Belly

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!

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.

This advanced class combines five upper body isolations with a few lower body isolations in yet even more challenging variations. Here we will start to venture in to poly-rhythms as well. This spotlight is a segment of Ashley's "Layercake: Crazy Delicious Layering" class.

This short but effective yoga practice relaxes the deep and superficial muscles on either side of the spine, and supports and hips and low back. This sequence can be used for your belly dance practice or on it's own. This yoga sequence is part of Rachel's class, "Up Tempo Locks and Isolations".

In this Belly Dance Basics class the focus will be on very muscular internal body movements and external traveling moves. After a short full body warm-up you will learn up-to-down and down-to-up-undulations as well as down-to-up hip figure 8’s. Basic hip bumps and twists will also be layered on different foot patterns. All the movements will be combined at the end of class into a great drill style combination. The class concludes with a short cool down.

An excellent class for a beginning student or advanced dancer looking to keep their basics strong.

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.

Zoe's unique approach to belly rolls: "The 4 Part Roll" breaks down this classic move for any style of belly dance, emphasizing each muscle group, and moving the abdomen independent of the spine.

The strange and beautiful bodywave is performed differently according to your belly dance style. Here, we'll focus on the Tribal and Tribal Fusion approach, drilling it as a spinal roll in the back of the body. Rachel pairs this movement with a hip circle and an undulation down to up to give it a very sinuous and smoky feel. This spotlight is from Rachel's workshop, "Sinuous and Smoky Phrases".

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.

In this spotlight, the focus is on spinal flexibility, side to side bends, and twists to increase flexibility and range of motion in the torso. This spotlight is from Ashley's "Built for Belly Dance: Torso Conditioning Workshop".

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.

In this spotlight, Ashley leads you through 20 minutes of belly dance drills focusing on conditioning the core muscles used in belly dance. This spotlight is from Ashley's "Built for Belly Dance: Torso Conditioning Workshop".

In this spotlight, the focus is on 20 minutes of Pilates with a specially developed fitness routine designed to strengthen the major muscles of the trunk of the body: the upper and lower back, abdominals, and pectorals. This spotlight is from Ashley's "Built for Belly Dance: Torso Conditioning Workshop".

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.

The gorgeous feminine expression of Cabaret Style Belly Dance can range from light and airy to earthy and powerful. In this class we will focus on seven “classic” cabaret style movements. This class is perfect for someone just beginning to build their belly dance repertoire or for the dancer looking to fuse some authentic Arabic style into their dance. Each movement will be broken down, drilled, then put together into a combination. We will start with warm-up based on Kundalini Yoga and Qi Gong, designed to free up energy in the physical and energetic body, and we will conclude with a short cool down.

This class is designed to get the dancer moving and sweating with a few combinations that contain a variety of belly dance moves fused with steps from other styles of dance, including hula and jazz. Combo "A" works with basic belly dance moves, traveling steps, and some arm movements for an energetic and fun workout.

Each movement of each combination is first broken down through a series of drills that increase in speed. Once all of the steps of the combination are learned, they are quickly put together as a dance combination and are practiced slowly, then with increasing speed. This video also features a short Pilates-based warm up and cool down.

This class is designed to get the dancer moving and sweating with a few combinations that contain a variety of belly dance moves fused with steps from other styles of dance, including hula and jazz. Combo "B" works with cross over turns, level changes, and traveling hip movements for an energetic and fun workout.

Each movement of each combination is first broken down through a series of drills that increase in speed. Once all of the steps of the combination are learned, they are quickly put together as a dance combination and are practiced slowly, then with increasing speed. This video also features a short Pilates-based warm up and cool down.

This class is designed to get the dancer moving and sweating with a few combinations that contain a variety of belly dance moves fused with steps from other styles of dance, including hula and jazz. Combo "C" works with big belly dance hips, paddle turns, and undulations for an energetic and fun workout.

Each movement of each combination is first broken down through a series of drills that increase in speed. Once all of the steps of the combination are learned, they are quickly put together as a dance combination and are practiced slowly, then with increasing speed. This video also features a short Pilates-based warm up and cool down.

Get your daily dose! These concise belly dance practices include what you need to keep your technique strong when you’re short on time: yoga, conditioning, technique drills, a short belly dance phrase called Pinball, and a cool down. Pinball #1 offers a stronger yoga practice and focus on leg strengthening and level changes.

Get your daily dose! These concise belly dance practices include what you need to keep your technique strong when you’re short on time: yoga, conditioning, technique drills, a short belly dance phrase called "Pinball", and a cool down. Pinball #2 has a more gentle yoga practice and focus on arms.

Daily doses are made in pairs so you can alternate practices for an all-over conditioning over the course of several days. This practice highlights the beautiful and complex phrase: Pinball.

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!

The elusive flutter! This impressive belly dance isolation can be mystifying for both the audience and the performer. It requires breath-work, isolation, and a unique awareness of your core muscles. Learn from a pro as Zoe shares her tips and tools to finding your flutter.

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 spotlight focuses on to a technique concept called “scales". In this video, Rachel will break down and drill the scale called "Pinball".

The Pinball scale combines undulations, rib cage circles, maya, side to side undulations, a simple lock pattern, and a more complex isolation pattern. These phrases can be used for improvisation or choreography, as well as being strong technique drills. This spotlight is taken from Rachel's "Serpentine Scales Workshop".

A strong little phrase to keep your down-hip work nice and clean. Also includes hip circles and an undulation from the lowest-low belly to keep those abdominal isolations articulated and easy.

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!

A short lead-and follow improvisation-drill to help you integrate side-to-side undulations, sidewinder, and bodywaves. Get warmed up for this one and jump in! If you need more information about these movements individually, they are explained in detail in Rachel's 'Sinuous and Smoky Phrases' class.

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.

This brief, simple dance warm up requires no mat, and is designed to warm up the legs, arms, abdominals, and back. This spotlight is from Ashley's workshop, "3/4 Shimmy Variations & Layers".

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.

This spotlight will introduce the intermediate student to a technique concept called “scales”, through breaking down and drilling the Sugar scale. Scales are phrases that can be used for improvisation or choreography, as well as being strong technique drills. The Sugar scale combines a series of locks and undulations that travel up and down the body. This spotlight is taken from Rachel's "Serpentine Scales" workshop, which features a combination using both the Pinball and Sugar scales.

This brief class provides tips and techniques for working on drilling your undulations for greater clarity and ease of execution.

This class presents a combination that includes a simple isolation pattern, hip work, a traveling step, and a bit of a theatrical ending. It was created to be used over and over for several months, so it begins simply and increases tempo three times so you can work at your current speed and level. We begin with a yoga-based conditioning sequence for the upper back, and end with support for your hips.

This combination includes a simple isolation pattern, hip work, a traveling step, and a slightly theatrical ending. It was created to be used over and over for several months: it begins simply and increases tempo three times so you can work at your current speed. It's suggested that you warm up a bit before trying this combination.

This spotlight breaks down three different 3/4 shimmy variations. The first includes a hip "up” accent, the second is the “over-shimmy” (using a figure 8 in the hips), and the third is a twist and drop variation... offering the experienced dancer three distinct flavors to play with! This spotlight is from Ashley's workshop, "3/4 Shimmy Variations and Layers."

This challenging yoga practice focuses on developing strength and flexibility in the muscles on either side of the spine, and will, over time, contribute to a healthier standing forward bend, known as the Layback.