~ What should I wear to class?
The main thing in class is that you feel comfortable and that I can see the movements you are making, so t-shirt and leggings / tracksuit bottoms are ideal (but not too long, please - I need to see your feet!). Some people like to bring a hipscarf to tie around their hips, but there's no need to splash out if you don't feel you want one. If you want to tie something round your hips, a lightweight scarf (such as chiffon) will do. There is no need to reveal your belly, unless you want to! We usually dance in bare feet, but the hall where the classes are held can get quite cold in winter, so if you're worried about icy toes, I would recommend getting some ballet slippers or grippy socks. With temperature in mind, it's also worth bringing a couple of layers that you can remove as we warm up, or put back on as we cool down!
~ I have to travel a way to get to the class - does it matter if I'm a few minutes late?
Each class begins with a thorough warm-up, which raises the pulse and body temperature and mobilises the joints to prepare the body for dancing. This is a crucial part of the class, and missing this could increase your chance of injury. I therefore require everyone coming to class to be present for the warm-up! I am present at the venue at least 10 minutes before the beginning of a class to collect payment, answer questions, etc, so don't worry about arriving a few minutes early!
~ Can my friend come and watch the class?
No - many people coming to bellydance classes feel quite self conscious already because they don't know everyone in the group, without the added pressure of having other people watching them! If your friend wants to watch to see whether they would like to try bellydance, I would strongly encourage them to join the class for just one session - that will give them a much better idea!
~ I want to practice at home...what music do you recommend?
I have compiled a list of CDs that I either use in class or recommend to beginners.
~ How do you keep students up to date?
If, for instance, I have to cancel a class due to illness or family emergency, I will ensure that I email students to inform them. Those students that don't have email, I will ring. Otherwise, I make sure that this website is kept up to date with class dates and times. Please keep an eye on the home page, as this is where I will post announcements about changes to the schedule. When I know about events in advance I will make an announcement at the beginning of class. Outside of term-time I keep in touch with students via email.
~ Do you teach private lessons?
Yes, I do. Please take a look at the teaching page.
~ How do I find out more about the different styles of bellydance?
The best way is to watch performances by as many different bellydancers as possible, whether in real life or on DVD/video. Hannan Sultan of Toronto has compiled a great list of Youtube video clips that illustrate the different bellydance styles, which you can check out for an introduction to different styles.
~ I've been bitten by the bellydance bug - what can I do to learn more and progress quicker?
The key to progressing quickly with bellydance is to practice at home between classes. Try and get hold of some the music I recommend and practice what we have learned in class. It's also really important to start going to other teachers. They will have different perspectives and teaching techniques to me, and this will help you to get a thorough grounding in bellydance and begin to develop your own style. An excellent way to sample the teaching of many UK and international teachers is to attend large scale bellydance events in the UK such as Jewel of Yorkshire and International Bellydance Congress, and I also recommend bellydance.org.uk as a source of info about workshops, haflas and teachers in the UK.
~ Are there any bellydance groups or networks I can join?
Yes, there are several! Northern Arabic Dance Association (NADA) are a membership organisation covering the North of England and Scotland - they organise workshops, lists teachers in different areas and publish a magazine devoted to bellydance. Another membership organisation is MOSAIC, which has more of a national reach, and also publishes a magazine devoted to bellydance.
~ What online resources do you recommend?
There is loads of information available on the internet - some reliable, some not. The websites listed on my links page are valuable sources of information, but I list them because I find them helpful, not because I think they are the final arbiters of 'facts' about bellydance.
