World Best Dancing Resources

January 13th, 2012

However, as my friend tells me, after the war things have changed and the gypsies rose to become artists that represented Iraq. Now, all Iraqi women, according to my friend, want to dance like this and dance the Kawleeya way at social events. Personally, I like this dance and I think it is beautiful to watch, even though I would never attempt the energetic hair flipping for fear of injuring my neck

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October 6th, 2011

If you have just set up a belly dancing class, then the key to success is a high attendance. In today’s technical age, one of the best ways to market a club or class is to do it online. There are websites and forums all over the internet, that are an ideal place to market your class such as Gumtree, and provide you to reach a potentially large audience.

Fitness and sports clubs have also found that a good way of attracting new attendees is to collaborate with local universities. Students are also willing to try something new, so it worth considering advertising your class on their site, or within the union, Many student unions rent out their rooms for hire to sport classes, and by doing so and advertising online, you can get information on your class to a large, youthful audience.

On top of that, social media is a fantastic way to market your class. Facebook, Twitter and MySpace are ideal ways to advertise local belly dancing classes for zero cost and reaching large numbers of people. Not just that, but if people join your class’ Facebook group, their friends might become curious and do the same thing.

There are so many ways to market yourself online, that you no longer need to just have a website (of course this helps) with basic contact details on. Just make sure your site is optimised to rank for terms such as ‘(name of city) belly dancing class’ and other popular terms.

Advertising your local belly dance classes on class directories such as on World Belly Dance or Belly Dance Org can also be a great and very inexpensive option.

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September 6th, 2011

If you are looking to start your own belly dancing event, then there are things to take into consideration. Firstly, a Hafla, or a Middle East dance party, can take many forms from an educational seminar to a ‘disco’, so make sure you know what kind of event you wish to organise.

Once you know that, you can start source a venue and everything else you need for the party, including food, drink and entertainment. Many Halfas are held during the Festive period as people are already in the mood for a party, and as such a belly dancing party is incredibly popular. Many belly dancing clubs use them as way to raise funds for equipment or for a local charity.

Like any party or event, you need to make sure you have the numbers to make it worth your while, so as well as pupils attending, encourage them to bring friends and loved ones. After all, you may find many of them enjoy it so much, they might become frequent attendees at the classes.

The venue is always the hardest thing to choose, as you need it large enough for the attendees, but such hired areas often have a cost. Doing it at your home or a friend’s will result in problems, so it is worth biting the bullet and hiring somewhere for minimal fuss.

Either way, once all that is organised, you can sort decorations, food, invitations and entertainment. It is guaranteed to be a fantastic evening, so make sure you take care organising it.

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July 25th, 2011

If you are planning on teaching or organising a dance club, then there are several things you need to remember. Firstly, if you are the teacher, you are responsible for your pupils so you need to make sure that the venue has at least a basic first aid kit to look after any minor injuries. Depending on the type of dance that you are teaching, it may be worth looking into getting insurance cover for your classes. More strenuous types of dancing could potentially lead to injury, so to protect yourself and your pupils, consider getting some form of insurance cover.

As the teacher however, you will realise that injuries only occur through carelessness or through a lack of a proper warm up. Dance can be trying on the body, especially if it is unused to it, so it is important to warm up your pupils through a series of exercises in order to get the blood pumping and the muscles ready. This can be done through a series of basic stretches, or simple cardio exercises like star jumps or light jogging.

Next is ensuring your pupils are doing the various techniques correctly. This can be done by pairing your pupils up, so they have someone to train with as well as performing the various techniques yourself so your pupils know what they are meant to do and the correct way to do it.

The most important thing to remember is before teaching new pupils, discover whether they have any conditions that might cause problems in the future, such as back problems. That way you can make sure that they don’t over-exert themselves. Find more tips on teaching belly dance and other forms of dance with some free guides on world belly dance. Also interested in belly dance holidays in Egypt? Looking for tips on learning belly dance to get started?

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May 9th, 2011

If you are looking to lead a belly dancing club or gathering, then the most important thing you need is a venue. Traditionally town halls, social clubs and health centres all rent out rooms to dance classes and clubs, so that is a good place to start.

Almost all of these venues will charge some sort of rental fee for your use of the room, but premium sports clubs are no doubt going to charge the most, however some may be willing to do some sort of deal where if you book in advance for a set number of weeks, they will offer a discount. Of course, this is all dependant on the club and isn’t true for every sport centre.

