All classes are open and ongoing - START Belly Dancing Today!
FREE TRIAL CLASS - All you need to do is choose a Level 1 class time from our current Class Schedule that you would like to attend for your trial class and arrive about 15 minutes early to fill out a quick waiver form. After taking a trial class you are welcome to register for classes if you would like to at the front desk and you can start bellydance classes right away.
Introduction to Bellydance Workshop - to register for our next FREE 2 hour Introduction to Bellydance Workshop, email info@bellyup.ca We hold periodic beginner level workshops to introduce students the range of movements and steps taught within our Level 1 program to give you an idea of what bellydancing is all about. This is an informative workshop to also give you some history behind the culture of the dance form.
Read more about our Level 1 program for beginners.
Level 1 - Bellydance Basics
This level is considered the most essential level for any student to master. Here you will learn the basic vocabulary of belly dance which is a range of foundational movements considered critical in order to progress to other levels. Level 1 focuses on upper and lower body isolations, shoulder accents and shoulder shimmies, rib cage lifts, slides and circles, arm and hand work, to figure 8’s, hip accents, lifts, drops, bumps, circles and shimmies plus basic travelling steps. We recommend students take at least ten Level 1 classes or until all the foundational movements can be performed comfortably, accurately and without instructor assistance. You'll learn fun combinations that will help you link basic movements together. Think of Level 1 as learning how to speak a completely new language. You need to learn the individual words before you can start forming sentences. This is a comprehensive and challenging program. Be prepared to sweat, be challenged, at home practice and most of all come to every class with an open mind and an interest in having fun. Having fun in class is the most important thing!
Level 1 - Bellydance Routines for Beginners
We also offer a Beginner level choreography class for those who would like to learn a starter level bellydance routine. This class is progressive and a portion of the routine is taught each week. You should plan on attending this class consistently if you want to learn the full routine. We also suggest that students augment the bellydance routine class with continual level 1 technique classes to build a strong foundation and vocabulary of movement.
Rotating Curriculum
Each week all Level 1 classes will focus on the curriculum set out below. If you miss a week, you can make-up the class content my taking the class again as it will rotate. Of you can pick up another Level 1 class during the same week and the class content will be the same.
Week # 1 Upward Hip Accents. Travelling Steps. Shimmies. Undulations.
Week # 2 Horizontal Figure 8's. Travelling Steps. Shimmies. Undulations.
Week #3 Downward Hip Accents. Hip Drops. Travelling Steps. Shimmies. Undulations.
Week #4 Vertical Figure 8's. Travelling Steps. Shimmies. Undulations.
Week # 5 Pelvic Circles (small & large). Travelling Steps. Shimmies. Undulations.
Week #6 Rib cage lifts/drops. Chest Pops. Pelvic tuck, pelvic drop. Travelling Steps. Shimmies. Undulations.
Week #7 Hip & Rib Cage Twists. Travelling Steps. Shimmies. Undulations.
Week # 8 - # 10 - Choreography - a complete bellydance routine is taught during the last 3 weeks of a session that will use many of the movements you have learned in Weeks 1 through 7.