Workshops
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All of our instructors are available for local and international workshops. Choose from our repertoire of unique workshops, or choose a perfectly customized program for your group. A great option for out-of town dancers.
For workshop/performance combos for parties and events, visit our Parties and Bachelorettes page. Please email for prices and more information. |
Suggested Workshops
For Beginners:
Intro to Bellydance
1 hour of instruction with Monique Ryan or Laura Selenzi
Bellydance is expressive, sensual, playful and flirtatious. Embrace your femininity while learning muscle control, grace, and poise. Learn to move fluidly while toning the abdominals, encouraging good posture, improving flexibility, and find the beauty and power within your body. For total beginners, this workshop will emphasize on foundation technique and isolations, posture, poise and stylistic clarifications. We will learn the basic movements of bellydance while having fun and discovering muscles you never knew you had!
Hula Hoop
1 hour with Monique Ryan
Hooping is a fun, anti-stress workout that boosts metabolism! Burn 400-600 calories in a one-hour workshop. Heavy, adult-sized hoops with friction tape help you keep the hoop up. Beginner hoopers with little or no experience will enjoy this energetic workshop, a great cardio workout learning some easy tricks to keep it fun and interesting.
Bollywood
1 hour with with Monique Ryan or Laura Selenzi
Learn the basics of Bollywood in this fun and upbeat workshop! The highlight of Bollywood movies are always the elaborate dance sequences. Bollywood dance combines the rich tapestry of India’s many dance forms fused with elements of Jazz, Hip-Hop, Arabic and Latin. Upbeat, colourful and exotic, let us take you on a trip to India and beyond! Expect to sweat!
For dancers with a foundation in bellydance of any style:
Drunken Master
2 hours with Cabaret Serpentine
Taking inspiration from the storytelling of Turkish Rom, the relaxed ease of Egyptian bellydance, and even Jackie Chan's "Drunken Master", this workshop is a light-hearted exploration of deeply relaxing into your dance, letting go of inhibitions and releasing unnecessary tension, while maintaining precision and impressive balancing skill to keep your audience on edge. Some fun combos will be taught in this workshop to illustrate the ideas presented. Actual drunkenness is not required.
Sword Skills
2 hours with Laura Selenzi or Monique Ryan
Sword technique and a enthralling fusion choreography are taught in this exciting workshop. Includes balancing, dramatic poses, floorwork and more.
1001 Shimmies
2 hours with Laura Selenzi
Love to shimmy, or dying to learn the secrets of this elusive art? Let Laura show you more shimmies than you thought possible in this fun and comprehensive workshop. Some time will be spent on learning tips and tricks to master your basic shimmy, as well as learning Egyptian, American Cabaret, Hagalla, 3/4, stomach shimmies and MORE!
Double Veil
2 hours with Laura Selenzi
Learn beautiful single and double veil techniques to create a grand entrance and emotional impact in this exciting workshop! Veils can be used to create drama, excitement, emotion and to express music that seems to call for something bigger than the body alone can create. Technique and combos will be taught. Bring two silk veils if possible, some veils will be available to borrow as well.
Folklore Sampler
2 hours with Laura Selenzi
Learn the fun and fascinating folkloric dances of Egypt and the surrounding regions. Choose two of the following: Saidi, Port Said, Fellahi, Hagallah, Debke and Khaliji; props like the assaya (cane), shamadan, tahtib and more! We will explore character, technique and the history of these dances.
Performance Prep
2+ hours with Laura Selenzi
Using a combination of lecture and dancing, Laura will explain show structure, working with musicians, professionalism, entrances, stage presence and more. This class is appropriate for any style of bellydance, but there will be a focus on Egyptian dance tradition.
Spins and Arm Styling
2 hours with Laura Selenzi
Do turns and spins leave you off balance? This class will improve your balance and grace, creating smooth and dynamic turns. We will cover quick direction changes, pirouettes, barrel turns, Dina spirals and even try our hand at whirling. To balance out all this spinning we will spend the other half of the class polishing clean, strong arm technique and learn some creative arm movements to create beautiful framing.
Choreography Workshops
2 hours with Monique Ryan or Laura Selenzi
We have many dynamic and exciting choreographies that can be taught in a 2 hour workshop, with props such as sword, veil, double veil, cane, and candles, or in various styles and themes. Have something in mind? Let us know and we can find the right piece for you.
Arms and Hands
1 hour with Laura Selenzi
Arms and hands extend your presence, frame your body, and add that final touch that completes your dance. Through technique breakdowns, combinations and drills, we will explore the nuance of the beautiful arm and hand movements of bellydance. Perfect for any level of dancer.
