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

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Teachers

“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

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!

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Next Beginner 6 Class is Starting:

TBA

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.

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.