Weekly Belly Dance Classes in Baltimore, MD
www.shemsdance.com

To let me know you are coming to class or if you have any questions please contact Shems at shemsdance@gmail.com

Next regular session start date is Tues Sept 8 & Thurs Sept 10, 2009.

Nojoom at Ya Habibi! March 2009
Nojoom at Ya Habibi! March 2009 - photo by Dev Inspire studios

NEW THIS SESSION (Sept 8 - Oct 15, 2009)

* Show Preperation - We will begin learning group choreographies in Belly Dance Basics and Belly Dance Essentials for a class performance. The show date is tentatively set for Saturday November 7, 2009. I'm still confirming details with the theater. This will actually be in the middle of the session following this one, so if you are seriously interested in performing, I'm going to request a 2 session commitment. You can still pay per session as usual. Our post performance time in the next session will be a good opportunity to do some fun non-choreographed material and for the advanced students, a chance to get performance feedback.

* Fifi Abdo - the famous Egyptian dancer will be the focus of our next technique session. As we learn about this famous grand-dame of belly dance we will also be prepping solos for the performance.

Class Schedule (April 28-June 4) day, time studio price
Belly Dance Basics Tuesday, 6:00pm Flow $75
Belly Dance Basics Thursday, 6:00pm Flow $75
Belly Dance Essentials (Veil) Thursday, 7:15pm Energy $75
Technique and Musicality (lil' Tukish) Thursday, 8:15pm Energy $75


Location
Harbor East MAC
655 President Street
Baltimore, MD 21202
410.625.5000

You will love the friendly staff and the luxurious studios, wonderfully suited to bringing out your inner dancer. You do not need to be a member of the MAC to take classes.

Parking
The MAC validates up to 2 hours in their garage for $1.50 the entrance is on Exeter St. accross from Whole Foods. If you need to stay longer, there is a $3 all evening garage on Caroline St. across from Living Classrooms or you can look for free street parking a couple blocks up towards Little Italy.


Class Prices and Registration
Each 6 week session (6 classes) will be $75 ($60 for MAC members), drop in rate $20 ($15 for MAC members). If you register for more than one class per session you get $15 off the price of the of each additional class, so two classes for 6 weeks would be $135, three $195 and so on. No pro-rating or other discounts apply. Currently, registration is handled the first day of classes, please contact me to let me know you are coming and arrive early the first week to take care of registration.


Make-up Classes
You are welcome to make up any classes you miss by attending another class at the same or lower level within the same session, just let your instructor know you plan to do this. This doesn't carry over into the next session, it is your responsibility to make up any missed classes.


Ethics & Behavior Guidelines
Shems holds ethics and good behavior in really high regard and expects her students to do the same in and out of class. It is important to present the dance in a positive light and build a supportive community. Please see Shems's Ethics and Behavior Guidelines for her students here.


Class Descriptions
Shems' class offerings will adjust and expand over time to give you the opportunity to study a full and diverse curriculum, allowing you to reach the highest level that you desire.

Belly Dance Basics
Belly Dance Basics introduces and drills foundational belly dance vocabulary, body isolations, posture, movement articulation and body lines. There is some cultural background given. Special attention will be paid to proper body alignment, and clean execution of movements. This is the class you should start with if you are brand new to belly dance. It is recommended you continue to repeat this class until you have a good mastery of your basic belly dance movements and isolations. This is also a good refresher for more advanced dancers to practice and drill their basic movements and put extra work into improving the details. Open to all levels, drop ins welcome.

Sept/Oct/Nov sessions - we will be preparing a choreography for performance - performing is optional

Belly Dance Essentials
Building on basic belly dance vocabulary covered in "Belly Dance Basics", essentials introduces more difficult techniques and explores musicality more deeply. It also delves into props. Finger Cymbals, Sword, Veil and Various special focus topics will be covered. This class is meant to be taken continuously for about a year and revisited as often as the topics interest you. Pre-req Belly Dance Basics. Drop ins with approval only.

Sept/Oct/Nov sessions - We will be preparing choreography for performance, using veil and another something special (you will find out more about this in class)

Technique & Musicality
Steps & movements are taught, built into musical phrases. Focusing on building both dance vocabulary and musical connection, this class will delve into complex technique, layering, transitions between movements, rhythms, dance building, improvisation, and cultural context. Previous belly dance experience required, this is an advanced class. This class will be continually introducing new material and is meant to be repeated in an ongoing fashion. Pre-req Teacher Approval. Drop ins with approval only.

Sept/Oct/Nov sessions - Fifi Abdo will be the focus of the session, returning to our study of famous Egyptian dancers. We will use what we are learning from one of the most loved belly dancers of all time, to help prepare for some amazing solos for our upcoming performance. I'm planning on having a live Arabic band for our show.