Nadira Jamal, Belly Dancer

Why belly dance?

Belly dance is a fun and empowering form of exercise and artistic expression. Its many benefits include:

• Exercise
• Self-expression
• Improved self-esteem
• Bonding with other women
• Fun!

Although it is often stereotyped as a dance of seduction, belly dance is actually a wholesome and joyful dance that is appropriate for women of all ages.

Join Nadira for:

6:30-8 pm:

Level 2

Level 2 is intended for dancers who have mastered the material in my Level 1 class, or who have equivalent experience (typically a year of beginner-level instruction). Contact me if you're not sure which level to choose.

Students who are new to my style, or who want extra practice/review may choose to take Level 1 as well.

This level will cover advanced beginner technique, as well as introducing performance skills and props.

Zils (finger cymbals) will be used, starting in the second week, and are required for all students.

This class lasts 90 minutes.

8-9 pm:

Level 1

This level is recommended for students with less than a year of belly dance training, or who have not been away from the dance for six months or more.

This class is a full year curriculum, organized into three 4-month sessions, to make payment and administration easier. It is a rotating curriculum, so new students may join at the beginning of any session.

Most students will stay at this level for a full 12 months. Everyone learns at a different rate, but regular attendance and practice will help you reach your personal best.

Students taking Level 2 may also take this class for extra drilling/review.

This class lasts one hour.

Directions:

Third Life Studio is located at 33 Union Square in Somerville.

Union Square is an easy bus ride from:
Central (91, CT2), Kendall (85, CT2), Harvard (86), Porter (87), Davis (87), Sullivan (86, 90, 91), Lechmere (87, 88), Arlington Center (87), Cleveland Circle (86), Wellington (90), Ruggles (CT2)

Visit MBTA.com for schedule information

For driving and parking directions, please visit Third Life Studio

Class Goals:

This is a technique class for beginners and advanced beginners. My goal is to provide a safe and friendly place for women to use dance to develop their personal style of expression and have fun in the company of other women.  Women of all ages, shapes, and sizes are encouraged to join!

We'll cover:

• proper technique 

So the dance can be done safely, to help you appreciate your body for what it can accomplish, and to build a strong foundation to prepare you to perform if you choose.  

• performance skills 

To give you a platform for expressing yourself with confidence, whether you perform for an audience, for friends and family, or alone in your living room.  

• the historical and social context of the dance

To help you understand what you are doing, correct misconceptions about the dance, and be a responsible member of the belly dance community.

Class Attire:

Wear comfortable clothes that you can move in. Exercise wear such as tank tops, sports bra tops, stretchy fitted t-shirts and yoga pants are good choices. Avoid anything baggy or constricting, such as jeans. Bare midriffs are optional.

You will feel the movements better if you tie something around your hips. Hip scarves will be available for purchase on the first day of class for $15, but feel free to purchase them elsewhere.

You may take the class barefoot or wear socks or dance shoes, such as ballet slippers, half-soles, lyrical "hermes" sandals, etc. Ballroom heels are not recommended at this level. Street shoes, including sneakers, should not be worn in class.

Payment:

Level 2: $230 for the 12-week session (payable in advance or at the first class) or $25 drop-in rate

Level 1: $155 for the 12-week session (payable in advance or at the first class) or $15 drop-in rate

I accept cash, checks, or a credit card via paypal.

Each class will be limited to 20 students. Registration is not guaranteed until payment in full is received, so advance registration and payment is recommended.

All payments are non-refundable and may not be carried over to future sessions.

If you know you will be missing class on specific dates, contact me before registering, as I may be able to pro-rate your session under some circumstances.

Early bird Special: register by September 7th, and take $10 off your full-session registration.

Registration and full payment must be received by 9/7/2010 to qualify for the discount. Pro-rated sessions are not eligible for the early bird discount.

$40/hr for the first student

+ $20/hr per additional student

Travel Fee

(for lessons in your home or a rented studio)

$10-30, depending on location

(may be waived if Nadira will already be in the neighborhood)

Typically $15-25, depending on studio, day of the week, and time of day.

Do you have trouble thinking of moves when you improvise? Drawing a blank is the result of having too many choices, not too few!

The workshop will help you use your movement vocabulary more effectively when you improvise. You'll learn to:

• Open up the free flow of ideas
• Identify your personal safety moves
• Transition between them smoothly
• Use them to create interesting and
• Use simple mnemonic tricks to make the rest of your movement vocabulary accessible

Note: this workshop includes journaling exercises as well as dancing. Participants will need paper and a pen.

90 minutes

May be adapted for 60-120 minute timeslots.

Appropriate for all levels and styles.

Participants must know at least 10 belly dance movements.

Do you worry about boring your audience when you improvise, but "scribble" when you try to do more?

Most dancers don't realize that interesting dancing doesn't need more "stuff", it needs structure.

In this workshop, you'll learn to organize your dance, so your audience can follow your train of thought. You'll learn important structural tools, including:

• Continuity
• Alternation Patterns
• Theme & Variation
• Compositional Skeletons
• Safety Riffs

Note: this workshop includes journaling exercises as well as dancing. Participants will need paper and a pen.

2 hours

May be adapted for a 90-minute timeslot, or up to a full day.

Appropriate for all levels and styles.

However, for maximum benefit, participants should be comfortable with at least 10 bellydance movements that are appropriate for their skill level.

This workshop presents an analytical approach to dance composition, by exploring the 4 elements of abstract movement: Space, Shape, Time, and Energy.

We'll examine these elements in detail, focusing on their many variations, and the audience responses these variations produce.

The workshop will include:

• Analytical vs. Intuitive composition
• An explanation of the four elements
• An introduction to element variations
• Moving exercises for some variations
• An improvisational exercise
• The limitations of this method
• How to use this method in improvisation

Workshop notes will be provided, including a recap of the topics covered, and information on further resources.

The goal of this workshop is to present compositional theory.

We will be doing a lot more talking and less dancing than in many workshops. The exercises are included to help explore and cement the ideas, not to teach specific technique or combinations.

90 minutes minimum

2 hours recommended

May be expanded to up to 2 days.

Appropriate for all levels and styles

Exercises will use basic movements, but the concepts can be applied to more advanced material as well.

You've never danced to 9/8 music (karsilama) in your life, but the band starts playing Rompi Rompi.  You've seen dancers use skirtwork for karsilama, but you're wearing a straight skirt.  What do you do?

  This workshop covers:

• the 9/8 rhythm
• playing zils to 9/8 music
• the heel step (aka the "turkish strut")
• using standard belly dance moves (i.e., what you already know) with 9/8 music

Time permitting, it can also include:

• a couple of identifiably "karsilama" moves that make people think you know what you're talking about
• a couple of easy-to-remember gestures to make people think you know what you're talking about

60-90 minutes

May be combined with additional karsilama workshops.

Karsilama-illiterate dancers with at least a beginner-level belly dance movement vocabulary.

This material may be too basic for dancers with any previous background in karsilama.