When you start in a belly dancing school you obviously want to learn and that is the main aim: to progress and learn new things. It can be very boring to do the same thing, year in and year out because the teacher is very limited in what she is able to teach you.
Personally I love variety, it is what makes you unique as a dancer and gives your performances such variance and flavour. A teacher should be able to teach you a variety with technique and styles as well as props. However it is up to the student as well whether they take in that knowledge and practice what they learn.
The props I believe a teacher should be able to teach you is:
- Isis Wings
- Balanced Sword
- Fire Sticks
- Fire Shamadan
- Tray Balancing
- Candles
- Veil (basic through to advanced including double and 7 veils)
- Cabaret Cane
- Squares
- Skirt
- Tambourine
- Finger Cymbals
- Fans
This is what I teach but is a good guideline
When it comes to styles and techniques there are quite a few styles which all do justice for the people whom enjoy them. I have been influenced by the following styles which are each unique in there own right and teach these styles to my students.
- Turkish Belly Dance
- American Cabaret Belly Dance
- Egyptian Belly Dance
- American Tribal Style Belly Dance
Personally I feel that you should at least know:
- 1 to 2 forms of Cabaret styles (also see about belly dance for the different styles)
- 1 other (I prefer to teach Tribal but you can learn any folkloric dance associated to middle eastern dance)
We should also remember that throughout your belly dance lessons you will develop your own style.
When attending your belly dance classes each level differ from the next due to the slightly more complex movements involved as well as the different use of props and variance in your performance required.
In a beginner class I believe you should learn:
- Belly dance basics which you will give you your foundation. This is where the movements will be explained to you in detail so that you know exactly what you are doing. (after all that is why you are in a beginner class because you need to know what to do right from the start and to do it correctly)
- Once you know your basics you will move on to more varied basics where you will start to travel with your movements and learn a few variations.
- Basic shimmy technique
- From there you should be comfortable with your movement and be ready to do experienced beginner movement where you will learn new technique and be introduced to the following props:
- Squares
- Veil (with a few veil swaps introduced)
- Candles
- Fans
- You should learn 2 to 3 choreographies in the beginner level.
We must remember that we can learn at our own pace and that it will take time to perfect everything you learn. You should not rush yourself and you should not be rushed to an advanced level if you are not ready for it…
In an intermediate class I believe you should learn:
- Have a sound knowledge of beginner basics and experienced beginner basics and move into intermediate movement and technique where you will start to learn layered combinations and more complex movement.
- You will learn various leveled movements as well as the foundations for floor work
- You will start to learn improvisation through drills and exercises as well as learning to come up with your own choreography.
- You will learn more advanced veil work as well as working in pairs and various veil swaps.
- More advanced shimmy technique
- You will do the following props:
- A knowledge of the props used at beginner level
- Skirt Dancing
- Cabaret Cane
- Tambourine
- Isis wings basics
- More advanced veil work
- You should learn 3 to 4 choreographies in the intermediate level.
- You should be able to dance in duets and come up with your own choreographies within a small group.
In the advanced level I believe you should learn:
- Have a sound knowledge of your beginner through to intermediate level technique and movement
- Advanced movement with complex combinations and technique
- Advanced floor work
- Stage presence technique
- Solo choreography and improvisation
- Group choreography and leading a group in a choreography
- Advanced shimmy technique
- You will do the following props:
- Knowledge of props from beginner through to the intermediate level.
- Fire sticks
- Balancing (tray, Shamadan and sword)
- Isis Wings
- Finger Cymbals
- You should learn 4 to 5 choreographies in the advanced level.
- You should be able to come up with your own solo choreography
- Be able to dance in duets in a small group and come up with your own choreography within these groups.
* Tribal is a complete style on its on and the fundamentals of the dance should be taught and your progress along with your troupe throughout the lessons.
This is a basic guideline as to what you will learn at each level.
Workshops should be offered to all levels to learn various things such as technique and props. The point of a workshop is to teach you how to do something specific from A to Z. After 3 hours you should have gained the knowledge and technique explained and taught within the workshop to be able to perform your newly acquired knowledge… after practicing at home of course.
Always remember you are only as good as how often you practice and the more you practice the more proficient you will become and have a better understanding of what you learn.