Belly Dance Instructors's topics - tribe.net

Belly Dance Teacher required - free tickets available

2008-07-05T09:26:41Z

Due to some moving around of the workshops at this year festival i have a space for a teacher to take the belly dancing workshop. This would be a generic level and style of dance, there will be a mix in the group of complete beginners but mainly people with some experience. The teacher is also offered a place on the saturday night performance stage. If you would like some more info you can see www.goddess-camp.com and if you are intersted in taking the workshop please email me at louisainindia@yahoo.co.uk with your website addess and details.
We also have a tribe group - search under barefoot goddess or go thru my profile....
many thanks

posted in Belly Dance Instructors - 1 reply

Displaying copyrighted material in class

2008-07-04T20:14:41Z

Does anyone happen to be knowledgable in the area copyright law? I was wondering if it is legal to display copyrighted material (such as art) in classes for educational purposes. Would a teacher have to seek permission from the owner of the material in question or is it permitted as long as the artist is cited? Any advise or links to information would be greatly appreciated.

posted in Belly Dance Instructors - 7 replies

scam

2008-07-03T16:59:40Z

HI, I got this email today, it's a scam (I think), the gist is, you work out a cost, he gives you a cheque for a larger sum, you give him change all urgent, last minute, then his cheque bounces. I've read about it on other threads. Beware.

"Greetings, My name is MARK COLE I am from australia . My son will be coming for an holiday in U.K and I wont want him to be less busy, so I want to know if you can always come or can he come for private lesson every afternoon. just to keep him engaged in something during his stay. I will want you to get back to me with the cost of your teaching for 2 weeks.He will be coming to your house for an hour lesson. I have someone that will always drive him down to your house. His name is Sam, He is 17 years old. I will want you to calculate 1 hour per day from Monday-Friday for the 2 weeks and get back to me so that we can arrange on payment by Cheque Looking forward to read from you."

posted in Belly Dance Instructors - 1 reply

Studio class cards question

2008-06-28T08:39:12Z

I have several students who would like to attend multiple classes in a week. I have NO stinkin idea how much to charge for a monthly unlimited class card nor how I compensate the individual teachers.
My teachers pay to rent the space then take $ from the students themselves (they are contractors, not hired employees).

Any ideas of what works in the studios you teach in?

posted in Belly Dance Instructors - 2 replies

Music suggestion needed! :-)

2008-06-28T02:40:23Z

Can someone recommend a good (and fairly short) drum solo/takseem song?

posted in Belly Dance Instructors - 3 replies

Favorite music??

2008-06-27T22:47:31Z

Do you have some favorite tunes or albums that you keep coming back to in class?

My favorite for beginners is Rhythm of The Dance - Solace and Arabesque for workout

posted in Belly Dance Instructors - 5 replies

Teaching 2 styles ?

2008-06-26T15:51:48Z

Hi
Would like to get some advise please,
I like to dance Tribal and Caberet, and now I have started teaching can I teach the two styles together ? I worry that it may be confusing for new students but I can't imagine doing one with out the other, any body else doing a similar thing ? or got any ideas ?
many thanks S

posted in Belly Dance Instructors - 23 replies

Switching Format to Fitness Class. Suggestions?

2008-06-26T03:45:54Z

Hey Beautiful People,

I am going to be teaching my first fitness belly dance class and I was wondering if any of you fabulous teachers had any advise on switching over from a more traditional dance class to a fitness geared style of class . I'm doing some reading on how to organize a traditional group fitness class, but I'd love some specific suggestions for belly dance.

Thanks!
:) Levona

posted in Belly Dance Instructors - 5 replies

men interested in learning belly dance

2008-06-23T11:54:52Z

I got an e-mail today from a young man wanting to take belly dance classes at my studio. I informed him that we do not enroll men in our classes, but if he was interested in taking private lessons, we could set something up. He e-mailed me back and seemed a little upset.
I believe his exact words were "if you don't let people enroll in your classes, it kind of defeats the purpose of having classes." I e-mailed him back and told him that it makes the women uncomfortable to have men in the class. We've done it before and I lost quiet a few female students. I also told him that private lessons would be better for him because he would learn more, more quickly and the movements would be structured to his male build. Not my exact words, but you get the drift. And that men move differently than women, so the teacher could structure the class to his needs.
Anyone, run across this problem before? I'm a little nervous about him maybe filing a lawsuit against me.
Any input would be greatly appreciated.

posted in Belly Dance Instructors - 5 replies

Trix you use when you really don't want to teach

2008-06-22T20:46:27Z

O.k..... So I started out today in a Great mood..... yet when I taught my Beginner Class man did my mood go downhill quick...... I was trying to show a move I thought would be fun and easy (not so much) and half way thru class I was like Augh.... how do I do this.... I actually felt bad because I really did not want to teach a that moment in life.... towards the end of class I had everyone come up and got to be leader for a while and honestly that was a lot of fun..... So I was wondering how does everyone else deal when you would honestly rather be somewhere else however you must teach? thanx!

posted in Belly Dance Instructors - 18 replies

Spins & Fast Turns

2008-06-18T22:45:39Z

Hi,

I taught a workshop this week and was asked by a student who suffers from low blood pressure, how to accomplish Calibrated Spins as she gets really heady and dizzy whenever she attempts them. She is able to perform slower turns but any move that turns too fast or spins makes her feel ill. I ran through a list of tricks to Spins and Turns and took things as slow as possible, but she still really battled. I would love to be able to tell her that, with practise, she should be able to overcome this problem, but without knowing much about low blood pressure I'm not so sure this is true. Have any of you come across this before or know how to overcome this problem?

Many thanks!

posted in Belly Dance Instructors - 4 replies

what makes a teacher?

2008-06-17T06:03:50Z

I have been dancing for a really long time and have taken classes from alot of teacher and or so-called teacher (becuase i don't think they should even be teaching) I have had teacher that have be doing it for years and was good, but then i'll take from someone only at teaching for a short time and some have been good even better then teachers doing it for way longer. So i have to ask....

So what make a Master Belly dance teacher??

posted in Belly Dance Instructors - 8 replies

Teaching larger classes

2008-06-13T18:07:59Z

I've sort of gotten used to teaching small classes, 3-5 people, and now I have quite a few more. I'd love some advice from those of you who teach large classes, how do you keep your eye on everyone? How do you work in personal attention for those who need it without depriving everyone else of instruction? What are some techniques you use for working with the larger group?

posted in Belly Dance Instructors - 7 replies

Overly motivated students? ACCKKK!!!

2008-06-12T19:30:36Z

I have a new beginner student who is friends with some other students in my other classes.
Well they told me she is known for being very competitive. She told them because of her ballet/jazz dance background she'd only be in my beginners' class for 1 six week session, then she'd be moving up to my intermediates' class.

She has already asked me about attending a beginners' class on another night that is a little ahead of her class because they are repeat students, and her class, including her, are all newbies. She cited her previous dance background. I told her no, I had nothing available.
The reason is the other class is full, I have a limited amount of space and I'm at capacity plus it was their last class of the session.

Of course my next session of intermediates is now full as is the class of beginners I teach right after that because it is repeat students and they've all signed up.

How to handle a student who already knows everything? Refer her out? Unfortunately few other instructors teach in my area over the summer.

posted in Belly Dance Instructors - 12 replies

Children's bodies and belly dance

2008-06-12T15:36:54Z

Hi All,

I would love some information from those of you who teach children to belly dance. Specifically, what do I need to know about the dance moves as they relate to the child's still-growing body. Though I teach mostly adults, we will have a child joining us this session, and I want to be well informed and not cause any damage unknowingly.

