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Hi, I just started teaching my first belly dance class. The first class was Wed. night and went great...but I'm looking for some more teaching resources. Can anyone recommend some books on teaching belly dance? I've never run across one of these, but maybe a dance teaching book or general teaching book would be just as helpful...thanks!
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Salt Lake City
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Re: Book Recommendations
Fri, September 4, 2009 - 3:31 PMThis is excellent. I did her teacher training program, but you can buy the DVD/book combination separately, and I strongly recommend it. It's very balanced.
Some of what's in it:
Instructions on how to structure a class
Suggested lesson plans
Suggestions on appropriate music
Suggestions on how to run the business side of things
As I said, I highly recommend it. It's very thorough, and well worth the money spent. -
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Re: Book Recommendations
Fri, September 4, 2009 - 6:20 PMSounds awesome...but what's it called? :) -
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Re: Book Recommendations
Sat, September 5, 2009 - 7:37 AM -
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Re: Book Recommendations
Sat, September 5, 2009 - 12:31 PMI was wondering when you say she (shemiran ibrahim) addresses the business side of things-
does she go into how to market and promote your classes
or is mainly discussing how to set prices and protect yourself legally?
I am curious if there is a source/guide for instructors regarding the 'making a living' side of instructing.
It seems like many dance instructors have the "starving artist" mentality and simply do it for the passion/love of the dance which is where everyone should start but with the significant rise in interest and the amount of time, money, & work it is to offer descent classes... I see no reason why bellydance instructors shouldn't be able to generate a respectable income for their art.
Any thoughts or suggestions on that aspect of teaching? -
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Re: Book Recommendations
Sat, September 5, 2009 - 1:31 PMBusiness classes at the small business administration. Business is business. If you want it to be a business and not a hobby, talk to them. They can point you in the right direction on all those things including insurance and whether or not you need a lawyer for some of your concerns, or if you can use a standard waiver.
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Re: Book Recommendations
Sat, September 5, 2009 - 3:41 PMBoth actually. There's a lot of information on how to conduct yourself as a business. There's a fair bit on how to work with other dancers in your area without pissing them off.
The one big thing I came away with from this resource is that it's perfectly fine to make your living from dance, and not only that, it's possible to do so too! -
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SBA
Mon, September 7, 2009 - 3:21 AMHow helpful the SBA is can be tempered by where you live. When daughter went to the SBA for advice on starting her first dance studio, the male counselors strongly encouraged her to drop her dream and go back to college :) -
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Re: SBA
Wed, September 9, 2009 - 12:45 PMah- that's lame!
reminds me of the teacher I had when I was training to get my teaching credentials- he would always say things like "Well when you are teaching a REAL subject, blah blah blah" implying to me & the music major in the room that Art teachers are not "real" teachers. Can you imagine a man who worked as an elementary school teacher for over 20 years and was now a college professor could have such a ridiculous attitude toward the Arts? You would think someone with so much experience with children would see the value of Art as it is something that filters through and improves ALL aspects of life.
It is odd enough he should THINK such things let alone publicly degrade his pupils with his ignorant views (if you can't tell, it really used to get on my nerves.)
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Re: Book Recommendations
Sat, September 5, 2009 - 12:22 PMwww.kawakib.com has teaching guide & dance tips (this is brief/concise- like one sitting reading)
Even tho it isn't specific to bellydance I still feel like 'Total Education in Ethnic Dance' by La Meri is a great resource
I feel like La Meri does a very good job of explaining the components of dance and how to communicate them to a student -
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Re: Book Recommendations
Wed, September 9, 2009 - 7:40 AMThanks Wildflowr! here's a link www.kawakib.com/page-6.html#guide I really must update it soon - but I'll leave hardcore business advice to people who're more into that aspect -
and don't forget the Biz of BD tribe for good advice too bellydancebiz.tribe.net/ -
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Re: Book Recommendations
Sat, September 12, 2009 - 8:46 AMthanks everyone for your advice...I'm looking into all of these!
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Unsu...
Re: Book Recommendations
Mon, September 14, 2009 - 6:29 PMWhat a great subject! I am going to be teaching next year at the studio I have been dancing at for 9 years. My instructor has retired from Oriental pro dancing and will be retiring from her studio wear she teaches all forms. I am beginning to branch out, but it is nice to have some other resources.
Thanks for posting and the suggestions!
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Re: Book Recommendations
Wed, October 14, 2009 - 12:37 PMI just got the most awesome "bellydance course in a book" I have yet encountered and felt like I ought to post.
Zanbaka's Bellydance for the versatile dancer is really an excellent series.
If you were wanting a no-fail way to explain directions of movements, she breaks it down so simply I felt like such dumb*ss for using the descriptions I have been (vertical flat circle, etc. which could be confusing) And I love how she incorporates homework assignments that get you researching things for yourself from geography & styles etc., resources on the internet, which I think was smart as it will help keep her course work current over the years. And I think I have a sort of "show me don't tell me" attitude sometimes anyway, so I like that she sends you off to discover certain things for yourself, encourages you not to just take her word for it.
She has really fantastic diagrams that make all her writing really clear. I think she did a great job making a resource for instructors to help streamline their approach to helping teach varying learning styles, address safety, build musicality... you know, cover all of your bases so you don't neglect a crucial element that you take for granted because you've just been dancing too long to be conscious of it anymore.
I think her books make the best little refresher course on reinforcing the foundations fundamental to learning & teaching dance.
These books are slightly on the pricey side at $45 a piece but I would highly recommend them.
So far there are 3
vol. 1 foundations,
vol. 2 Shapes, patterns, and layers,
vol. 3 More shapes, patterns, & layers
with I think 4 more in the works that will be released upon completion (I guess).
Anyway, Just wanted to share! Hope you find them helpful!
