BodyWorks
By Chandani
Middle Eastern Belly Dancing

Owned and Operated by Bekah James

178 Thalia Village Shoppes Suite C
Virginia Beach, VA 23452
PHONE:  (757) 313-8000 
EMAIL: 
bodyworksbychandani@gmail.com

“Chandani's dynamic personality and comprehensive teaching style makes for exciting and fun classes, free of any self-consciousness.  She breaks down each new technique into manageable parts, making even the most difficult movements easy to understand and execute.”

-  Kim McVicker, CMHT, NLP –

Owner of Wise Wisdom

 

Dance Schedule

Beginner Classes

Beginner 1 Classes - 8 Weeks

Class Description

*  History and traditions of belly dance including handouts
*  Correct dance posture to prevent injuries and perform moves
*  Break down and practice of belly dance moves
*  Introduction of how to listen to Middle Eastern Music
*  Learning a Choreographed Group Dance to Middle Eastern
    Music including a handout of the choreography
*  Ideal for those with little or no dance background

Class Goals

By the end of the 8 weeks students should be able to perform the group circle dance including how to dance to the music, transition from one move to the next and over 15 isolated, traveling and layered belly dance movements.  Students will be belly dancing at the end of the 8 weeks!

 

New Beginner 1 Classes Starting in
March:

Saturdays starting March 18th
6:00 - 7:30pm

Currently there are
12 spots available.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

BEGINNER 1 CRASH COURSE
Same Beginner 1 class format, condensed into one week!
$50 for this special class
Monday-Friday March 22nd - March 26th
6:00 - 7:00pm

New Beginner 1 classes begin each month! Check back soon for our April 2010 schedule!

Cost of Beginner 1 Classes: 
 $98 for 8 week session
**($88 for Military - valid Military ID required)
**Pre-registration is required**

 

Click here to print out the Registration Form



Back to the top
 

Class Description

* Review and progression of the Beginner 1 classes with a
    building block on the previously learned movements
*  Choreography clean up of Beginner 1 dance routine
 * Incorporating a variety of drills and endurance exercises
* New solo choreographed dance including a variety of dance
    formations and transitions and a handout of the choreography
* Including entrances and intro to musicality
* History of veil dancing
* Veil technique and stylizing
* Break down of new movements

Class Goals

By the end of the 7 weeks students should be able to perform the solo Veil dance including the basics of how to dance with a veil, and have a better understanding of how to dance to different types of Middle Eastern music.

    

Next Beginner 2 Class is Starting:

Tuesday March 16th
7:45 - 9:15pm

Cost of Beginner 2 Classes is $88 for the 7 week session
**($83 for Military - valid Military ID required)


Back to the top

 

Class Description

*  Refinement and choreography clean up of Beginner 2
     movements
*  Incorporating a variety of drills and endurance exercises
*  Learning to stylize movements to personal preference
*  Deeper understanding of Middle Eastern Music
*  Learning how to listen to all aspects of Middle Eastern music
     for better musicality
*  Learning to dance to various Middle Eastern rhythms
*  History of Middle Eastern music finger cymbals
including  
     handouts
*  Learning at least 2 Middle Eastern Rhythms on the finger
    cymbals
*  Learning to move and dance while playing finger cymbals
* Incorporating a variety of drills and endurance exercises
   
including drilling with finger cymbals
 

Class Goals

By the end of the 6 weeks students should be able to identify at least 4 Middle Eastern rhythms, and play at least 2 rhythms correctly on the finger cymbals.  Students will also have a better understanding of how to listen and interpret Middle Eastern music in order to dance to the music more appropriately.

    

Next Beginner 3 Class is Starting:

Tuesdays March 23rd
6:00 - 7:30 pm

Cost of Beginner 3 Classes is $83 for the 6 week session
**($78 for Military - valid Military ID required)


Back to the top

 

Class Description

* Learning the history and progression of Drum Solos
* Learning techniques to drum solos
* Practice in articulating movements
* Learning techniques to belly rolls and belly flutters
* Learning a short choreographed dance, including hand out of
   choreography
* Opportunity to create and stylize own movements to
    choreographed dance
*  History of Middle Eastern drums
including handouts
* Introduction to Improvisational dancing
*
Incorporating a variety of drills and endurance exercises
   
including drilling with finger cymbals
*  Learning basic drumming strokes and at least 2 rhythms on the
    Tabla

Class Goals

By the end of the 6 weeks students should be able to perform 1 drum solo choreography with sharp, articulated movements and slower refined movements to drum solo beats.

    

Next Beginner 4 Class is Starting:

Thursday March 18th
6:30 - 8:00pm
 

Cost of Beginner 4 Classes is $83 for the 6 week session
**($78 for Military - valid Military ID required)


Back to the top

 

Class Description

* Learning about phrases of music and movements
* Practice with Improvisation
* Learning the Rule of 4s and changes on the 4th movement
* Learning various ways to layer hip shimmies
* Learning how to change speed and direction of moves for a
   different look
* Learning new veil techniques for both solos and group design
*  Learning variations on spins and turns
* Drilling of previous combinations from Beginner 1 - 4
*
Incorporating a variety of drills and endurance exercises
   
including drilling with finger cymbals

Class Goals

By the end of the 6 weeks students should be able to use short combinations in their own dancing, refined movements from Beginner 1-4, have increased ability to improvise, turn, layer movements and dance with a veil.