Are there moves that children should do differently? Are there moves they should not do (as it relates to body health and development)? Are there other things I should watch out for? I appreciate any advice/feedback. This class is tribal style, mostly ATS level 1 vocabulary.

posted in Belly Dance Instructors - 7 replies

How many students?

2008-06-11T12:41:22Z

So I was just wondering on average, how many students do you all have? I have usually had smaller classes, always under 10 students. I had 16 sign up for this session though and I'm thrilled! We had alot of fun last night at the first class. But do you guys teach large groups or smaller groups like me? Just wondering :) Thanks.

-ash

posted in Belly Dance Instructors - 4 replies

What's the best way to do Algerian Shimmy and Choo Choo

2008-06-10T18:21:55Z

I'm trying to find out what is the best or proper way to execute an Algerian Shimmy and a choo choo.

Algerian Shimmy: I read from Tamalyn Dallal's book that if you bring your R hip forward (cresent), your L feet should face slightly diagonal (toes pointing to L). A dance mate insist on doing it with both feet parallel to each other (toes facing forward). I find it difficult. Which is the correct way?

Choo choo: Is the move executed with your toes on the ground (just moving hips on releve) or should one lift the toes of the ground alternately (like doing little steps). This apply to stationary choo choos.

Thanx a bunch

posted in Belly Dance Instructors - 32 replies

hip that pops

2008-06-10T06:28:15Z

I have a student who says when she does any type of hip movements, slides, mayas, etc... her hip "pops out". The only thing I acn compare it to would be if you had TMJ in your hip. Ideas or suggestions?

posted in Belly Dance Instructors - 7 replies

teaching a multi-level class

2008-06-10T05:51:09Z

Hi everyone!

Anybody teach a multi-level class? For better or worse, I'll be doing one this summer. It will be some brand new women and some of my past students who have been dancing for 2 years or so. I want to concentrate on drilling basic moves, strengthening exercises, and some games to get students thinking about putting together combinations on their own. I'm hoping that the things won't be over the heads of the new folks, but that the more experinced students will still be challenged.

Any advice?

posted in Belly Dance Instructors - 6 replies

XPost: On Your Knees

2008-06-09T14:46:14Z

My apologies if I already posted this. I did a quick look through the recent topics and didn't see anything. I thought I posted this, but I'm starting to think perhaps I just dreamed posting it. Okay, that's likely a side affect of too much tribe.

Anywho...

If you have students who are struggling with horizontal hips movements (c hips, horizontal figure 8, hip slides, etc.). You can have them kneel on their knees and it will help them keep their knees in place and use their ab and oblique muscles to perform the movement.

Just wanted to share the tip...

posted in Belly Dance Instructors - 1 reply

teaching at corporate fitness center

2008-06-09T05:36:55Z

Hello ladies, I'm wondering if anyone is teaching at corporate fitness center? I've got an offer from the company which has it's own gym and fitness center onsite, so that employees can do sports/dance/yoga in the lunch time or a the end of the day... I'm not much excited about what they offered me in terms of pay, so I'm wondering if anyone can share the rates they are paid at similar arrangements. (I'd like to negotiate with them and need some industry rates to back up my words:).

Thank you! ( you can pm me if you don't want to disclose rates here)

posted in Belly Dance Instructors - 7 replies

Do you dance with your students?

2008-06-07T19:40:45Z

I rarely dance with my students because the show is about them, not me. But now that my students are getting better, I don't feel as strongly about it. Also, they tell me they want me to dance with them. I'm wondering if my original thinking is off.
How many of you dance with your students? If you do, do you position yourself in a prominent place, or try to blend in?

posted in Belly Dance Instructors - 28 replies

Student injury question

2008-06-07T05:03:07Z

Hi,

A student in the ATS class that I teach is having shoulder issues. I suspect that she is double-jointed, she says she was told by a doctor once that the tendons linking to her shoulders are overstretched or can overstretch as a result of sustaining the weight of her arms, and so they tend to be ineffective at holding her shoulder into the socket and as a result one of her shoulders dislocates fairly easily. It causes her issue when the arm is at or above shoulder height and she is really having a hard time learning to keep the shoulders pressed down and back because it seems to be physically more difficult for her than for the other students with no shoulder problems.

Obviously she needs some further medical insight on the issue and is making the arrangements to see a doctor. However, I suspect she'll be told that this sort of dance is not compatible with her injury. She is also a friend and coworker of mine and knowing her, she'd rather have a constructive way of managing the issue to see if it helps before giving up entirely (or, alternatively, she might simply continue on with this dance that she loves so much while paying no heed to what her body is asking her to acknowledge), so as a teacher I feel like encouraging her to get medical care is only part of my responsibility. I'd like to know more about this kind of injury to know if there is some advice I can provide on how best to augment her posture to keep this from being an issue. I suspect that this sort of dance will actually help her strengthen the muscles of the back and shoulder so the strain is taken off of the tendons/ligaments that are causing the problem.

posted in Belly Dance Instructors - 11 replies

How much do you charge for?

2008-06-03T15:01:56Z

How much do you charge for:
wedding receptions
birthday parties
baby showers
bridal showers?
And anything else.
What your prices for different times like 10 minutes for $80 or what?
Thanks

posted in Belly Dance Instructors - 8 replies

Looking for a teacher for a student

2008-06-01T23:36:45Z

Hi Ladies, I have a student who started classes with me (very beginner) who is Active Air Force, TDY from Kadena AB, Japan. She will be returning to Kadena in mid session (late June) and we are wondering if there are any instructors in the Kadena area.

Any help will be greatly appreciated.

posted in Belly Dance Instructors - 2 replies

Troupe dynamics

2008-05-30T02:23:08Z

Hello all. first post and it's a whammy!

I am in a fairly well-established dance troupe. The members have stayed the same over the years with no new members.
There have been many people who have wanted to join, but no one has been allowed in. (not really an issue)
The troupe leader creates all the choreographies, puts herself front and center every time and the rest of us are essentially
back-up dancers. Giving your opinion is a dangerous thing and depending on the her mood can result in months of cold shoulder
treatment or her feelings being hurt (or on the rare occasion, a humble admittance of your being correct).
the members are not really given any say in what we dance to and often I feel (and I'm not the only one) that what we end up
dancing to is an embarrassment. Tip-toeing on eggshells is the way everyone has to handle her AND her assistant. It's terribly frustrating and sad, because I really enjoy the actual dancing part.
The other issue is that I teach at the studio. The studio is less than ideal but in our small town, there are really no other options.
If I were to leave the troupe, I would undoubtedly be removed from all things associated with the studio and be left with no where to teach.

So, my obvious question is: what would you? I know that the equally obvious answer would be to high-tail it out of there, but I have a lot invested in this and that's a really hard step to take. Also, I would not likely be able to teach anymore here....do I just sacrifice that? Not to mention the friendships!! ugh
I really helps to just vent this. Any advice would be wonderful.

posted in Belly Dance Instructors - 14 replies

Need help with a search

2008-05-27T04:21:33Z

Does anyone out there know of a source for belly dance leotards? Those are the ones with a mesh insert in the abdominal area. Although I have used Sugar Petals in the past, they don't seem to be restocking and I have not been able to find anyplace else that carries this item. I can't even find a dance supplier that carries reasonably priced basic leotards in non-ballet dancer sizes that I could cut up myself assuming that I could find the mesh fabric.

