This page has resources for my classes. You can download electronic copies of class handouts and choreographies here and find out more information about what each class is focussing on each term.

Fitness to dance
All of my students need to fill in and return a fitness to dance form so that I’m aware of any medical conditions that you have and can take these into account during classes. Please print this out, fill it in and bring it to your first class. I will have hard copies with me too. If you have any doubts please consult your doctor.

Parental consent (for students under 16 years of age)
Teenagers are able to come to my classes if they would like to. However if you’re under the age of 16 you will need to get a parent or guardian to sign a consent form. You can download one here, and bring it to your first class.

Missing classes
It’s not a big problem if you can’t make every class. While I would urge people to come to as many as they can as I’ve structured a progressive class programme, we all have lives and commitments and it is understandable that not everybody will be able to make it to every class. I will recap material and have occasional catch-up classes. You can ask me any questions or to repeat information at any time.

What to wear
Please wear clothes that are comfortable and you can move in. Jeans are not advised as they can be restrictive, but leggings, tracksuit bottoms, yoga pants or similar are all fine. Don’t worry about having to bare your middle either, that is not in any way mandatory! As for footware the choice is up to you. Many people prefer to have bare feet, some people wear dance shoes (soft ballet pumps, foot thongs or even jazz shoes). If you want to wear shoes make sure they are flat, and not high heeled (bellydancers do wear heels when performing sometimes but that’s something for the future) and have flexibility so you can flex or point your feet. Ordinary trainers don’t normally have this flexibility. If you have specific problems with your feet make sure you look after them and wear whatever is appropriate.

Beginners – Monday Evenings

Classes run from 7.30 to 8.30pm at the Rising Sun Arts Centre. You can easily get to the centre from town, it’s just a brief walk up from the Oracle or else any of the buses that go up Duke St/London St will take you there, get off at the stop opposite the new Tescos on the corner and you will see it from there.

This is a general style beginners class which aims to give students good technique in the basic moves of bellydance, which are applicable to most styles of bellydance.

The following are useful downloads for my beginner students:

What is bellydance? (PFD file)
Choreography notes – Afrahou Gannouh (PDF file)

Improvers/Intermediates – Monday Evenings

Classes run from 8.30 to 9.30pm at the Rising Sun Arts Centre. You can easily get to the centre from town, it’s just a brief walk up from the Oracle or else any of the buses that go up Duke St/London St will take you there, get off at the stop opposite the new Tescos on the corner and you will see it from there.

This class is designed for individuals with some bellydance experience/training already. It aims to improve students’ technique, muscle control, fluidity and grace through movement drills and isolation practice. We will hone technique in basic moves, and work on harder moves too. Each term focusses on a different style of bellydance.

Tribal Fusion classes – Wednesday evenings

These run from 8 – 9.30pm at Dance Reality studios in West Reading. This is a dance studio that is on the number 15 bus route, and also has a car park.

This class focuses on Tribal Fusion, which is a modern form of bellydance derived from American Tribal Style. It is physically demanding and the classes contain conditioning work as well as dance technique, movement drills and choreographic elements. Due to the challenging nature of the style it is not suitable for everybody. You must have some experience of Middle Eastern dance and you must prebook this course.

The following downloads were created for my Tribal Fusion classes, but students in beginner or improver/intermediate classes may still find them useful
What is Tribal Fusion? (PDF file)
Arm and shoulder anatomy (PDF file)
The anatomy of the pelvis (PDF file)