Banat el Kamar Classes
The Banat el Kamar program offers beginning through advanced classes in classic belly dance, folkloric and tribal fusion styles.
We provide a friendly and welcoming dance environment for adult students of all shapes, sizes, ages and abilities.
Classes are offered at Pratt Community Education Center through Minneapolis Community Education.
Dress comfortably in workout clothes or dance wear. Dance barefoot or wear socks, soft sandals or ballet slippers. Bring a scarf to accent hip movements.
Each class will learn one or two choreographed dances. Students are encouraged to perform the class choreography or their own choreography at the Spring Concert, but performing is not mandatory.
Belly Dance 1
Tuesdays 6:30 to 7:45 pm Sept 28 - Nov 16
In the beginners level, taught by Zafira- Nancy, students begin to learn the basic movement vocabulary and isolations that make up the foundation of various genres of "belly dance". Students will be introduced to many core topics during the session, including playing figure cymbals (zils), dancing with veils, historical and cultural aspects of belly dance, styles of belly dance, discovering presence and connecting with the body. Students will also learn a choreography that will be presented at the annual Spring Show in May. Finger cymbals, and veils are available for student use in limited quantities.
Belly Dance 2
Wednesdays 7:45 to 9:00 pm Sept27 - Nov 17
Iscah Paquin teaches the intermediate class.
In the intermediate class students will continue to build upon their movement vocabulary. Students will work on more advanced movements.
Focus will be on layering movements, creating combinations, understanding rhythms, and beginning to work with props.
For the 2010-2011 season students will work on two short choreographies; a veil and an Egyptian oriental piece.
Students should bring their own zills to class and a veil. There will be limited veils available for use.
Class will begin and end with a short yoga-based warm up designed to increase flexibility and create body awareness and connection.
Belly Dance 3 - Skills & Shimmies
Tuesdays 7:45 to 9:00 pm Sept 28 - Nov 16
Stephanie Kaiser teaches the Skills & Shimmies class. Stephanie's classes are lively, upbeat, and welcoming for students of all ages, shapes, and sizes. Students can expect a good workout in addition to learning advanced dance moves, proficiency in playing finger cymbals, and developing their own personal dance style. Her students also learn a bit about the history and different styles of Middle Eastern Dance. Dance props such as veils, canes, pots, and Isis Wings may also be incorporated into the class sessions.
We recommended level 3 or higher class experience for the Skills and Shimmies class. We will continue to build on the technique and skills learned in previous classes, adding various finger cymbal patterns, combinations, layering, and new technique variations. Class time will be divided between a dance workout section and choreography, where anything from Egyptian Orientale to Traditional Folkloric, to Neo-Tribal styles can be included. As this is an upper-level class, students can expect individualized feedback - after all, you want to develop your own style, not someone else's!
Tribal Fusion
Wednesdays 7:45 to 9:00 pm Sept 27 - Nov 17
The Tribal Fusion class, taught by sabine, blends traditional belly dance with west coast influences, like hip-hop and dark fusion.This class builds on and sharpens your belly dance skills by focusing on isolating movements through drills, layering and stage presence.
American Tribal
Saturdays 11:15 to 12:15 pm Oct 2 - Nov 20
The American Tribal class, taught by Roberta Webb, is new for the 2010-2011 year. American Tribal focuses on group improvisation using a system of non-verbal cues that allow a group to communicate while dancing.