Thanks for any info.

posted in Belly Dance Instructors - 5 replies

demotivated - students dropping

2008-05-22T19:54:48Z

Hi everyone,

I have been suffering from a burn out for a while now. I am trying everything to spark up my passion again for teaching but I find it really hard.

The reason is that numbers have dropped in my classes over the last 3 months and I don't know why. I just feel like I am doing something wrong and all new students just don't come back after one class.

I am blaming myself in a way, as there is clearly something I am doing wrong, which makes it into a vicious circle because I seem now insecure whenever I start the class and there are like 4 students in my classes. My spirits are low and because of that, numbers drop even more because I don't seem like an inspiring teacher at the moment.

Having thought a lot about this, I think this all might be because of the following reasons:

-I give the option to do drop in class AND pay for example for a 5 week course. Often before, when I still had only course money, and didn't accept drop ins, people would drop out as well, but not so frequent, as paying for a course motivated them to take that step out of the door. Dropping in is more expensive, but it is only a small difference and if you would have missed one class out of 5, it is already cheaper to just pay for drop in classes, so many people now choose for this option. On top of this, I give people the opportunity (if they paid for a course) that if they missed one class they can catch up in one of my other classes later in the week. This way I try to motivate them to pay for a course instead of drop ins, but it is not working.

- my beginners classes are too hard. I started with really basic beginners classes, but over the years my beginners class became more like an improvers class, because of the level of the people went up as well. My intermediate students still take my beginners classes for extra practise, but I think this scares people off in the beginners class, so new people leave straight away. In response to that I started organizing a rotation course that just teaches the basics, an 8 week course that introduces people into belly dance and after one course, where all exercises in the improvers classes are well taught and explained, people can move on to the next course. This course is going really well, it is fully booked, and it is a real motivator to bring in new students in my improvers classes. One of my long term students came to one of the classes the other day and she told me she could see the difference when I teach, I seem much more confident and more like a teacher. So I think this was a good decision, and hopefully people will then move on to the next course from there.

- I teach too much? I teach 4 evenings a week. 4 classes are beginners/improvers classes. So instead of having all students into one room they seem spread over 4 different nights. I used to teach only one night a week for 4 hours, and classes were packed. now I make almost the same money as before, but I am teaching 4 nights. Something just doesn't add up... BUT I also offer more different styles now, and I want to offer people those different styles too, so they can choose which style suits them best: tribal fusion, ATS or Egyptian dance. and then there is the absolute beginners course that covers all 3 styles, so people can then choose which direction they want to go in. Am I offering too much? I must say that my beginners Egyptian dance and tribal fusion are slowly emerging, because technique is as good as the same. It is just different arm positions or just different music that I use. I am now considering to have the Egyptian dance and tribal fusion together in one group and just focus one course on one style and another course on another style.

SOOOO my question is: shall I stop doing drop in classes? I mean, if I went to the gym and paid only when I got there, for a one off thing, I would never do the effort to get to class, but if I pay for a monthly description I want to make the most of it and make sure I go to as many classes as I can, so is it maybe a motivator to get into class? Shall I have people pay up front as well, so from the moment they decide that they want to take up belly dance, they can pay me (via paypal for example) so people are motivated to come to the class that starts 2 weeks after they booked. A friend of mine said to me, that you have to see it as a business and that you shouldn't offer so many things to your students in order to please everyone.

and second question, shall I put Egyptian dance and tribal fusion students under one roof? Most of them just want to learn to dance, so they enjoy both styles anyway.

Sorry for the long mail, I just thought it gives you more of an insight :)

anyone had the same issues in the past?

thanks

posted in Belly Dance Instructors - 16 replies

How to teach to men?

2008-05-21T14:49:04Z

I'm a newie teacher, and I have always taught women. But I wonder what would I do if a man came to my classes. So my question is:

Is there a "masculine" or "feminine" way to belly dance? If there is, what are the differences? I think that it's in the arms and hands posture.

Will he find his own way of bellydancing?

Now I don't nkow any other question, but I'll be thanked of the many information you could give

Thank you

posted in Belly Dance Instructors - 11 replies

Ever held a catch-up class mid-term?

2008-05-16T22:22:38Z

hi everyone

I've been tossing ideas with my tribal basics teacher, we run our classes in terms of 10 weeks with the school breaks....and what we find is for about the first 4 weeks there will be people who'll want to join in - some with dance experience who for some reason or other didnt find us in time for term start. Depending where the class is at we'll usually welcome them along explaining we have covered some of the basics so they'll catch up either during term or at the next block. Then at 5 weeks we generally say no more to anyone new joining the class as we're well and truly in the dance by this stage.

My teacher had an idea that we could hold a catch-up class say at 3 - 4 weeks which would give a good overview of where we are with out steps = we teach GC style bdance so we'd be going over the ghawazis and arabics mainly, just an extra focus for the new ones who've joined us to get their equal footing and anyone else interested to get a bit more tuition.

Do any of you do this? had any success? What are your thoughts?

Cheers
Dee

posted in Belly Dance Instructors - 0 replies

On signing contracts

2008-05-16T21:32:41Z

I don't know if this particular question has been asked (on this tribe) before...

How many of you out there require contracts or were were required to sign a contract before you began teaching at a specific facility?
Has this always been so? and if not do you know when/why it was instituted?
and if you do not currently have one - are you considering it?

I'm asking because I have a contract, and instructors that currently teach at my studio have all read/signed it.
It spells out what the relationship between the studio and instructor is, how they get paid, etc.
But I have been speaking with an instructor in another style of dance that we'd like to offer classes in (our studio tagline is "Global Fusion Through Movement and Sound" and so would like to offer a variety of world dances). Anyway, this instructor is balking at the contract - stating that she has always done business on just a handshake, and that not only has she never heard of having to sign a contract, but none of the other instructors she know has had to either.

I don't do business on just a handshake, and will continue to require the contract.
But I'm curious as to if this is common or not?

posted in Belly Dance Instructors - 13 replies

Press Releases?

2008-05-11T11:28:28Z

Anybody got samples of good press releases they wrote for events, workshops, performances, or whatever? I'd like some specifically geared towards bellydance and it's hard to find those in books. Brad, where are you, Brad? :)

posted in Belly Dance Instructors - 3 replies

Buyer Beware

2008-05-08T23:21:49Z

vintage_silk_wraps on Ebay

This is a store on ebay for Buyer Beware
I was bidding on a lot of 6 skirts in which I was winning with a wonderful price so I thought. After the bidding got to $100, the seller put a BUY NOW price in the site so anyone that was bidding and wanted the lot of 6 for $89.00 could purchase it cheaper but the highest bidder was locked into paying the higher price. I paid ASAP and contacted the seller - ask if he would not make up the difference with sending extra wraps - just told me "TO BAD not he fault the bidding got so high"
So I left them a natural comment - and explain the change in auction after price was over $100. In return they give me a negative comment and misleading information my comments. I contacting him asking why the negative when all I did was be a great buyer by over paying within 10 min of the auction ending and only asking for him to balance the wrong doing on his part. Again "TOO BAD" "YOUR FAULT"
My reply...I will take my business and many other with me. HAVE A NICE DAY!

So with all that said - BUYERS BEWEAR....please please please....from one Tribal Goddess to another..PLEASE DO NOT BUY FROM THIS SALER. There are many other seller on ebay - this guy does not deserve the belly dancer dollars!