    

Next Beginner 5 Class is Starting:

TBA

Cost of Beginner 5 Classes is $83 for the 6 week session
**($78 for Military - valid Military ID required)


Back to the top

 

Class Description

* Learning a deeper understanding of how to dance to taqism
    music
* Learning how to dance to different musical instruments during
   a taqism, such as the oud, accordion, and kanoon
* Focus on improvising to Taqism music
* History of balancing in belly dance
* Learning how to balance various objects including baskets,
   trays and swords
* History of floor work in belly dance
* Learning transitions to the floor, costuming for floor work and
   basic floor work technique
* Learning how to balance objects while doing floor work

Class Goals

By the end of the 6 weeks students should be able to improvise to taqism music, balance objects on the body, safely get to the floor and perform basic floor work.

    

Cost of Beginner 6 Classes is $83 for the 6 week session
**($78 for Military - valid Military ID required)

Next Beginner 6 Class is Starting:

TBA

 

Back to the top

 

Class Description

* Learning the history and traditions of various folkloric dances,
   such as Hagalla, Khaleeji, Shamadon, Ghawazee, Melya Leff,
   Guedra, and Tunisian
*  Watching videos and receiving handouts on folkloric dancing
* Break down of various dance movements for folkloric dances
* Trying on and learning about the costuming for folkloric
    dancing

Class Goals

By the end of the 6 weeks students should be able do dance several folkloric moves, know the history and traditions of the above folkloric dances and understand how they relate to belly dance today.

    

Next Beginner 7 Class is Starting:

TBA

Cost of Beginner 7 Classes is $83 for the 6 week session
**($78 for Military - valid Military ID required)


 

Back to the top

 

American Tribal and Tribal Fusion Classes

BodyWorks by Chandani proudly presents American Tribal Style belly dance classes, taught by Fat Chance Belly Dance General Skills Certified instructor Bekah James.  In this introductory level class, learn the fundamentals of two basic movements each week.  Also included are stretches, posture, music and history as appropriate, and simple zils (finger cymbals).  This improvisational, American-born dance style will inspire your creativity and celebrate the the beauty and strength of the female spirit.  Previous belly dance experience is helpful, but not necessary.

Class Description

* Learning the history and traditions of American Tribal Style
   Belly Dance
* Break down of ATS basics including movements, formations,
    costuming and make-up.
*
Incorporating a variety of drills and endurance exercises
   
including drilling with finger cymbals

Class Goals

By the end of the 6 weeks students should be able to execute ATS belly dance moves correctly, change formations and use zills in ATS fashion.

    

Next American Tribal Style Belly Dance Class is Starting:

American Tribal Style 3
Saturday April 11th

10:00 - 11:00am

Cost for ATS is $50 for 4 weeks

**Pre-registration is required**

Click here to print out the Registration Form


Back to the top

 

Starting with what Tribal Fusion is, the different dance styles that it draws from, the famous dancers that are currently associated with it, the music, and the costuming, this class will give the basics to any dancer interested in pursuing a Tribal Fusion style. Tribal Fusion Belly Dance is a form of modern belly dance generally referring to a combination of American Tribal Style Belly Dance (ATS) and Cabaret or Egyptian style belly dance. It frequently incorporates elements of Popping, Hip Hop, and modern, but often drawing from many traditional forms such as Flamenco, Kathak, Bhangra, Balinese, Burlesque, and other folkloric dance styles. In tribal fusion, dancers expand on the elements previously fused to form ATS, to make their style unique and more relevant to their contemporary experience. Drawing from the styles of Rachel Brice, Mardi Love, Ariellah, and Zoe Jakes the class will include pops, locks, and drops, layering, tribal snake arms, coiling and serpentine stylization.
Open to all levels.

Tribal Fusion Combinations with Shannon:

Monday April 12th
6:30 - 7:30 pm

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Tribal Fusion Choreography with Fallon:

Saturday March 13th 
11:15 am - 12:15 pm

Cost of Tribal Fusion with Shannon:  $73 for 6 weeks or $15 drop-in

Cost of Tribal Fusion Choreography with Fallon:  $50 for 4 weeks
(no drop-in; pre-registration required)

 

Back to the top

 

** Military discount only with valid Military ID.  Only good on
regular Beginner - Advanced classes at BWBC.  Cannot be combined with other
discounts or coupons.

BodyWorks By Chandani
Belly Dance for Everyone

Copyright © BodyWorks By Chandani 2002 - 2010 All rights reserved.
All pictures are copyrighted and may not be used without permission from BodyWorks By Chandani.