!??I need belly dance help??!?

Question

Well i wanna learn belly dance but have taken not one class so i know nothing... i was going to take classes but we live in ohio and now moving to like texas or florida or something like that... i was going to take classes up here but we are moving too soon and for a while down there we will have financial unstable... so til our monet gets better (cuz we have to buy a house and stuff like that) i need to know what everyone who has taked bellydance classes learned in their beginner sessions... if i know that then i can go on youube then i could see how to do those things... i would see written description and many videos how to do them and practice practice practice til i perfect them that i think then later take private lessons to have a private instructor tell me if i'm in like the right stance or watever... but i need to know if any experienced bellydancers would think that would work and what all they learned in all begginer sessions... i mean experienced by they are intermediate or higher...

And i watched a few videos on bellyrolls and i need how to know how to target your lower stomach muscles my top one is good i can watch it move but when i try to tighten my bottom standing i also tighten my top but when i lay down i can tighten it but i need to know how to tighten it and if you could tell me how to just make me strengthen my top more just like give a site that explains or since you know describe yourself... please help me and any written description or good video on youtube or something you would reccomend for certain moves would greatly be appreciated!!!!

Answer 1

You can buy some on amazon.com Neena and Veena are really good at breaking down moves. It's hard to tell which instructinal dvd to get because we all learn differently and gravitate toward different people but Try some and see how you like it. Shira.net is also a good place.

Answer 2

try renting some dvds on learning.

http://www.marzino.com

Answer 3

While you can probably learn some things online, you can't know for sure that you're doing it correctly. A live class is best for you to start to learn a dance style so you know that your posture is correct and that you have learned the basic moves correctly. It can be difficult to try to learn online. Some movements can be difficult to really see well, so it's really difficult to try to imitate them. It would be easier trying to learn from online videos after you take a few classes in person, so you understand more about the dance when using videos. It would be good if you could take even one class in person before trying to learn on your own. Libraries often have DVD's available.

Shira's website lists videos and has ratings on them.

I like this DVD.

Bellydance Basics and Beyond: Technique for a Solid Foundation

http://www.amazon.com/Bellydance-Basics-...

You can check out videos by Cassiopeia

http://www.youtube.com/user/cassiopeia22...

Once things are more stable after you move and you want to find a class, you might want to start by checking with a gym or recreation center in your area. Sometimes they have dance classes, and those teachers may also do private lessons.

You can look on Shira's website.

http://www.shira.net/

http://www.shira.net/directory.htm

a really good description on doing belly rolls

http://www.shira.net/dear3-rolls.htm

other websites where you can look for teachers (and other info)

http://www.middleeasterndance.net/

http://www.middleeasterndance.net/Moveme...

http://www.middleeasterndance.net/BDThes...

http://www.bhuz.com/

http://www.bdancer.com/med-guide/

zaghareet.freeservers.com/

You can e-mail or call some of the dance instructors to find out what ages they teach in their classes, more about their background, their style of instruction, what they expect from students, and fees they charge for classes. If you don't find a teacher listed for your area, you might want to contact one from the websites and find out if they may know of an instructor who may live closer to you. You might want to see if you can contact other students of theirs to get their opinions of the classes. A good teacher should encourage this.

I hope you find a teacher that you like. If one teacher's style doesn't suit your learning style, try another. I've known some dancers to take awhile finding a setting that worked for them.

Good luck!!