Any questions......just me~~~~

posted in Belly Dance Instructors - 3 replies

A whole new level of difficult student

2008-05-08T18:20:56Z

First, here's the background story (in much greater detail than necessar,y I'm sure): In May, I will have been teaching my class for 5 years. I teach Fall, Spring and an early summer class. The first class I taught was in Summer 2003 and one of the very first students I had was an older woman named "M". At first M drifted in and out of classes, skipping a semester then back and drifting in and out of classes. Now for the past 3 years solid she has been in every fall and spring class. I have become very fond of her and my assistant and I have become very involved with her life.

Now this spring semester I was delighted to see on my spring roster, the name of a former university employee I used to sit on committees with. "C" is one of those people who would always say, "I am going to take your class this semester!" but never did. Well, she finally signed up. The first class came, I gave her a big hug etc. Great to see you, nice to meet your friend etc. The 2nd beginning class is when the 1st int/adv class starts (their classes are longer so they have less classes). The beginning class is taking a quick water break and in walks "M." I'm talking through some moves with students and see "C" has gone over to "M" and is hugging her. It made me smile that someone else loves "M" as much as me. Class starts back up from the break and "C" walks to the front. I smiled and said, "How do you know M?" C smiles and says, "She's my sister in law!" I begin to gush about what a wonderful woman M is and how I just love her so much and so on. C just smiles and says, "Yeah, she's great!" So we're at the end of class and C asks if she and her friend can sit at the back of the class to watch the next class. Students ask that all the time so I naturally said yes. My assistant comes over to me and whispers tersely under her breath, "They can't stay!" Students are transitioning and there is a bustle of activity and all I am doing is looking at her blankly like HUH? Students are standing in line to ask questions and she says again quietly, "They can't stay!" I must have looked like a fish with my mouth hanging open and blinking rapidly. "We always let students stay and I already told them they could."

My assistant is my best friend of 17 years, you would think the warning bells would have been so loud that it would have seemed like her mouth was moving and nothing was coming out. "We need to talk after class." Ok.

So int/adv class starts and we begin our opening drills and move into zill drills. I notice that C and her friend leaves followed a little while later by M and my assistant (who later come back).

During the water break for the int/adv class my assistant gets my attention and tells me the story. C *was* M's sister in law (M's ex-husband's sister). The ex-husband's family is all incredibly abusive to her even to this day. They go out of their way to make her life a living hell and call her nasty names to her face (not even to her back)...basically every horrible thing a group of people could do to torture a person...they have done and continue to do. I was mortified. After class was over and turned to find M a few feet from me. We locked eyes and I said, "I am SO sorry!" And she began to cry. "This is *my* place! This is where I come to get away from them!" When C went to give M her hug, she hissed at her, "Chris (me) is *my* friend."

It's not like C's being overtly nasty but she is silently torturing M. M is quite heavy set and has slightly deformed feet so some moves are a little more difficult for her to her credit she tries everything I throw at her. She's become even more aware now of her faults and it's obvious that coming to class is wearing on her nerves. But she keeps coming with a smile on her face. A few weeks ago C tried to sneakily take a picture of M while she was dancing but another student intervened.

Obviously, I can't toss her out of class and I can't prevent her from taking class. Members of my int/adv class have taken to forming themselves around M as a barrier. I don't know what else to do. I just keep praying that it's getting old for C and she won't sign up again but then again, torturing M seems to a family past time. I must confess, after C told me she had hip replacement surgery some years ago and it still bothered her, I deliberately did really intensive hip drills. I may go to hell now (or in my case, a lower ring of hell) but it made me giggle.

posted in Belly Dance Instructors - 33 replies

Nerves in feet hurting

2008-05-06T16:21:29Z

Yesterday in class.... My class and I were working on a move on the balls of our feet..... This is in my advanced class and I do warm peeps up and part of warm ups usually include either yoga balancing or a little ballet ..... I like to dance on the balls of my feet and want my students to be comfortable....
Anyhoo One of my students mentioned the nerves in her feet hurt when she is on the balls..... And I am wondering if anyone may have any advice at all....
She is very overweight and does have some health issues tho not too bad but just wanted to give that in....
All I could think was to recommend to her simply practicing becoming used to being on the balls of her feet and really work to engage her core / posture...... However she did mention the nerves in her feet hurt.... Any ideas out there?

posted in Belly Dance Instructors - 7 replies

Warming up/Stretching

2008-05-05T13:01:23Z

Hey everybody
i was wondering what some good streches and things to do to warm up before dancing are?

posted in Belly Dance Instructors - 12 replies

Teachers in San Antonio area?

2008-05-04T13:26:04Z

I have a student moving eventually to San Antonio who wants to continue her studies. She's a beginner now, looking to continue the same for now.

Any recommendations of instructors in this area?

Thanks!

posted in Belly Dance Instructors - 2 replies

Troupe expectations....

2008-05-02T22:34:47Z

HI everyone

just some thoughts i've been pondering of late and wondering which way to turn and thought i'd ask for your experience. My classes run three nights a week - with tribal basics, beyond basics, and then the performance troupe....I actually first started with basics then whisked away students who showed potential to the performance night. After some time I felt the troupe needed an extra night for technique and to bring those that were leaving basics somewhere to move, and developed the middle night - where I pluck from time to time members to join the troupe.

However, my beautiful troupe, many of whom I call my friends now predominantly go on "their"night and while I'd hoped some would continue to develop its now becoming apparent there's two levels of dancers in the class - with the more technically advanced being those who practice or attend private/regular classes with me. My performance night feels very social very lovely but my inner dancer really craves the night where I'd be able NOT to drill technique or go over moves that i've taught xxx times before in an effort to expand our vocab....where we'd stretch our wings and experiment with confidence to different sounds/formations etc

So how often does your troupe attend regular classes? have any of you faced this in your path - readdressing what you've done, and pointed the obvious skill gap/levels (and crushed them? or lived to survive the tale?) To me I guess my goals have changed as more dancers have evolved and developed, I didnt really expect some of them not to have moved with the rest so much....

I'd love to hear your tales of experience

Dee

posted in Belly Dance Instructors - 20 replies

Splitting money with troupe members

2008-04-30T22:46:14Z

I'm curious about how troupes split money that's earned from shows. I have always put all the money into a troupe fund that we use to buy things, or split it up equally if it was a small number of dancers. As every troupe leader quickly realizes, there's a tremendous amount of time and money involved in getting your name out there, getting booked, advertising, etc. Yet too many of us continue to split the money equally and then burn out because of the resentment that no one else is stepping up and helping. Well, I'm at that point. I'm tired of doing all the work and then splitting the money equally with everyone. Yep, I was the one who set it up that way, so it's 100% my doing. Anyway, how do other troupes split this money to account for the extra work involved that the leader takes on? I'd love to hear from a leader that has been doing it for quite a while AND hasn't burned out.

posted in Belly Dance Instructors - 16 replies

how to make that jump to teaching...

2008-04-30T14:06:45Z

Hey!
I just joined up with this tribe and have been reading some of the awesome information and knowledge that you ladies have. I have been dancing somewhere between FCBD and a Rachel Brice kinda fusion, for 8 years and I really love it! But I do know that I will forever be a student, there is so much to learn. However, how do you make that jump into teaching? Where do you even start? How do you get a space to dance teach? I have so many questions, because I would really like to take it to the next level. I don't want to start a troupe quite yet, or anything that detailed yet, but just something simple.
I have taught belly dance in my medieval reenactment organization, and I get a lot of requests from all over to go and teach a class at an event, but I want to teach in the real world now... can any body help?

posted in Belly Dance Instructors - 7 replies

Hamstrings and the Sciatic nerve? x-post

2008-04-25T13:01:52Z

Hey all,

In the past couple of years, i've been having some real pain in my deep lower back on the right side behind my hip. I'm beginning to think it's my Sciatic nerve as it gets worse when I bend at the hips and sit, especially when sitting on the floor. OUCH! There seems to be pressure on that nerve and it's painful every day. In addition, or maybe because of this, I have noticed that in that same period of time, my hamstrings are really getting tight. I'm so used to keeping my knees soft that I'm almost to the point now whre I canNOT lock my knees back even if I wanted to. Touch my toes with flat knees? No way. I'm really pretty flexible everywhere else, so I'm just dumbfounded as to why this is happening.

