Let's work on our belly rolls! Colette takes us through an ab warm up, Zoe breaks down the belly roll, and April Rose helps us get cooled down.

Practice a variety of shimmies in this fun drill from Colleena! Work on your Overshimmy, Hagallah, 3/4 Shimmy on the In, and more!

In class two of Henna's Brand New to Belly Dance Series, you will be focusing on movements of the head and torso in belly dance. Henna will teach the directions of movement in the upper body, head and chest circles, and the grapevine step. You'll dance all of these moves into an exciting combination at the end of class.

In this workshop you'll discover Ebony's fun and unique take on Tribal Fusion belly dance, influenced by urban styles found in hip hop, retro funk popping, and movements rooted in Raqs Sharki dance. You'll work on isolating movements, unusual undulations, and some complex and exciting footwork. Please be sure to warm up before taking this class and cool down afterwards.

In this Tribal Fusion class, we explore a simple traveling combination and then add arm movements on top. Basic hip and chest movement will also be drilled, with a focus on clean, strong, muscular articulation. A nice, long arm and shoulder drill is included to build strength and stamina for beautiful and graceful arms. We will warm-up and cool-down with a bit of yoga and Pilates so grab your yoga mat as well!

This belly dance workshop will show how to get big, juicy, relaxed movements by focusing on the energy of the earth and working through your feet. We begin by allowing our basic hip and chest moves to spill over our feet, which drive the movement. Those movements will become a combination.

This is Lesson 4 of Level 1 Fast ITS Vocabulary. This class includes the Shoulder Shimmy, Shoulder Shimmy with a Hip Drop, Mid 3/4 Shimmy, Mid 3/4 Shimmy with 1/4 and 1/2 Turns, and the Arabic Shimmy. There is a "work" section with a detailed breakdown of the movements, a "drill" section for practice, and a "drill challenge" for an immersive experience drilling the movements from the entire level one fast format in duet and trio formations.

The Riqq is a classic traditional Middle Eastern instrument, with a rich history and beautiful sound! In this workshop, Faisal teaches you the basic sounds of the Riqq, discusses the history of this instrument, and explores the role of the Riqq in classical, cabaret, and folk music. You will also get the chance to drill some common rhythms on the Riqq. Stick with the basics of the rhythms and add in embellishments as you get more and more comfortable with your Riqq. We've also created a PDF of some rhythm accents and embellishments for you to explore alongside Faisal's playing! Drill along with these to explore the riqq even more! Available for rental on August 28th, 2019!

In this Torso Isolations workshop we’ll learn the structure of the Stage 1 Stationary Technique Drill that is repeated throughout April Rose’s training program, Bellydance Cohesion. After a brief warm-up of the ankles and wrists, we’ll learn the basic Stances, Family 1 Arm Positions, and Orientations used for the drill. Then April introduces the sagittal, frontal, and transverse plane Torso Isolations, which serve as the building blocks for all Bellydance Cohesion torso movements. Set to Ayub rhythm, we repeat the Stage 1 Stationary Technique Drill for Torso Isolations with Family 1 Arm Positions. After reaching a certain comfort level with the drill, a Level-up Option is introduced for those who wish to increase difficulty. The Level-up Option for this stationary Torso Isolations drill is a finger cymbal layer: the Stage 2 Singles Loop (played with ring and tik sounds).

In this workshop Zoe will lead you through her favorite Old School movements, a fundamental piece of her DanceCraft program. Influenced by her many teachers and colleagues including Jamila Salimpour, Katarina Burda, John Compton, Jill Parker, Zafira Dance Company, Rachel Brice, and Mardi Love, Zoe breaks down movements chock full of fancy footwork and luscious hipwork, all with a dash of old school sensibility.

In this Introduction to Datura Style™ Technique class, Rachel will introduce you to the basics of her personal format for belly dance, prepare you for the more challenging Datura Technique Studies, and show you how to improvise in this style as a soloist or in a group. Class # 1 focuses on hipwork on the up: hip lifts, bumps, the glute lock, and taxim. Rachel will breakdown all of these movements and then you will have the chance to dance them out in a fun improvisational drill. This series was designed to be used as a resource by anyone searching to clarify and strengthen their understanding of the fundamentals of Datura Style™ belly dance. Many thanks to the people who inspired Datura Style™: Jamila and Suhaila Salimpour: http://www.salimpourschool.com/, Masha Archer: http://masha.org/wordpress_1487830001/, Carolena Nericcio-Bohlman: https://fcbd.com/about/, John Compton, Liz Compton, Rebaba, & Hahbi'Ru, Mish Mish & The Gypsy Moor Dancers, Fifi Abdou, Mardi Love, Jill Parker: https://www.jillparkerbellydance.org/, Rose Harden: http://www.rosehipsdancer.com/.

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 and drilled in an American Cabaret 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.

This lecture reviews recent developments in anti-bias work and scholarship, and examines what we can do as individuals and a community to increase peaceful coexistence. Fusion dance was just the beginning of the important work we’ve started in the world as artists. Ally-ship takes many forms and is never a one-size-fits-all solution. Yet each courageous act of fellowship, no matter how large or small, is meaningful. Please don’t underestimate how your choices disrupt social bias and can tip the scales for a fellow human whom may feel demoralized and disenfranchised. Interestingly, you may find that you always get back more than you give. This workshop will explore definitive steps to move beyond “paralyzed empathy;” becoming effective as a listener, and act thoughtfully in our support of comrades. The inevitability of our global citizenship mandates we set a seat at our table for other world-views and voices. Do you really wish to make a difference? Join a conversation that is already in progress on an international level. Your contributions and thoughts will make it better for all.

