Colette Todorov

Increasing muscular control, core stabilization, and strength is the goal of this spotlight. We prepare the body to move with quick aerobic steps, then link exercises targeting the abdominal muscles, including the obliques or the the diagonal muscles of the waist and trunk. These exercises are excellent for increasing endurance while developing a strong core to support gestures with the arms and legs, resulting in abdominal definition.

This spotlight is from Colette's Tribal Basic Series #5 class.

This warm up emphasizes oppositional movement to increase muscular control and core stabilization. The body is prepared to move with quick aerobic steps then transitions into exercises that target the abdominal muscles, challenging endurance and increasing strength. This sequence is great for developing core strength, useful for all types of belly dance movement, and results in abdominal awareness and definition. This spotlight is from Colette's Tribal Basic Series #6 class.

In this ATS® spotlight, Colette covers three fast moves: Double Bump, Single Bump, and Arabic Hip Twist with a 1/2 turn. This spotlight is from her ATS ® Tribal Basics Class 8.

In this ATS® spotlight, Colette covers various slow moves: Torso Rotation, adding a turn, head slides with levels, and 3 slow turns. This spotlight is from her ATS ® Tribal Basics Class 8.

This beginning level ATS® class introduces basic slow moves including posture, taxeem, hand floreo and reverse turn, and presents four fast moves: Arabic, Shimmy Step, Egyptian and Choo-choo. A zill pattern is paired with the fast moves and drilled. We start with a warm up and end with a cool down.

After a quick warm up, slow arm undulations, arm flourishes, and Bodywave are presented in this ATS® basic class. Fast variations, including Egyptian 1⁄2 Turn and Arabic Arm Flourishes are introduced and drilled with zils. We break down and drill duet and trio formations, then finish with a cool down.

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.

This beginning level ATS® class starts with a warm up then reviews posture. Wrap-around Turn is introduced and slow movements are layered onto level changes. We review Turkish Shimmy then add a 1⁄2 Turn and introduce Reach & Sit. Class finishes with a call and response zil drill which rotates through the common zil pattern used in ATS® and a cool down.

This is class 5 in Colette's Beginner's ATS® Series.

After a quick warm up, the beautiful Sahra Turn is introduced and Reverse Taxeem is layered with Arm Undulations in this ATS® basic class. We review fast foot positions then breakdown Arc-Arm Turn and Shoulder Shimmy. Ghawazee Shimmy and Arabic Hip-twist are introduced and put into combos to drill with zils. Transitions specifically suited for trios and quartets are broken down and drilled, then class finishes with a cool down.

This beginning level ATS® class starts with a warm up then arm position review. Circle Step is introduced and basic slow movements are layered with traveling steps. We review Egyptian Basic and introduce Up-Up-Down-Down-Down (Up2-Down3). Zils patterns used in ATS® but applicable to all styles of belly dance are reviewed and paired with movements. Class finishes with a fast drill and a cool down.

After a quick warm up, we'll introduce Turning Torso Twist and Head Slides then review 3 slow turns in this ATS® basic class. Double-bump and Single Bump are introduced and we'll add 1⁄2 turns to Arabic Hip-Twist. The Diagonal formation is introduced and transitions between formations are broken down and drilled with both slow and fast movements. Class ends with a cool down.

This class presents fast Tribal Style movements that incorporate classic foot patterns and traditional hip work which look stunning when performed by a group.  We will introduce the movements and flourishes, string them together into combos to drill, then drill them in formation with zils.  This workshop is appropriate for dancers of all levels and the moves are ATS® and/or ITS friendly.

Swords, zils, and quick shimmys – nothing pleases an audience more! In this Intermediate level class, fast movements for sword balancing are presented and drilled. Based on the ATS® fast vocabulary, but applicable for dancers of all styles, variations for dancing with a sword while wearing zils are introduced and concepts for fast sword presentations are discussed. Arm modifications are demonstrated and exciting combos are explored.

This class presents slow Tribal Style movements, each with a strong Flamenco flavor.  Starting with a short warm-up, we will introduce three movements and their cues, then string them together into a dramatic combo to drill.  This workshop is appropriate for dancers of all levels and the moves are ATS® and/or ITS friendly.

Tribal Style belly dance is known for its uplifted posture, which supports and carries the body and results in a strong, confident presentation.  These pointers breakdown the specifics of posture and explain how great posture can improve dance technique and presentation. 

This class starts with a warm up and conditioning segment focusing on arm strength and flexibility. We then cover a quick overview of swords used in belly dance and specific concepts for group improvisation using swords. Starting with the dancers handling the sword, variations of slow ATS® and Scarlet Thistle moves are presented as well as dramatic poses and flourishes that showcase this “dangerous” prop. Sword balancing, both on the hand and on the head is discussed with Tribal Style movements utilized for hand balancing and the ATS® vocabulary is explored for balancing on the head. Class finished with an improvised drill that strings together multiple movements to create combinations appropriate for choreography or for improvisation.

Basic movements provide a strong foundation for any belly dance practice and are the starting point for variations and complex layering. This spotlight focuses on proper technique for three fundamental slow movements in tribal style belly dance,  Taxeem, Reverse Taxeem and Bodywave, to ensure a dramatic  presentation and prepare for advanced variations.

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.

This warm-up will prepare the whole body for movement and focus on the lower body, including conditioning for the legs and feet.  This exercise is appropriate for beginner dancers to advanced dancers wanting to develop strength in their lower body.

Zils add a wonderful dimension to any belly dance performance, providing excitement and a celebratory feel while highlighting the rhythms in the music. As with any musical instrument, it takes time to develop a level of proficiency and technique to allow you to play while dancing.

This spotlight introduces three zil patterns used in all styles of belly dance: Triplets or Longa, Military or 3-3-7, and Alternating. They are drilled individually then played together in a fun and challenging zil drill. This spotlight is from Colette's Beginner's ATS® Series.

Zils add a wonderful dimension to any belly dance performance, providing excitement and a celebratory feel while highlighting the rhythms in the music. As with any musical instrument, it takes time to develop a level of proficiency and technique to allow you to play while dancing. This spotlight reviews the basic Triplets or Longa pattern, then introduces two zil patterns that may be used while dancing or while riffing with the music: the 3-1-3-1-3, which matches perfectly with Saiidi or Beledi rhythms and the 3-5-5, a fun syncopated rhythm. They are drilled individually then played together in a fun and challenging zil drill.

This spotlight is from Colette's Beginning ATS® Series.

Zils add a wonderful dimension to any belly dance performance, providing excitement and a celebratory feel while highlighting the rhythms in the music. As with any musical instrument, it takes time to develop a level of proficiency and technique to allow you to play while dancing. This spotlight reviews the basic Triplets or Longa pattern, then introduces two zil patterns that may be used while dancing or while riffing with the music: the 3-1-3-1-3, which matches perfectly with Saiidi or Beledi rhythms and the 3-3-7. They are drilled individually then played together in a fun and challenging zil drill.

This spotlight is from Colette's Beginning ATS® Series.