Any ideas? Are these two things connected? Any suggestions as to how to alleviate either, or maybe both? Any suggestions at all are greatly appreciated!

BB!
~Jeannie

posted in Belly Dance Instructors - 6 replies

HELP with belly rolls!

2008-04-24T03:50:23Z

Ok, so I have been 100% successful in teaching belly rolls, but currently, I have a student who is having a hard time. She can contract the muscles for the roll and feel them rolling down, but she absolutely cannot push the opposite parts out while rolling. Does this make sense??? I always tell them, when you pull one part IN, push the other parts OUT! We start with just pulling in, pushing out, then move to seperating our tummies into 2 parts, and in out, in out, with each part. Then we seperate into 3 parts and in, in, in, then out for a rest. Once they get this we then move to 10 parts, like strips of bacon on your belly, and roll very slowly and controlled. Well, the student in quesition does the whole thing with her tummy pulled way IN, and I just dont know how to describe the push it OUT part.

Does anyone have any suggestions? Any words of wisdon would be super helpful!
Thanks tribeys!!
Molly

posted in Belly Dance Instructors - 4 replies

when is it appropriate to introduce shimmies to beginner class?

2008-04-24T03:48:39Z

We're now going into our 2nd week of classes and I'm curious if introducing simple shimmies is appropriate at this point?
Advice?

Thanks in advance..this group is great!

posted in Belly Dance Instructors - 6 replies

Can you recommend a good way to warm up the hips?

2008-04-22T20:18:54Z

I've been trying to come up with easy and comfortable way for beginners to warm up their hips at the start of class....not as easy as I thought.

posted in Belly Dance Instructors - 12 replies

semester format woes

2008-04-22T15:13:44Z

kay- so I used to do the 6 week session format & didn't like it- too many folks dropped the second session in a semester & that held other students back too much, so i settled on a 12-14 week session which has been working out BUT for the last 2 years I've been getting calls mid march-april asking about new beginner classes- now I can't see starting another 12 week session as every one seems to skip town in June, but what do I put in a 6 week session? it seems to short to teach anything substantive! Right now my 101 class covers half of what I consider basic moves & transitions, plus intro to veil, 102 covers the other half of basics plus intro to zill. I am hoping that folks wanting to start now will want to continue in the fall- what can I offer that will get them started without messing up the system that seems to be working otherwise? veil & zill are now so integral to my semester teaching style, I am having a hard time formatting anything different!

Just for reference, my intermediate level classes are arranged by style or special topic, broken into 4-6 week courses, so I am not completely incapable of thinking in that time frame, I just don't know what I could cover in 6 weeks for a real beginner!

posted in Belly Dance Instructors - 5 replies

Do you call each dancer individually to remind them of events ?

2008-04-21T16:24:19Z

Hello Ladies,

It's seems that some of my irregular students are somewhat upset about not knowing about upcoming events. We usually talk about it in class and most events are posted on my website. But some people seem not to get the info. Do you call each student individually to let them know about events ? Any advice ??

Thanks and Happy Dancing !!

posted in Belly Dance Instructors - 10 replies

Publicly Official Curriculum

2008-04-21T05:33:13Z

I'm looking for a list of Orientale dance instructors who have trade marked or otherwise publicly official curriculums. Style is unimportant. I would be thankful for help in compiling this information.

~*Spoon*~

posted in Belly Dance Instructors - 11 replies

What about what makes a bad teacher?

2008-04-21T03:30:26Z

When i first started bellydance classes my teacher (although a great dancer) shouted at me for getting the moves wrong
singled me out and made me feel utterly useless so that i nearly gave up.I originaly wanted to go into a beginners class but she insisted i join the improvers.after getting very upset
i complained and left her classes she banned me from her workshops.
Later when i went to various workshops and classes with different teachers i realised it wasn't me it was just my bad luck

posted in Belly Dance Instructors - 30 replies

How do you know?

2008-04-20T05:23:35Z

How do you know when your relationship with the students has caused misplacements in the lines?
Has caused you to excuse one person for their personal situations yet hold others to a different criteria? Is there a criteria?
How do you see one person care and another not - and think its the same?
How do you encourage practice and learning of your dances while allowing others look over the shoulder and follow?
Can you see how sick one student is and yet still she dances?
Do you understand why she dances?
Do you know who supports your teaching?
Do you care?
How do you deal with your own contridictions? Actions meaning one thing, words something else.
What checks do you balance the class with?
What checks do you balance the friendships with?
How you do feel when your dancers support you but you dont have the ability to support them all?
How do you know when its personal?
How can you tell when its karma that comes calling?

How do you know when enough is enough and its time to walk away?

posted in Belly Dance Instructors - 5 replies

Yay! New classes!

2008-04-18T22:36:39Z

I'm starting up beginner classes again this june! i'm so excited. its been a while since i've had a class to teach but since my teacher is moving out of state, it seems to be all on my shoulders to keep up the classes in this city. i'm siked! just had to brag to someone :)

always,
ash

posted in Belly Dance Instructors - 3 replies

Tips for Advertising

2008-04-11T15:07:37Z

I am wondering from Teachers what have you found to be the most useful when it comes to advertising your class?
A tip that was given to me by a friend who works in the NewsPaper advertising business was to make up a quarter (or 3rd) sheet flier then go around to local business ask to leave some of the fliers on a counter or somewhere...... I have found doing that... I get to know my community get fairly cheap advertising....... Wondering what works for everyone else.... Thank you! Indigo

posted in Belly Dance Instructors - 3 replies

Serpentessa Snake Dancing Workshop

2008-04-07T18:37:52Z

Would you enjoy a sensual dance journey with a powerful yet gentle Serpent into the mystery of your Being? Learn with Serpentessa to merge body, mind and soul with a snake in a graceful interspecies dance.

Date & Time: Sunday, April 27, 2008 from 9:00 am- 12 noon

Location: Hudson Valley Academy of Performing Arts
957 Route 82, West Taghkanic. NY.
For directions> www.hvapa.com

**For those attending workshop, Dance at the Hafla Party with my Snakesss! Hafla Party begins @ 1 pm.

Wkshp format:
1. Snake handling orientation provided. No prior snake knowledge necessary.
2. Learn the basic positions to hold a snake that are safe and sensual.
3. Belly dancing framework. Choreography within the improvised phrase captivates your audience.
5. For Sisters of all ages, shapes and diversities.

Cost: $35 includes afternoon party. Limited enrollment & Pre-registration closes 4/24.

To register: 518-851-5501. Registration confirmation via email. Further questions, pls check website or email serpentessa@templebellydance.com

www.TempleBellyDance.com

See Events here for photos.

posted in Belly Dance Instructors - 0 replies

Tips for teaching snake arms?

