MIDDLE EASTERN DANCE (Beginners)

Participant Profile:

This course is designed to introduce adults to the basic skills involved in Middle Eastern-style dance. The learner will observe and learn simple dance routines through participation and practice.

Course Objectives:

• To learn about the history of Middle Eastern dance and become familiar with the characteristics of different styles (brief introduction and 10-page literature for each student to take home)

• To understand the importance of warm-up and cool-down before and after dancing, in order to improve flexibility and minimise the chances of injury

• To learn the basic dance posture used in Middle Eastern dance, and its important safety and performance aspects

• To master basic hip and upper body isolations (figure 8s, circles, slides, twists, drops, lifts, undulations and shimmies)

• To learn basic arm positions, co-ordinated arm movements and snake arms

• To introduce some more complex “layered” moves

• To encourage students to use the movements they learned in improvisational drills

• To learn a fun “American Tribal Style” choreography

 Lesson Structure:

            1.5 hour lessons:                          

             Warm-up: 10 minutes                            

             Technique: 35 minutes              

             Choreography: 35 minutes                   

             Cool down: 10 minutes     

 Go to Timetable Listings for Date, Times and Fee