with a veil dance , then moves on to showcase some classic oriental stylization. Learning this choreography will help to improve your musicality and transitions as well as introduce you to some beautiful yet innovative cabaret style movements and combos.

This workshop is designed to get you moving & sweating with three combinations that contain a variety of belly dance moves fused with steps from other styles of dance, including hula and jazz. Do all three combinations for a complete workout or use one at a time to get your heart rate up before a dance class.

Learn a dynamic drum solo choreography. This high-energy piece features isolations, pop and lock patterns, shimmies, shimmy layers and various traveling movements. A fun and well rounded choreo to practice or perform!

This belly dance flow drills class will focus on layering muscular hip work with arm patterns and footwork. Zoe Jakes has created a format that teaches complex layering in a concise and clear way, and that is geared towards intermediate and advanced dancers of all styles. A yoga warm-up is strongly recommended before taking this class.

This Isolations workshop will start with grounding breath work to help you tune in and connect. We will then go head to toe, breaking down and drilling basic belly dance Isolations. Finally, we will mix and match the basic isolations to create interesting and innovative isolation patterns. Learning these challenging isolation combinations will enhance your ability to accent musical cues and expand your drum solo repertoire.

This is a challenging beyond-beginner Pilates class designed just for bellydancers. In this workshop, we will practice exercises that target key muscle groups that are essential for bellydance technique as well as offer variations that help to balance the avid bellydancer’s body—addressing healthy spinal movement, range of motion, and offering pointers for injury prevention.

This intermediate to advanced level workshop will help those already proficent in deep bodywaves to achieve the coveted layback-drop-zipper combination. We begin with a yoga practice to strengthen the large muscles of the back, and to lengthen the hip flexors. Rachel then breaks down The Layback, The Cobra Basket turn, and drills The Zipper. Then you’ll move on to learning a challenging combination that includes laybacks, drops, berber walks, the Zipper, the Cobra Basket Turn, the Camel Walk Plunge and others. The combo can be used for group improvisation or choreography. Please proceed carefully, as this workshop is filled with movements that take time to master.

This workshop will introduce the intermediate student to two technique phrases called “scales.” These phrases can be used for improvisation or choreography, as well as being strong technique drills. They are introduced individually, then practiced together in a combination. You will drill undulations, rib cage circles, maya, side to side undulations, a simple lock pattern, and a more complex isolation pattern. The class begins and ends with a brief warm up and cool down.

This workshop covers 4 different types of shimmies: the choo choo, the waggle shimmy, the Turkish front back shimmy, and the freeze. It includes a warm up with a very unique seated shimmy drill that will help you gain the muscle memory needed to execute stellar shimmies. Each shimmy is broken down, drilled and then finally put into one extended drill based combination.

This workshop will teach you some of the gooeyest fundamental movements in Tribal Fusion vocabulary, and, when done regularly, will increase the strength and flexibility in the upper back and lateral muscles. It includes a warm up, three phrases: Bodywave, Side to Side Undulation, Sidewinder, an improvisation section including those phrases, and a cool down for flexibilty. Enjoy!

This three part workshop will focus on spins, flutters, and belly rolls that are used in Zoe's belly dance flow series and are applicable for belly dance technique. Each of these dance components will be broken down and explained clearly, allowing for dancers of all levels to gain a greater understanding of these elusive concepts.

In this workshop we will focus on belly dance’s most classic prop, the veil. You will get clear and concise breakdowns of veil posture, technique, and 20 unique movements and variations. All of the movements can stand on their or own or seam together to create a lovely 20 part veil choreography.

The workshop includes a warm-up specifically targeting arms, hands, wrists, upper back, shoulders and ribcage as well as commentary on using your veil as a theatrical prop and recovering from veil snafus.

Shimmies are one of the most impressive yet challenging movements in a belly dance repertoire. In this workshop we will go through a clear and concise break down of the Egyptian style hip shimmy and shoulder shimmy. We will dance through an extended shimmy session to help increase the endurance and velocity of your shimmy. Finally, we will begin to add exciting and challenging shimmy layers and level changes. The workshops begins with a full-body, classical dance based conditioning workout; designed to create a long and strong dancers body.

This workshop is designed to give the beginning or intermediate belly dancer a foundation for traveling with 3/4 shimmies. In this workshop, we’ll break down the basic 3/4 shimmy, focusing on an even pacing and smooth execution. Pilates mat work, isolation drills, and balance exercise will help to prepare the dancer for the movement. This video includes a basic traveling combination to exercise traveling forward, back, and to the sides. Great for beginning to experienced dancers looking to drill the 3/4 shimmy.

Learn the 5 sections of a balancing routine in this short and simple choreography. This includes level changes, touches briefly on floorwork, gives a few turns to play with, and has a combination or two while balancing your item of choice. Make sure you're warmed up for this one, especially in the legs. Enjoy!

An up-tempo combination with a lot of changes, the Hagallah combo gives both your brain and body a bit of work. In addition to the hagallah, enjoy the Arabic Shimmy, optional level changes, and a few surprising transitions.

In this Intermediate level class, a choreography featuring the Sword is presented to MWE's song, "Los Biblicos"*. Beginning with an entrance, the piece starts with the presentation of the Sword and dramatic Sword handling. The tension increases as the Sword is balanced and Tribal Style movements and variations are executed. This choreography is applicable to all styles of belly dance and may be utilized by ATS® or ITS groups.

To brush up on Tribal Style Sword Fundamentals, check out Colette's Slow and Fast Tribal Style Sword Classes. *Note: This choreography uses an edited version of the MWE song, "Los Biblicos". The choreography is from 00:47 to 4:06 of the track.