2008-04-06T16:26:22Z

I tried teaching them in my bellyrobics class and things went a bit awry. There were crazy hands and unfortunate elbows!
Any advice?

thanks

~J

posted in Belly Dance Instructors - 10 replies

Dancers Wanted

2008-04-03T23:40:31Z

I am looking for friendly & patient semi-professional belly dancers and/or fire performers for a dance company. Age between 21-37. Dancers must provide thier own costmes. Absolutely no egos or drama allowed. If interested contact Evil Raven. We are located in the San Gabriel Valley area in CA

posted in Belly Dance Instructors - 38 replies

BellyFusions Festival - Less than 1 month!

2008-04-03T10:10:23Z

-------- Call for Teachers & Performers ---------

THE APPLICATION FORM SHOULD BE SENT BEFORE THE 30TH OF APRIL 2008

For this first Festival, scheduled for the 24th and 25th of January 2009, The BellyFusions Festival organisers are looking for solo artists as well as professional dance companies in order to complete their programme.

Infos and application form can be downloaded on: www.bellyfusions.com/index_eng.php

Julie

--------- APPEL A CANDIDATURE ---------

La date limite de réception des dossiers est fixée au 30 avril 2008.
Il reste moins d'un mois pour nous envoyer votre candidature pour participer à la 1ère édition du festival BellyFusions.

Toutes les informations sont disponibles sur www.bellyfusions.com

A très bientôt !
Julie

posted in Belly Dance Instructors - 0 replies

private lessons

2008-04-02T16:25:52Z

hi im a private authhentic middle eastern dance teacher with very affordable prices
styles i teach:
Egyptian Cabaret
Egyptian Baladi, Melaya Luff
Egyptian Saidi, Cane
Classical Egyptian/Oriental
Khaleegy

As well as Basic Druming and Rythems

As well as Persian Dances: Bandari, Baba Karam, Persian Pop

Here are a few video's to showcase Baladi and Oriental Styles i have done
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1IFMnyBinZk
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GVNqcJQh7m8

In the Los Angeles Area

if interested conntact via message or richydance@yahoo.com

posted in Belly Dance Instructors - 1 reply

Certification or not?

2008-03-31T22:02:18Z

Ok so Im on a military base out here in Japan. I have been trying to get classes together at the gym, but the only way I can teach is if Im Ace certified. Is it worth it to get certified to teach? I guess I have to be ACE aerobics certifed to teach at th gym. I tried to go around it to make it more of a cultural thing but If I work for the gym I have to be an aerobics Instructor. I am told that If I get certified that I will teach the class but is it worth all the money and time? Help

posted in Belly Dance Instructors - 11 replies

What are your missed class/refund policies?

2008-03-31T15:10:10Z

I'm just wondering... What are your policies when a student misses class?

I try to make my policy very clear by both verbally telling the class at the beginning of a session and handing out a written policy (plus it's on my website). For my session classes the student is paying for a spot in the session and whether they chose to come or not is their choice (with the option to make up missed classes within a period of time) but recently one student signed up for 6 classes, came for one, missed 5 and now thinks she should get 2 private lessons instead!

For those of you who run your classes in sessions do you pro-rate, offer make ups, or refunds? I'm just curious what others do and looking to maybe get some new ideas.

Any crazy stories? ;-)

posted in Belly Dance Instructors - 14 replies

Visualization for good posture

2008-03-30T21:57:20Z

I'm teaching my first official (tribal) class on Tuesday. I've gone through my curriculum with a friend who has never danced before (the class is aimed at non-dancers and beginning dancers) and she said it helped her focus on her posture when I suggested that she imagine herself "intimidating the peasants". I suspect this won't be appropriate for all members of my class so I'm trying to think of other creative ideas. I was always told the posture for tribal/ATS was flamenco inspired and that was enough for me, but many folks in my neck of the woods haven't really seen flamenco.

Ideas? What worked for you?

posted in Belly Dance Instructors - 14 replies

Jealousy and the rumour mill...

2008-03-27T16:48:41Z

So I have just broke away from a verbally abusive friend/teacher friend for over 25 years and teacher for 5 years and started a new dance troupe, I am encountering harrassing phone calls from her boyfriend about irrational arguments and hearing of bad talk rumours and it has only been 3 weeks since I have disconnected the imbilical cord. Has anyone experianced this kind of jealousy and resentment. How do I keep going? I am left asking Why? and How? can a person be self absorbed enough to emotionally harm someone else?

posted in Belly Dance Instructors - 8 replies

help! crowding issues (x-post)

2008-03-27T15:13:12Z

I need help!
I have been renting studio space at a new swanky studio in town and spending a fair bit advertising my classes at studio x Tuesdays and Thursdays. I found out last night that dancer y is starting to teach her classes there tonight. I am a bit worried because, although I have never had a confrontation with this dancer, others in the community have. I am a bit startled, honestly, because all the other teachers in the area have respected each others 'turf,' catering to different areas and demographics in town. My biggest concern is that students mistake an affiliation between us, or get misdirected to her classes if they are responding to my advertisement.
I really don't think I would have a problem generally with the idea of another teacher at the same studio, as long as we can develop mutual respect and support each other, but I was neither asked nor informed that dancer y was starting classes there, and as I stated, others in the community have had negative encounters with her.

Would you all look over my letter to the studio coordinator and make sure I don't sound too territiorial or catty, while still protecting my hard come by investment?
Thanks!

Hi xxxx- I didn't hear back from you regarding the requested dates for studio space this summer. I am copying it here with some minor adjustments. Please confirm that you received the email and let me know if these dates are acceptable. I was also unaware that there was going to be another belly dance instructor teaching at the courtyard. Is there any way to keep tenants updated on what is being offered? I am particularly concerned with the belly dance classes since I have invested so much in advertising my classes at this studio. I want to make sure there is no confusion regarding the affiliation of a second instructor at the studio. I don't in any way want to sound catty here (I am open to other similar classes being offered!) I just don't want anyone looking for my classes because of my advertising being misdirected.
Regards,
Lara

posted in Belly Dance Instructors - 4 replies

Teaching transitions and layering

2008-03-21T16:14:06Z

What is your approach to teaching transitions and layering. Do you teach choreography? Do you drill a transition or the layering of a move over and over again? If you wish to instill in your students the ability to improvise how do you teach them transitions from one move to another? How do you keep students from feeling overwhelmed? what do you say to keep it to the point as much as possible so as to not overwhelm and intimidate them with too much information? I want information from different disciplines. Tribal, cabaret, egyptian, turkish ,everything!

I was taught transitions through choreography and then would either make-up my own or learn by watching others. So I feel like my ability to teach transitions is not as clear or concise as I'd like it to be.

