Escape your daily routine and embark on an exotic journey through music and movement
Lessons are suitable for all - whether you are joining our classes to get in shape, to improve your overall wellbeing, to have some fun, to learn about other cultures, to learn a new style of dance, to meet new friends, to spend time with a family member or friend, to improve your body image, or to become a professional performer, we will do everything we can to help you reach your goals.
Traditional Belly Dance Classes - MERAKI ORIENTAL BELLY DANCE PROGRAM
Expressive, sensual, playful, and flirtatious, Belly Dance encourages you to embrace your femininity while learning muscle control, grace, and poise. Classic, Modern and Folkloric Belly Dance styles are taught in this program – with the focus being on Egyptian Oriental as the foundation style.
Classes are based on a consistent format of clear movement breakdowns, drilling the basics, hands-on adjustments and integrating movements through combinations, choreography, and improvisational exercises. Classes include a focus on posture and alignment; developing strong and graceful arms and hands; intricate hip articulations and abdominal work; articulated isolations, pops, and locks; serpentine undulations; dynamic shimmies, turns and step combinations as well as emotional expression.
In addition to movement technique, the music of Egypt, Lebanon, Turkey, and other Middle Eastern countries is explored and demystified to encourage students to become truly immersed in the music made for belly dance. We also delve into the history and cultural context of the dance.
Fusion Belly Dance Classes - ELYSIAN FUSION BELLY DANCE PROGRAM
Fusion Belly Dance is a modern contemporary version of traditional belly dance. It combines or “fuses” movements of traditional belly dance (classic, modern & folkloric) with elements or influences of flamenco, afro, Indian, hip hop, house, voguing, popping, modern, jazz and much more. Earthy and snake-like, yet fun and cheeky, music ranges from world to electronic to contemporary.
Classes will incorporate both fast and slow movements, isolations, drills, and combinations, focus on muscle differentiation and mechanics, posture and alignment, strength, and flexibility.
Fusion Belly Dance combines respect for tradition with 21st Century innovation to bring you a dance form that unifies and embraces our world’s cultures and weaves an intricate tapestry of visual art.
Polynesian Dance Classes (Hawaiian Hula & Ori Tahiti)
Discover the beautiful art of Tahitian and Hawaiian styles of dance. Move your body to the beautiful rhythms of the islands. Sway your hips and tell a story. Students will learn hula movements and terminology and learn to use hula implements such as the ipu (gourd), pu’ili (a split bamboo rod), the ‘uli ‘uli (feathered gourd rattle), and more. Dancers will learn to tell a story using their hands and body movements, while the meanings of the dances will be explained.
Class Schedule
Dance Zone, Bryanpark Shopping Centre, 2nd Floor, Corner Grosvenor Road & Cumberland Drive, Bryanston
RANDBURG
NB Dance Studio, Corner Bram Fischer Drive & Dalmeny Road, Randburg
WELTEVREDEN PARK
DD Dance Studio, Weltevreden Park
What to Wear
Come dressed in comfortable pants (yoga / jazz / tribal / gym / leggings) and a top that allows us to see your body movement clearly. You do not need to show your abdomen unless you want to, but we encourage you to wear a body-hugging style top so that we can ensure you are using the correct muscles. The classes include stretches which require you to work on the floor and stretch out your arms, so make sure the clothing you wear is suitable for this.
You can start off dancing bare foot or in socks and buy the belly dance t-bar shoes / ballet shoes once you are sure you want to continue with lessons.
You can also purchase a shimmy belt / hip scarf with coins on which you will tie around your hips to provide emphasis to your hip movements.
Bring along water and a yoga mat.
Benefits of Belly Dance
- Grows your self-confidence and helps you develop a positive self-image.
- Improves overall posture, flexibility, suppleness, stamina & co-ordination.
- Prevents lower back problems & provides relief from back pain and strengthens pelvic and stomach muscles.
- Provides a greater freedom and range of self-expression.
- Helps to relieve the stresses of everyday life.
- Provides great “me” time and “girl” time as you gain a feeling of camaraderie / community by making new friends.
- Provides an opportunity to not only feel like a goddess but dress up like one too – get all glammed up!
How to Join
You are welcome to attend a TRIAL LESSON at any of the classes to help you decide whether
belly dancing is something you would like to do.
Send an email to natalie@dancingdivinity.com to book your trial lesson.
Please note that booking is essential.
Check out our information brochure for class fees and more information.
Download our Class Information Brochure