FAQ about Synergy Rhythm and Dance classes

I have never had a dance class. Can I do bellydance?
Where are classes held?
What do we do in bellydance classes with Sahira Zedare?
Did you receive my registration for the next session?
What should I wear for class?
Will I have to perform in public?
When should I move up to Level 2?

I have never had a dance class. Can I do bellydance?

You sure can! We have students with many years of prior training in ballet, jazz, salsa, and so on, and lots of students with no prior dance experience at all. All dancers are most welcome! The moves in bellydance originate in the torso, often drawing shapes with the ribs and hips. This dance comes naturally to most women, regardless of body type or dance background. In some cases, prior training helps a dancer learn movements quickly, but there are also substantive differences across dance styles which can be a challenge to experienced dancers. For instance, ballet students are taught to move very quickly across the floor, with large leaps and turns. On the other hand, bellydance generally incorporates smaller travelling steps, often coupled with hip shimmies.

Where are classes held?

Our classes are held in the Synergy Rhythm and Dance studio in Suite 216 on the second floor of the Attractive Alternative, located at 510 East Washington Street. There are 2 parking lots on Jefferson Street, and you may also park on the street. Enter the building on the Jefferson side, through the small parking lot there. Here is a map from Google Maps:

Did you receive my registration for the next session?

When Sahira receives your payment, she will email you a registration confirmation. If you have not received this email, please contact her to make sure your registration got through.

What should I wear for class?

Please wear clothing that allows you to move comfortably. The most common attire includes dance or yoga pants, a tank top, and a hip scarf. Some students wear midriff tops, some wear skirts, some dance barefoot, and others wear ballet slippers. A hip scarf is optional — it's great for accenting your hip movements like shimmies. Please do not wear a baggy shirt. Since most bellydance moves originate in the torso, Sahira needs to be able to see how your body is moving in order to teach the dance.

What do we do in bellydance classes with Sahira Zedare?

All bellydance classes begin with a warm-up and stretching and end with more stretching. In Level 1 we spend the first 5-10 minutes warming up our bodies, and then we do strength exercises for legs, core (abs and lower back), and arms. We do these exercises to improve our dancing — conditioning is essential! Then we dance, starting with torso movements and then traveling across the floor. If the class focuses on zills or veil, we also practice using those. We might work with short combinations before we cool down. It's a lot to pack into an hour and 15 minutes, but we make it! If you'd like to learn a bit more, Rachel Hatch wrote a lovely story for TCStyle magazine about our level 2 class.

Will I have to perform in public?

Synergy Rhythm and Dance presents a semi-annual Bellydance Showcase, one in late winter/early spring and the other in the fall. Students in levels 1 and 2 learn group choreographies, and each student may participate in the performance or not, as they choose. That said, nearly all students do perform, and have a great time doing it!

When should I move up to Level 2?

This is a great question, and the answer varies from person to person. Level 2 classes are more intense than level 1, incorporating more complex dance technique. Level 2 students must be physically fit (that's about physical health, not body type), and ready to learn choreographies in each session. A basic prerequisite is completing the three types of Level 1: zills, veil, and tribal style. To clarify further, in order to move comfortably into level 2, a student should have mastered the following: all basic torso shapes (circles and infinities), walking 3/4 shimmies, playing the basic gallop with zills while moving, basic veil, and tribal variations such as horizontal rib circles and hip taxims.