Thank you to all who post!

posted in Belly Dance Instructors - 5 replies

The "F" Word

2008-03-19T21:57:25Z

I would like to know more about fybromyalgia from various perspectives.
I would love to hear from students & dancers who are afflicted and how it feels, how they cope, etc... act as if I know NOTHING about it.
I would like to hear from teachers, directors and troupemates who dance WITH someone or teach one with it.
This seems to be the new big disease, one we havent heard much of until recently. I know some less informed may assume this to be the "excuse to get on disability" disease, while those seriously affected by it suffer.
It is prevalent in my area, and I have some students who endure this so as a teacher, it's be good for me to know more.
Thank you in advance.

posted in Belly Dance Instructors - 20 replies

For the tribal teachers

2008-03-17T11:25:00Z

What do you do with your students once they have completed all of your tribal classes/levels/material, but you still see many areas they can improve in?
I have my tribal formatted into Basic, Intermediate, and Advanced levels.
I require all tribal students to first start with bellydance fundamentals and I have to "graduate" them into tribal once I feel they have the primary movements down.
Then, each of the tribal chunks has five eight week sessions.
The basic level is really easy steps, moves, formations.
Intermediate gets into longer combos small cues and more challenging formations. It also focus much more on performance and technique.
Advanced level focus is on difficult, longer combos, more challenging formations, more strength training for floor work, more performance preparing, and no cues.
In and among these sessions, I also pepper critique days wherein I really nitpick more than what I do in classes, performance prep focus where I might put them on the spot for a fake performance, and other activities like this.
Once they get through all of that material, they have completed all of the tribal format I offer.
However, my first batch about to complete their Adv tribal level, I feel still could use a lot more technique work.
Soooo, what do the rest of you do with students who complete all of the material?
I have gotten varied answers from friends/colleagues, the primary one being they send the students right through tribal all over again but how in the world do you "sell" that one?

posted in Belly Dance Instructors - 19 replies

teaching children bellydance

2008-03-16T00:43:39Z

i have agreed to teach a 20 minute lesson to a group of brownies (ages 7-10). I already have some ideas from the "games in class" thread, and my tribe search came up with only a few discussions on this. (no boolean searching here!) anyhow-- any ideas for some quick, fun things to do with a gang of 7-10 year old girls? this will not be an ongoing class, just a one-off demo kind of thing for their annual sleepover.

Thanks!

posted in Belly Dance Instructors - 5 replies

Teacher Certification

2008-03-15T22:11:18Z

Just wodnering how much validity others put in certification from other teachers such as A-Z and Kajira Djoumana's style or Gypsy caravan?
Now this isn't about the actual styles themselves (in fact I am certified to teach Original and Advanced A-Z) but the value of the certifcation. For example: do you feel that it's worthwhile to spend lots of money to get certification for a method that everyone else can get on video? To take it even further, when you apply for teacher certification classes, you are told to watch the videos to familiarise yourself before going to the workshops.
Now, if you are basically doing a large part of your learning from the videos then why would you expect people to come to you for classes when they can watch them on video themselves?

Is there really any benefit in paying the extra for certification?

posted in Belly Dance Instructors - 10 replies

Fwd / Back step with Shimmy

2008-03-15T05:03:44Z

Hello lovely ladies,

I've been teaching my students how to do a fwd / bk step with shimmy. Now just to make sure that I'm clear on what the Fw / bk step is, I've also heard it called a karsilama (anyone know why people call it that?), Arabic Step (I think it's Arabic 4 in the Suhaila Salimpour style) and Folk Step. Tribalists call it a Turkish Shimmy.

Now they can all do the fw / bk step. It's getting the shimmy going that is causing probs. Is anyone willing to share how they teach it? Sometimes I find thatt it just takes a different explanation of the same thing to make something 'click' for students :-)

posted in Belly Dance Instructors - 14 replies

How do you know...

2008-03-14T14:09:12Z

when you're ready to teach? I just had an opportunity literally (ex coworker called me up out of the blue...haven't spoken to him in 8 months or so...and says he just opened a studio and his belly dance teacher flaked...I'm not surprised, I know the woman...) handed to me. Anyways, he basically offered me her class. I told him that I would think on it and explained that I've never taught before and wouldn't want to give either myself or his studio a bad reputation. So, I've been dancing for roughly 15 years, although only the last 6 years with weekly practice. I do have performance time under my belt as well as multitudes of workshops. Is that enough? Seriously, aside from my good name in the dance community, I wouldn't want to risk injuring a student due to my lack of teaching experience.

Advice...comments...criticisms...

posted in Belly Dance Instructors - 4 replies

a teacher can't please everyone, right????

2008-03-10T21:37:06Z

Getting a bit discouraged.

I try to provide a little history to my students, especially when introducing stylistic differences, ie. Turkish vs. Egyptian. Talking about 5 - 7 minutes discussing some differences while going over some new moves, or differences in moves.
One student complains it wasn't as much of a workout as the beginners class because we talked more. Ok.

Introduce Karslima, the 9/8 rhythm and some moves that work with it. Specifically that little hoppy step on the last 3 beats, sort of a lift with the toe pointed, lifting from the knee. Not a kick really, upper body is upright and lifted. Anyone familiar with the Native American male dancers that do something similar, but bent over? So this is what one of my students starts doing, making fun of the step. I say "no, lift the chest, you need to have lifted and proud carriage". She thinks I'm picking on her.

We're drilling the step where you do a hip lift to the side alternating it between the forward and back diagonal, it's fairly fast, you see a lot of American Turkish style dancers do it, for example Artemis. Students say "oh, this is too hard, blah, blah, blah".

It just seems sometimes that if I take it easy on them, they complain, if I work them hard, they complain, if I tell them a little history, they complain, if I show them a new move, they complain or make fun of it. If I introduce a new rhythm, they say "I'll never get that". And so on.

I'm just getting a little discouraged.
Thanks for listening.

posted in Belly Dance Instructors - 20 replies

Change a dance - how much, how often

2008-03-10T17:14:42Z

Im both a student and a teacher.
This is asking from both sides.

Do you change very many sections, steps and moves in a single dance after that dance has been set for a few years - With what results?
Would it be better to work on the original dance, clean up the rough spots as best it can be cleaned up and go from there? What happens to the students who just cant get it? (age, mobility, ability, time all factors)

As a student - It may just be me, once I learn a certain pattern (and its work to learn it!) its very difficult to wash that pattern away and insert something new. It tends to jumble in my head worse afterwards rather than clean it up.
I can understand a few weight changes, arm lifts, turns and such to add flavor however, to fully revamp... seems awkward.

From a teachers side - Its very difficult to work a full piece out on paper, with notes, then bring it in and instruct without the adjustments. However, once its taught, its pretty much set Unless - Arms need to tune up, weight seems wrong, steps are off beat. If I don't like a dance piece once its done and performed a few times, I scrap the full deal and move forward. To me, its better for the students frustration levels to move on and do something new (even if it has elements of the old dance) rather than try to reset the memory and insert things that are out of habit.

How do you approach this as students or teachers?

posted in Belly Dance Instructors - 6 replies

tricky chest circles

2008-03-10T17:10:39Z

hello everyone, new here so thought I'd ask some advice for a problem I've had for a while..
I have a student who is really struggling with chest circles, she seems terrified of losing her balance, and often actually looks as if she might do so. her hip work is great and she is well balanced and grounded on the whole but as soon as we move above the waist, the problems start! I think this has got to be a weight distribution/posture thing but nothing I've tried seems to work and isolating from the waist upwards seems really hard for her. I've never had anyone so stuck on this before, help!

posted in Belly Dance Instructors - 7 replies

how to structure drop-in classes

2008-03-10T13:58:14Z

This question is inspired by this post: http://bellydancebiz.tribe.net/thread/abf4ddea-5730-46ea-9a20-d098adb39f4b over on the Biz of Bellydance tribe.

Besides the pricing issues, I'm curious about how you actually structure drop-in classes. My troupe currently offers classes based on a 10-week session, and it is very cumulative. Each week builds on the previous week. We've thought about doing drop-in classes, but I can't wrap my brain around how to do it. How do you deal with having very different levels of experience in the same class- e.g. make the class fun and interesting both for the person who is there for the first time, and the one that has been dropping in for months. I would be interested to hear your thoughts.

posted in Belly Dance Instructors - 5 replies

What do you think makes a Great Teacher?

