FAQs

I’ve never taken belly dancing before. Is it hard to learn?

Most women who come to class have never before tried belly dancing, or attended any sort of dance class as an adult. In our classes you’ll learn to get familiar with your body, and your coordination and confidence will improve the more you practice. As with any discipline, the more you practice, the better you will be. But, anyone can start enjoying belly dancing and gaining the benefits, even from the first class!

What kind of people come to belly dance class? I don’t want to feel out of place.

Belly Dancing is for people of all ages, shapes, sizes, and genders! Our classes are mostly attended by women (though we do have some men take class, see the question below!), who come in ages 6 to 60. We have housewives, mothers, grandmothers, girlfriends, daughters, sisters... there is no specific ‘look’ for belly dance. Belly Dancers are thin, short, voluptuous, tall, hippy, flat-chested, big-bellied, flat-bellied, toned, curvy, you name it! Every body has the same body parts, and the beauty of belly dance is that we celebrate all of them! The same moves will look different on different dancers and that’s OKAY. As humans we are not all cookie-cutter, we each have our own characteristics that put our personal touch on the way we move our bodies. That’s what makes each and every one of us special. That’s what creates the beauty of our dance form!

What do I need to know about coming to class?

Please arrive quietly, and sign in to every class you are taking. If you are a new student, or if your address, phone number, or email has changed, you will need to fill out a Registration Form. Pull your class card out of the file (it should be filed behind the letter of your first name) if you have one and place it in the basket, or, if you need to buy another card, please leave a check in the basket. Your instructor will mark your card for you and re-file it. Then please take a seat, remove your shoes, get your zills out, and wait quietly for your class to start. If you need to talk on your phone, or chat with another student, please do so outside so as not to disturb the previous class.

Class Etiquette:

-No chewing gum in class
-Turn off your cell phone
-Please no talking during class
-No skirts (unless specified otherwise)
-Please do not correct your fellow students
-Try everything! You can do it!
-Only positive comments about yourself, and your fellow students - this is a supportive environment here to nurture everyone’s creative growth... be kind to everyone, especially yourself!

Do men belly dance too?

Sure they do! Belly Dance is an art form like any other dance. Originally, belly dance was a dance of celebration, danced by all ages and genders. Everyone gets up to dance! Belly Dance is first of all a cultural dance from the Middle East - think about the Latin parties where everyone dances, grandma, grandpa, mom, dad, and the kids. It’s not unusual for men to take belly dance, even to get good at it, and perform! Many of the top choreographers in Egypt today are men.

How long until I’m good at belly dancing?

After about the sixth class or so, you’ll start feeling much more confident and sure about your moves. The bottom line is, the more you practice, the faster you will improve. For instance, a student who comes twice a week will get better twice as fast as someone who comes once a week. Add a few minutes of belly dance practice every day, and you’ll improve even faster! Remember, everyone learns at their own pace, and comes from different movement backgrounds, so just be patient with yourself. Don’t compare yourself to others, you are in class to improve yourself at whatever level you are at.

Expect to stay in the Level 1 classes for 2 - 8 months or more. However, when you are feeling ready for a challenge, talk to your instructor, and add a Level 2 class to your schedule. Keep taking the Level 1, to drill the isolations and build muscle memory, but take a Level 2 to start putting the moves together and challenge yourself! After a year or more you may find yourself ready for another challenge, so talk to your instructor and see if you’re ready for Level 3. You may also consider at this time getting Certified in our Level 2, which will provide you with a structure to build your skills. This does not mean you don’t have to still practice your Level 2 moves! Level 3 students, even with Certification, are encouraged to regularly attend Level 2 classes to keep their muscle memory engaged and their isolations from becoming sloppy.

I’ve taken other dance forms and I’m pretty coordinated, but never belly dance. Should I still start in Level 1?

Yes. You may find that your coordination and training help you move faster through our levels, but the isolations used in belly dance are very different from the ones used in any other dance form. Level 1 classes will provide you with the repetition and attention to detail required to build the muscle memory required to execute the proper isolations. When you feel you are ready for a challenge, talk to your instructor about adding a Level 2 class to your schedule. Your instructor will be able to give you feedback about your progress and tips on how to work on your difficult areas.

I’ve taken belly dance before, at another studio. Where do I fit in here?

Thanks for your interest in Hip Expressions classes! What we are finding is that there are many different styles and flavors to belly dance, and no universal structure or method to teaching. We would recommend attending several of our classes, from Level 1 - Level 3, and see what works for you. In several of our Level 2 classes, we work on different moves every month so keep in mind each month will be different. The best way to find out where you fit in is to schedule a Private Lesson with one of our instructors, and they can lead you through an evaluation process and explain how our programs and Certification work.

I want to perform! What do I do?

We offer several options for performing. First, talk to you instructor about wanting to perform. They will have some recommendations on what you need to work on to achieve your goal. Then, when you’re ready, start with one of our Choreography classes, which will introduce you to performance concepts, a movement series, and working with a group to create a piece. Our Choreography classes perform at our monthly Arabian Nights Belly Dance Show, so this is a great opportunity to expose you to performance, in the safety of a group.

If you are interested in performing solo, again, talk to your instructor. It may be good to start with a couple of Choreography Classes to practice performing. Then, a series of private lessons, or attending one of our workshop or themed classes where the focus is on performance preparation would be advisable. Also, attaining a Level 2 Certification will give you acknowledgement that you have studied a wide variety of belly dance moves and are ready for the challenge of performing solo!

Another good practice for performing is to pick a piece of music, and start thinkin

I want some music to take home to practice to. What do you recommend?

We’ll give you a practice CD to take home at your first day of class. This will give you a wide sampling of music to listen to in different styles. If you find a particular song or style you are interested in, let us know, and we can recommend some more CD’s based on what inspires YOU to dance!

Have a Question we haven’t answered? Email us!

I want to learn to belly dance! Where do I start?

Come to our Belly Basics (Level 1) class; check the schedule for details. Plan to arrive about 15 minutes early to fill out a Registration Form (or print from the website and fill it out at home and bring it in). Then you’ll be in the right place at the right time to begin your belly dance studies.

Don’t forget, we do a FREE Intro to Belly Dance class on Fridays, 6 - 7pm.

It’s a great way to come check out the Studio and see what we have to offer!

What do I wear to belly dance class?

You should wear clothes that are tight enough to show your movement, but loose enough that they won’t restrict your body. A tank top or tight top (not a big baggy T-shirt), and yoga pants or leggings are perfect. The instructor should be able to see your knee and hip position clearly. You don’t have to show your belly, but you can if you want to!

We dance barefoot, but if your feet bother you it’s fine to wear ballet slippers, hermes sandals, or other dance shoes. The hallmark fashion of the belly dancer is a scarf around her hips - this not only clearly shows your hip movements to the instructor (and you!), but also the added weight will help you to feel the movements.

Photo by John Mazello