Church halls and social clubs are also good, essentially anywhere with a large amount of room where you can spread your pupils out for the dance classes and lessons. Most of these venues will have wooden floors which can be easily swept in order to be kept clean, and are easy to dance and train on.

Alternatively, you can use the internet to see where other dance classes in your area go to train. Major cities such as London, Manchester and Birmingham all have a number of dance centres that are routinely rented out by assorted clubs for competitions and classes. If you are unable to find a venue for yourself, sharing one with other classes is also an option. It is also a good bet that they will have facilities that will also be useful for your dance class, such as toilets and a kitchen.

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April 5th, 2011

Belly dancers often use finger cymbals in their routines. These cymbals, which are also called ‘zils’ or ‘sagat’, are held by dancers on each hand. One cymbal is placed on the thumb, while another is put on the middle finger. They are then easy to play, with various methods being used including a ‘three finger’ style.

There are many types of finger cymbal, in that they come in a variety of sizes, colours and materials. Traditionally, there are made of copper-nickel alloy, but can also be made of gold and silver, depending on the dancer’s preference and dance style. There is also a difference in how certain finger cymbals are controlled. Some come with a hole at the top, through which elastic is threaded, while others have two slits at the top. These are generally preferred as, according to dancers, they are easier to control.

Apart from that, most finger cymbals are similar, it is just a little factor that can make a difference, such as the type of elastic used. A wide type of elastic makes the finger cymbals easier to manage as well as more stable, allowing the dancer to easily control the rhythm.

There are distinctive types of rhythm employed by belly dancers when using finger cymbals. They include Baladi Rhythm (made up of sequences of ‘dums’ and ‘taks’), Karatchi Rhythm (that makes a noise much like the galloping of a horse) and Fallahi Rhythm (that originates from Egypt and makes a repetitive trilling sound).

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March 9th, 2011

Belly dancing originated from the Middle East and as such, there are many different forms of styles that have developed in different countries and regions. The most popular and recognised style is Cabaret/Egyptian that is glitzy and flamboyant, however there are several other styles that are becoming more popular around the world.

1. Zambra Mora – 1 Zambra Mora is a form of belly dancing that is infused with flamenco dancing. Not only does it use Middle East styles, but the music is played on Spanish instruments such as guitar. Today Zambra Mora is famed for its chest circles and shimmies as well as the posturing associated with flamenco dancing.

2. Khaleeji – Originating in the Arabic peninsula, Khaleeji is different from the styles that are favoured in Egypt, Lebanon and Turkey. Instead of hip movements, Khaleeji focuses on foot movement and well as spinning. There is also a lot of freedom in the upper torso and shoulders, allowing the dancers to toss their hair from side to side.

3. American Tribal Dancing – American Tribal Dancing was founded in California in the 1970s and is performed in groups as opposed to solo dancers. The group’s head leads the dance signalling moves to the others via hand signals. Props are also used such as finger cymbals and even swords!

4. Gothic Belly Dancing – The bright colours of belly dancing may not be something that would have an immediate association with Gothic styles, but over the years a form of Gothic Belly Dancing has evolved. Known for their intensity, Gothic Belly Dancing incorporates elements of life and death into its styles making for a trance-like dance that utilises the styles of both the East and the West.

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February 8th, 2011

Archaeologists have argued that belly dancing has been going on in Greece since ancient times. It is thought that the Tsifteteli (Greek belly dancing) was born when Greek women used to dance it for worshiping Aphrodite (Venus) thousands of years ago.

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February 5th, 2011

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February 5th, 2011

If you tend to overindulge in food and drink while watching the Super Bowl, there are some simple things you can do to ease the ill effects you may feel the next day, says an expert.

Gastroenterologist Dr. Cynthia Yoshida offers the following suggestions:

* Stay hydrated by alternating every alcoholic beverage with a non-alcoholic drink. Caffeine-free, non-carbonated drinks, such as water, can help lessen the effects of a hangover.
* Avoid overeating, but if you can’t resist the buffet and find yourself constipated the next morning, there are a number of gentle over-the-counter products that can take care of that problem.
* Whether your team wins or loses, it may be difficult to get up the next morning. But being active after a late night of eating and drinking will help boost your metabolism and make you feel better. A brisk walk in the morning may be just what the doctor ordered.

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