How to Choose a Bellydance Class

So you’ve seen belly dance and decided you’d like to try it.  Welcome to a wonderful, new world of grace, beauty and passion—and millennia of incredible drama and history!  And, it’s important to note that women of all ages, levels of previous dance experience and body types perform and enjoy bellydance.  Just ask Helwa’s students!

Finding and Choosing a Beginner Bellydance Class

So how do you choose your first belly dance class?

First of all, pick a good teacher.  How do you do that?  Ask if you can observe a class or pay on a one-time basis to try it out.

Helwa’s advice is to look for an experienced teacher who:

• Makes each class exciting and different
• Gives good warm-ups
• Kindly welcomes beginners and likes answering any kinds of questions
• Can patiently break down movements so beginning students can understand, follow and learn
• Guides students through practice with good drills and honest individual feedback
• Is knowledgeable enough to share the rich, cultural background of this art form with everyone

Then, look at the program itself.  EVERYONE AT EVERY LEVEL should seek out a program that:

• Is taught in a facility with wood floors and mirrors (you will not learn unless you practice in front of a mirror)
• Will not bankrupt you.  You are just starting off and shouldn’t have to pay an outrageous price just to try something.  As Park and Recreation classes serve the community first (NOT the instructor first), they are a cost-effective and FUN alternative for students wanting to sample belly dance.

Choosing a More Advanced Belly Dance Class

Again, look for an experienced teacher who is still active in the local bellydance community:

• Whose style you like
• Who gives you honest and valuable critique
• Who teaches the newest movements
• Who can use all props such as finger cymbals, swords, canes veils and more and incorporates them into classes
• Who has the experience to help you move beyond just technique – to bring improvisation, acting, storytelling and emotion into your dance
• Who offers you opportunities suited to your level to perform and show your stuff as you progress
• Who challenges you to dance at “the next level.”
• Who recommends other teachers, workshops and events to help you grow as a dancer

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