| "I don't want people who want to dance; I want | | | | can't be everywhere at once and this isn't why I am |
| people who have to dance." George Balanchine | | | | doing online classes. Students have to know that I |
| Dancing today is different then it was twenty years | | | | am here for their sake and not mine. This is one |
| ago and with today's modern conveniences women | | | | important value I feel that is missing in today's dance |
| are finding dance classes are just a click away. As a | | | | world and this is another reason why I started online |
| dance teacher I found that I wanted belly dance to | | | | classes. I remember my cowboy days practicing in |
| be available to all women who might not otherwise | | | | the horse pasture or around our teepee. There was |
| be able to learn because of location, economy or | | | | no one guiding me and it seemed like it took me a lot |
| family. Thus began my journey with online belly dance | | | | longer to get my moves down than the average |
| classes which fortunately for me has included my | | | | dancer. I was practicing from a disadvantage which |
| husband. Both my husband Daniel and I wanted to | | | | happened to be my gypsy life style at the time. Add |
| make a difference in the belly dance world. My | | | | in two left feet and you can only imagine how I |
| husband is the definition of the "belly dance husband" | | | | looked at the time. Fortunately my passion kept me |
| who has survived the world of belly dance and the | | | | dancing and I started to feel like a belly dancer and |
| dramas that go along with it. Since he has been | | | | eventually look like a belly dancer. |
| around belly dance for a long while he wanted to be | | | | One important aspect of online classes is the fact |
| apart of creating solutions for problems dancers are | | | | that no dancer has to feel alone. Sometimes dancing |
| facing today. | | | | can be stressful and daunting to say the least. We all |
| In today's world of online belly dance classes, they | | | | want to be accepted but sometimes a mishap or bad |
| aren't so much a craze as they are a necessity to | | | | experience will keep a dancer at home or away from |
| the changes that women are finding themselves in. | | | | dance friends. I have received emails from women |
| Older women are looking for a pleasurable and | | | | who feel their home is not only their safety net but |
| healthier way to stay fit while the working moms | | | | also their sanctity of mind which is understandable |
| want alone time to enjoy doing something for | | | | with today's trials and tribulations. My online classes |
| themselves. The devoted student and professional | | | | are a link to a dance form women love. Women can |
| dancer want more information outside the studio to | | | | practice any time of the day or night and the best |
| add to their repertoire of moves, style and education. | | | | part of all is that they don't have to feel like they are |
| As time went on it became apparent to us that | | | | missing out on their dance time. |
| online classes were necessary for a multitude of | | | | It has also occurred to me that most dance |
| reasons. It's a sign of the times for the modern belly | | | | instructors don't just teach moves they teach their |
| dancer. | | | | own way of understanding this dance form. There |
| When I started to teach in front of the camera, one | | | | isn't a magic pill to belly dance where we can just |
| thing became clear and that was that the instructional | | | | take it and automatically become super stars in belly |
| aspect of the belly dance class had to change. Belly | | | | dance. Isadora Duncan spoke about three aspects of |
| dance can not be taught in a regular class format | | | | different types of dancers and I think everyone can |
| online because movement can't always be seen by | | | | relate to her way of thinking. |
| the camera's eye the way the student needs to see | | | | "There are likewise three kinds of dancers: first, |
| it. My first videos that I did online years ago were a | | | | those who consider dancing as a sort of gymnastic |
| testament to the fact that I wasn't thinking outside | | | | drill, made up of impersonal and graceful arabesques; |
| the box. The class format had to change because | | | | second, those who, by concentrating their minds, |
| students are looking at feet, hips, arms, and chest all | | | | lead the body into the rhythm of a desired emotion, |
| at once. All the areas had to be addressed as if the | | | | expressing a remembered feeling or experience. And |
| student was right there in the same room with me. | | | | finally, there are those who convert the body into a |
| What can become conflicting are classes that don't | | | | luminous fluidity, surrendering it to the inspiration of |
| connect to each other thus becoming a mish mash of | | | | the soul." |
| what a teacher feels like teaching. There has to be a | | | | Women will find the right teacher for them and |
| structured curriculum from one class to the next that | | | | whether they learn in a studio, online or privately, |
| is an extension from the prior class especially if you | | | | women always seem to know what fits them best. |
| are doing weekly classes. | | | | The one thing I have always loved about this dance |
| I have received emails from dancers who explained | | | | form is the fact that I have had the freedom to |
| to me that information in class is key for them not | | | | learn it my way. Women need to know that their |
| just a few tips here and there. Students have to | | | | style and creativity will blossom no matter who they |
| learn how to incorporate movement into their dance | | | | take classes from. This type of comfort comes from |
| and eventually the teacher has to step aside. In the | | | | choosing dance classes either online or in a studio |
| end the focus has to be on the student getting the | | | | that will help them not only feel like they are |
| information and being able to implement it into her | | | | progressing in their dance but see it for themselves. |
| dance. I have also received emails from women | | | | The bottom line is not only how a man or woman |
| indicating that some of the problems they are having | | | | feels about their dance but how they feel about |
| with online classes is a curriculum that makes no | | | | themselves. |
| sense to them. As luck would have it I get feedback | | | | Ann Halprin made a comment that really resonates |
| from women all over the world and because of this I | | | | with me and made me realize it's a natural for all |
| have created a curriculum that I feel students can | | | | dancers to go through discouragement so they can |
| understand. And believe me if students don't | | | | finally get to a spiritual place of reawakened hope. |
| understand my classes I get emails from them asking | | | | She said, "I'm very excited about dance and love it |
| me questions and this keeps me on my toes. This | | | | with a deep passion. I also struggle, tire and become |
| means as a teacher I have to have a dedication to | | | | discouraged. But what has always revived me...has |
| each student which includes answering questions | | | | been the rebirth of energy each time the creative |
| even if it's the same question twenty times. It boils | | | | process is awakened and artistic activity begins to |
| down to personal attention based on really wanting | | | | unfold even in some infinitesimal measure." |
| to help students get ahead and feel good about their | | | | The modern dancer has so much going on today that |
| dancing. Most women eventually figure out who they | | | | not only are options the necessary norm but they |
| want to study with so it's not so much me pushing | | | | are an integral part of every day lives and schedules. |
| my brand or style of belly dance on them. Hip | | | | And it is a pleasure for my husband Daniel and I to |
| Phylosophy is based on women writing me, | | | | be right in the forefront of belly dancers needs. As I |
| suggesting or commenting on what they feel is | | | | remember my days of practicing in the horse |
| lacking in their dance or studio curriculum. So it really | | | | pasture, I realize that I have come a long way and I |
| is a community based curriculum that women can feel | | | | am reminded that passion is not only an objective in |
| good about because I listen and implement their | | | | this dance but a necessity because it makes the |
| needs into my online classes. | | | | journey in this dance that much sweeter. And this is |
| I also feel that online classes have to be pretty | | | | why I am teaching online belly dance classes; it is |
| straight forward with no gimmicks involved. I know I | | | | really about dancing and following ones bliss. |