Bellydance Skills Workshops

Shahina introduces her series of ninety minute individual skills dance workshops. More focused and intensive than weekly classes, yet requiring less time commitment and expense than a day–long seminar.

Small class size allows us to cover a great deal of material in just 90 minutes. Workshops vary in skill levels from beginner to advanced, and often will be modified to suit the abilities of the dancers enrolled. Feel free to repeat a class– there will always be something new for you!

Workshops are usually held at Shahina's Glen Ellyn studio, and are most often on Wednesday evening. Check Shahina's belly dance calendar for the next date and location of each workshop. Register for just the topics that interest you...or attend them all for a discounted rate!

• Goddess Walking & Veil Basics—Selecting a veil that is right for you, how to hold the veil properly. Easy moves and turns plus some professional tricks to help you move with the veil like you were born to do it. Goddess walking is a veil dance experience that will leave you centered, motivated and feeling wonderful! description
  
  
• The Art of Taksim: Slow and Sensuous Movement—Shaking is the easy part of belly dance! What do you do when the music slows down? How do you keep the slow parts from being boring? How do you perform sensuous floor work without looking vulgar? All these will be covered in this 90 minute workshop.
  
  
• Shimmy Variations & Layering Drills—There are as many shimmies as there are dancers! Learn a few new ones and bring your shimmy-layering challenges. We’ll break them down into practicable drills to add to your regular practice routine.
  
  
• Intermediate/Advanced Veil Work—Advanced veil tricks, plus tools you need to create your own veil solo. Selecting appropriate music, traveling with the veil, executing extended spins and turns with grace and balance, tips for smoothly getting out of veil entanglements. description
  
  
• Beautiful Belly Work: Abs, Undulations & Accents―Intense torso shaping exercises, drills and variations on undulations, flutters and belly accents. Putting accents into choreography or improvisation for professional transitions and exciting combinations. description
  
  
• Ballet for Bellydancers: Moving with Grace―Details make all the difference! Learn secrets of maintaining balance, moving with grace and fluidity, building strength and stamina without building bulk, head and arm positioning, avoiding dizziness in turns, and other gems that will give your dance a more professional touch.
  
  
• Turns & Traveling: Making Use of the Stage―Entrances, exits, and where you stand on the stage and how you get there can make or break a performance. What are the messages you sending? Does your movement convey what the music is saying? Are you in possession of the stage, or just renting a space there? These are things that separate the professional dancer from the hobbyist— so how do you want to be perceived?
  
  
• Balancing and Sword Tricks & Techniques―So you can balance the sword on your head. Now what? This workshop will help your balancing act look like a dance instead of a circus performer doing tricks. Bring a sword or a tray and votive candles, or other item you would like to work with.
  
  
• Unraveling Arabic Music: Rhythm and Musicality―This class focuses on understanding how to truly hear the music, pick out the rhythms, separate the musical phrases, and learn to translate what you hear into movement that fits the music. If you have a particular piece of music that baffles you, bring it along!
  
  
• Staging and Choreography for Groups or Solos―Why does one choreography grab your attention and hold it, while another leaves you yawning? How does group choreography differ from solo? How do you move people around seamlessly and keep dancers from bumping into one another? What do you do when dancers are not at the same skill levels? How do you adjust the choreography for different venues or when someone doesn’t show up? These are some of the questions that will be covered in this 90 minute workshop for intermediate to advanced dancers.
  
  
• Costume Clinic―Do you have a costume that doesn't fit you quite right? Do you have an old or inexpensive costume that needs a make-over? Are you looking for a "show-stopper" costume, but can't find one that fits your budget? Do you want to make your own "dream costume" but you don't know how to begin? Are you ready for your first costume and not sure what to look for and how to choose one? Do you need tips on "oops!" proofing your costumes and dressing to prevent spillage, shifting, etc? Register for this workshop, bring your costuming questions, problems and ideas and we'll get your costume wardrobe on-track for the "gasp factor!" All levels welcome.
  
  
• Double Veil―Challenge your veil skills by doubling up! There is nothing like double veils for giving you the flash and pizzazz you need to quickly grab attention in a large venue. In this workshop we will learn several ways to drape, remove, match and manipulate 2 veils. Please wear clothing that allows you to tuck the veil in securely at the hips and shoulders. Bring 2 semi circular SILK veils to class if you have them. Some loaners will be available. Shahina's unique hand dyed silk veils will also be available for purchase. 45" x 108" 8mm weight semi-circular veils are usually priced at $70 each. Workshop participants may purchase a pair at the workshop for $100. For intermediate to advanced dancers.
  
  

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