2008-03-08T23:12:19Z

hello Ladies..... I am wondering what everyone else thinks makes a Great Teacher.....
I love teachers who make me work and point out new ideas / ways of dancing to me. I love teachers who teach me new combos, or who point out something in the music I may have missed..... I love if a teacher can periodically get philosophical with dance and relate a dance topic / idea to the greater reality of life.....
O.k..... what do you all like? Can't wait to see you ideas....

posted in Belly Dance Instructors - 18 replies

East Coast Healing Dance Experience

2008-03-08T14:18:58Z

Ladies, you are all welcome to participate in the first ever Healing Dance event of its kind

Check it out at http://www.healbytouch.com/2005/scripts/page.php?script_name=Events

Apologies for the late notice

posted in Belly Dance Instructors - 4 replies

Grr - Stop teaching MY class!

2008-03-07T13:40:55Z

How many have students who will turn to another student and try to teach the move as you are trying to teach it?
.... IF they turned forward and watched or simply worked it out in their own bodies and heads... most likely it would make more sense than if someone else disrupted the class to talk them through it. Yes?

How do you keep things from getting out of control by the helpful student who wants to assist her neighbor? (we are all friends on some level.. Does that make it harder to have ONE Teacher instead of a group session?)

Sometimes I will ask one student who speaks the same dance language as the other to count it out or explain it better than I know I can. However, that is a last resort and its usually to keep my frusteration level down as well as the other students. Time spent to work one student through a move....takes away from the full class. Its distracting for me and many of the others.
How do you approach this?

posted in Belly Dance Instructors - 16 replies

Bellydance History Resources

2008-03-02T04:58:40Z

I was wondering where most dancers get their information on bellydance history of different countries and what the most accurate bellydance history book is?
Do you get your info from teachers mostly? Do you learn most from books? How accurate is on-line info? Do dancers learn more about the history by studying in the particular country with a local dancer than by reading?

posted in Belly Dance Instructors - 3 replies

The Perfect Class

2008-03-01T17:06:21Z

From start to finish, what do you feel is the best class.

What warm-ups do you start with,for how long, then how do you progress.

Do you break down the dance and work on several 'problem' areas, or do you jsut perform the dance from the beginning adn repeat it until everyone seems to have it?

Do you introduce new combinations that are not in your dance routine?

How do you warm down?

I love working on fundamental....more than my teacher.....and working on select combinations from the dance, with some new things sprinkled in.

posted in Belly Dance Instructors - 1 reply

Is your class recession-proof? (X-posted from Biz tribe)

2008-02-29T18:40:27Z

Hi everybody,
I haven't been here in a while, but I have an article that just went up at the Gilded-Serpent about "How the recession affects your classes (and what you can do about it)"

I thought you all might like to know about it. Here's the link:
http://www.gildedserpent.com/art43/mirarecession.htm

Best of success!
Mira

posted in Belly Dance Instructors - 1 reply

This sounds like material for another thread:

2008-02-29T15:55:55Z

>>"What happens to the students who just cant get it? (age, mobility, ability, time, all factors) "
As a teacher, do you write for the lowest common denominator or do you create more challenging dances you know that not everyone in your group will ever be able to do? Or both? Or maybe have the basic dance with optional challege combinations? As a student would you feel inspried by dancers more able to express a particular dance vision or disappointed that you have to "sit this one out"? <<<

(this came up on another thread so I brought it here - thanks for the suggestion)

posted in Belly Dance Instructors - 6 replies

stinky students

2008-02-29T00:23:02Z

What do you do when you have a student who smells like she's never even heard of deoderant? Ugh! The B.O. is so bad, that when we dance in a circle, I have to change directions so I don't follow her armpits. She looks like she's kind of a hippie gal, who does not bathe much and maybe shuns chemicals. This is not the first time this has happened...I have had at least 2 other students who were similarly--er--hygenically challenged. Anyone want to suggest a sensitive way I might approach her? Or a nicely worded "class policy" I might use? I think I'll put it in the rules for next session, but I'll suffer greatly for the next 6 weeks...
oy vey, my poor suffering olfactories.

posted in Belly Dance Instructors - 24 replies

Silly comparisons or analogies in classes?

2008-02-27T00:16:12Z

I am known for using odd metaphors or comparisons to moves in my classes. What are yours?
One of mine, for example is, when I see dancers trying to move the low body, with arms in "funky chicken" posture thus arms jabbing back and forth. I call out to them and say
"Is Steve Martin a wild and crazy guy?" meaning someone in the room has those goofy SNL Steve Martin (back in the day) "wild and crazy guy" arms going. It is a light, silly way to crack smiles but also to remind them of the proper arm posture/position.
I'll add more as the thread gets going.

posted in Belly Dance Instructors - 49 replies

valid teacher qualifications

2008-02-24T18:41:48Z

One of the other local teachers in my area has a regular show of bellydance lessons on the local public access channel. It is fairly well known, because when I tell people that I am a bellydancer, the usual response is 'oh, like those ladies on channel XX.' Yesterday, I happen to browse through the channel and got a chance to watch this show for the first time. It is was not quite what I was expecting. Anyway, towards the end of the show the instructor made the comment that, "if you are interested in learning bellydance, SHE is the only qualified teacher in the (Same As My City) area, because she has taken hundreds and hundreds of hours of workshops and that's all there is to it." Most of her workshops hours are with one particular dancer in NYC, whom she considers herself to be a protege of. Is this a valid qualifications claim? I would like to hear the perspective from someone outside this area.

Thanks!
~Kaytee

posted in Belly Dance Instructors - 8 replies

What do I have the right to teach?

2008-02-23T19:47:23Z

I'm having some serious ethical dilemas about my teaching. Help!!

Background: I've been teaching for probably about 2 years, studying bellydance for more than 5. I'm sure I began teaching before I was ready, but did work very closely with my main instructor on preparing to teach, and had her approval to begin teaching. I've been athletic my whole life, so have a strong background in fitness, and have done a lot of work in order to be prepared to teach *safely*, modify for injuries, etc. All in all, I feel like I am generally a strong teacher.

My very first teacher was FCBD-trained ATS. I studied with her for a while, but did not study ATS specifically long enough to learn cues, transitions, etc. My second and primary teacher was Turkish style, mostly self taught. Excellent dancer and instructor, and I put what she taught me on top of my basic tribal-style foundation. I've also studied here and there with Egyptian teachers and taken a smattering of workshops from people like Morocco, Heather Stants, Jim Boz, Amaya, Dondi, Carolena Nerricio and others. So you can see my influences come from all over the place.

I currently do not have my own dance teacher, which I feel is a huge void. OK, background complete.

So here's the issue -- I'm kind of a bellydance mutt. I don't feel I have studied any particular style enough to be truly proficient at it or to define myself as teaching that specific style. I'm pretty good at running a basic bellydance 101 type class, but what is it that I'm really teaching?

What do I really have a right to be teaching?

I know this gets into the much-discussed area of teacher standards/certifications, and I don't want to get into that can of worms right now. Just wondering if anyone else has struggled with these questions, and how you have dealt with them? Or are these just questions that will exist until we all have access to some sort of teacher certification program?

I'm beginning to think the fact that I'm struggling so much with these questions is an indication that I need to step back from teaching for a while...

Any thoughts would be appreciated!

posted in Belly Dance Instructors - 14 replies

First Class Demonstration

2008-02-23T02:29:41Z

I recently had someone suggest to me that I should begin my new begginer classes with a brief demonstration (short solo piece). This is something I never really thought of doing, but it got to me to thinking about some of the positives and negatives to doing it. Do any of you do this in your classes? Why or why not? Just curious.

posted in Belly Dance Instructors - 27 replies