Get to know Heather Stants in this behind the scenes interview! Heather discusses her dance journey and history in this interview, from her beginnings in belly dance, to the foundation of Urban Tribal, and her transition to Dance Flow Yoga practice.

After reaching a certain comfort level with the Stage 1 Stationary Torso Isolations Drill, a Level-up Option is introduced for those who wish to increase difficulty. The Level-up Option for this Torso Isolations Unit 1 is a finger cymbal layer: the Stage 2 Singles Loop (played with ring and tik sounds). This spotlight is from April Rose's Bellydance Cohesion Technique Drills: Stationary Torso Isolations workshop.

Let's explore that delicious edge when movement is imbued with rhythmic precision then pivots quickly into gooey warmth. These stationary drills were chosen for the way they dialog American Hip Hop with Transnational Fusion Dance. Let's fire up the crunchy, juicy beats of Muslimgauze and play!

Dance Flow Yoga is a smooth blend of vinyasa flow yoga and dance with an emphasis on expansive movement fluidity and exploration of the space between the shapes. This is a circular swirling flow with dynamic transitions from floor to standing. You can expect to explore strength, stamina, flexibility, and fluidity in this breath to movement meditation.

We are so excited to welcome Heather Stants to Datura! Heather is a dancer and mover with a degree in photography and fine arts. Since 1999 she has taught dance in San Diego and has toured the world extensively, performing and teaching intensives, workshops, and retreats. Datura is excited to share a few of Heather's Dance Flow Yoga classes with you this January (and more throughout the year of course)!

In this spotlight from Zoe's DanceCraft: Short Phrases, work on the Corkscrew and Reverse Corkscrew.

The seventh class in Henna's Brand New to Belly Dance Series gets you up and dancing, putting together everything that you've learned so far in the series. Practice hipwork on the up and down, snaky arm patterns and elegant arm frames, gooey hip circles, and more in fun combinations. All the combinations you learn in this class will be added together so you can confidently dance to an entire song at the end of class and have a good time.

We are so excited to present our brand new teacher on Datura Online...Donna Mejia! Donna is an Associate Professor and Director of Graduate Studies in Dance at CU Boulder Theatre and Dance Department. She is a choreographer, scholar, instructor, and performer specializing in contemporary dance, traditions of the African and Arab Diaspora, and emerging fusion traditions in Transnational Electronica. This genre provides a rich arena for the study of cultural imperialism, gender representation and electronic/digital globalization. Donna is also an authorized instructor of the Brazilian Silvestre Modern Dance Technique and is a lauded representative of this esoteric study of dance after 30 years of practice. She is bringing 4 new classes to Datura Online full of fusion dance drills, delicious stretches, longevity practices, and a lecture covering key concepts in the age of fusion. The first of Donna's classes will be available in January 2020, so stay tuned!

This is a performance of an original choreography by Ashley Lopez and Heather Powers to the song "I Fell In Love" by Gidge. This is a spotlight from Ashley's "I Fell In Love: An Original Choreography" workshop.

This combination adapts some of the folkloric movements of assaya for the raqs sharki stage. Sassy framing, fast cane work, and clever transitions are drilled in a combination at both slow and fast tempos, so you can really sink into the movements. This spotlight is from Henna's "Playful Technique & Combinations for Raqs Assaya" workshop.

Twists & Turns will give you a solid foundation for all your complex twisting and turning needs! First you'll learn a warm up that focuses on twisting, followed by a detailed breakdown of Datura Style vocabulary that includes twists: the Twisting Mardi, Jewel Scale, X Step, and Camelwalk Double Turn. You'll also receive step-by-step exercises to get you into challenging turns and spins. And finally you'll cool down with a finishing practice to re-stabilize and balance your spine after all that twisting!

In this spotlight from Amy's "ITS L2 Slow Lesson 1", Amy and Kari put together the Maya, Floreo Maya, Camel with a 1/2 Turn, and slow movements from your level 1 vocabulary to give you a chance to drill the movements and dance with the group.

This segment from Rachel's "Rib Cage Up Study" will gently prepare the spine for upper body belly dance isolations, specifically chest and rib cage lifts. Rachel will also detail the "yoga break" component of the "Rib Cage Up study" which includes rolling through the spine and chair pose to relax the body after chest isolations.

In this spotlight from Zoe Jakes' "DanceCraft: Old School Moves", learn the Samiha, an exciting 3/4 shimmy with a foot pattern, taught to Zoe by Jamila Salimpour.

In this workshop, Sedona breaks down more intermediate level fan veil movements and combinations, including fun frames with fan veils, ribbons, sandstorm, and a variety of spins and turns. Get ready to play with this beautiful belly dance prop! Available for rental on December 4th, 2019!

In this spotlight from Ashley's "I Fell In Love: An Original Choreography", we'll lean some staging ideas for the second part of the improvisation section in the choreography.

Work on both your slow endurance and fast intervals in your isolations on the transverse plane! This spotlight is from Rachel's "Twitch: Interval Training for Extreme Tempos".

Practice unison, contrast & complement, and canon in this spotlight from Ashley's "I Fell In Love: An Original Choreography".

Learn the basic sounds of the drum in this spotlight from "Introduction to Derbakke: Drum Fundamentals".

Smooth transitions are what give ATS® it's unique and powerful quality. This workshop covers techniques to assist with building an exciting and dynamic performance through thoughtful transitions, the elements necessary for successful group improvisation. This class offers drills for all levels of dancers.