Belly Dance Lessons Online

Finding Belly Dance Lessons Online

BellyCore

Melissa offers belly dance instruction in New York City under the BellyCore name. However, for those who don't live in the city or can't find the time to take a class, she has created four online courses. Each 20 to 40-minute video focuses on individual moves before using them in new combinations for practice. To prevent dance injuries, each lesson begins with a warm-up and ends with a cool-down and stretching period. All four videos are intended for beginners, and dancers can work at their own pace. Purchase classes for $15 each, or get a discount when you buy the entire series.

Bellyrolls.com

Belly dance instructor Cassiopeia has uploaded a wide range of videos as a resource to her students, but anyone can take advantage of these targeted clips. Each video focuses on a single movement of the hips, shoulders or chest, starting with a slow, isolated motion and then increasing speed as she explains where your weight should be, what portion of your body should be moving and other technical aspects. All videos are free.

Fugu

Fugu, an interactive training site, offers an online belly dance course from Aubre. You must become a registered user to access the videos. "Introduction to Bellydance" is free, but there is a charge to view the rest of the series, which includes "Bellydance Technique," "The Ultimate Undulation" and "Bellydance Layering."

Middle Eastern Dance

The Movements section of Middle Eastern Dance isn't designed as an online class. However, the information contained within its pages can easily be used to construct a self-designed belly-dancing course. The only disadvantage is that the site doesn't provide any videos or other visuals for learners, which can be important in replicating dances at home. Extensive written descriptions are available for movements of the arms, hips, stomach, torso, and head. There are also tips on dancing with veils and other props.

Other Sources of Instruction

While not every site offers a full selection of belly dance lessons online, there are a number of other learning resources available on the web.

• Aszmara features a movement of the month, with a written description of one aspect of belly dancing, like the hip twist and shimmy, and tips for improving your performance.
• The author of Nefertiti Presents: Belly Dancing the Basics offers a sample page from the book illustrating a common dance movement. The available step changes periodically.
• Magical Motion offers video clips as a way for viewers to sample their instructional DVDs. However, visitors can still learn a few new moves from the clips.
• Visionary Dance Productions primarily focuses on recordings of performances from Delilah, but the site also includes a few segments from her instructional videos.

Finding Information About Local Classes Online

If these online courses have just whetted your appetite and you want to learn more about the dance form, the Internet is also a great source of information on local class opportunities. Zaghareet!, a belly dancing magazine, offers an online directory of teachers, organized by state and country. Yasmina's Joy of Belly Dance offers a similar list mixing performers and instructors.

If you do a search for belly dancing classes in your city, many local teachers have a web presence. For instance, Anthea is a dancer in the Fredericksburg, Virginia area. In addition to finding information on workshops she will be attending, you can view a complete list of available courses, inquire about private lessons, and even register for some classes online. Shira offers classes in Iowa City, and her website features everything you need to know about registering for and attending a class.

Some people are attracted to the mystique and sensuality of the dance. In recent years, belly dancing has been recognized as a great workout. Whatever your motivation, in just a few minutes, you can be moving your hips to the beat with these online resources.