Indian Fusion Bellydance
1 hour with Laura Selenzi
In this workshop we will learn a section of Laura's slinky, sculptural choreography to the song "Ganpati" by Masaladosa. Using undulating bellydance movements and classical Indian hand mudras and poses, this piece blends the two cultures together in a mysterious yet fun choreography. This workshop is best suited to students with a solid understanding of basic bellydance movements.
Floorwork
1 hour with Monique Ryan
Floorwork can add a dynamic component to your bellydance repertoire. Learn how to get down and up gracefully, kneeling laybacks, sit spins, berber walks, and more! Volleyball knee pads recommended (you can get them at most sporting goods stores), as well as yoga mats.
Snakey Serpentine Combos
1 hour with Monique Ryan
Tribal fusion is known for being snakelike and sometime seems to have a "boneless" quality. This workshop will teach you how to embody the tribal fusion style with technique descriptions and combos.
Lecture/Discussion Panel
2 hours with Monique Ryan and/or Laura Selenzi
Can include any or all of the following topics:
-Why Bellydance? What does it mean to be a bellydancer, and to represent this art form? Why do people choose bellydance?
-Fusion: What is it? When is it appropriate?
-Q and A: We will take questions about anything bellydance related!
Intro to Bellydance
1 hour of instruction with Monique Ryan or Laura Selenzi
Bellydance is expressive, sensual, playful and flirtatious. Embrace your femininity while learning muscle control, grace, and poise. Learn to move fluidly while toning the abdominals, encouraging good posture, improving flexibility, and find the beauty and power within your body. For total beginners, this workshop will emphasize on foundation technique and isolations, posture, poise and stylistic clarifications. We will learn the basic movements of bellydance while having fun and discovering muscles you never knew you had!
Hula Hoop
1 hour with Monique Ryan
Hooping is a fun, anti-stress workout that boosts metabolism! Burn 400-600 calories in a one-hour workshop. Heavy, adult-sized hoops with friction tape help you keep the hoop up. Beginner hoopers with little or no experience will enjoy this energetic workshop, a great cardio workout learning some easy tricks to keep it fun and interesting.
Bollywood
1 hour with with Monique Ryan or Laura Selenzi
Learn the basics of Bollywood in this fun and upbeat workshop! The highlight of Bollywood movies are always the elaborate dance sequences. Bollywood dance combines the rich tapestry of India’s many dance forms fused with elements of Jazz, Hip-Hop, Arabic and Latin. Upbeat, colourful and exotic, let us take you on a trip to India and beyond! Expect to sweat!
For dancers with a foundation in bellydance of any style:
Drunken Master
2 hours with Cabaret Serpentine
Taking inspiration from the storytelling of Turkish Rom, the relaxed ease of Egyptian bellydance, and even Jackie Chan's "Drunken Master", this workshop is a light-hearted exploration of deeply relaxing into your dance, letting go of inhibitions and releasing unnecessary tension, while maintaining precision and impressive balancing skill to keep your audience on edge. Some fun combos will be taught in this workshop to illustrate the ideas presented. Actual drunkenness is not required.
Sword Skills
2 hours with Laura Selenzi or Monique Ryan
Sword technique and a enthralling fusion choreography are taught in this exciting workshop. Includes balancing, dramatic poses, floorwork and more.
1001 Shimmies
2 hours with Laura Selenzi
Love to shimmy, or dying to learn the secrets of this elusive art? Let Laura show you more shimmies than you thought possible in this fun and comprehensive workshop. Some time will be spent on learning tips and tricks to master your basic shimmy, as well as learning Egyptian, American Cabaret, Hagalla, 3/4, stomach shimmies and MORE!
Double Veil
2 hours with Laura Selenzi
Learn beautiful single and double veil techniques to create a grand entrance and emotional impact in this exciting workshop! Veils can be used to create drama, excitement, emotion and to express music that seems to call for something bigger than the body alone can create. Technique and combos will be taught. Bring two silk veils if possible, some veils will be available to borrow as well.
Folklore Sampler
2 hours with Laura Selenzi
Learn the fun and fascinating folkloric dances of Egypt and the surrounding regions. Choose two of the following: Saidi, Port Said, Fellahi, Hagallah, Debke and Khaliji; props like the assaya (cane), shamadan, tahtib and more! We will explore character, technique and the history of these dances.
Performance Prep
2+ hours with Laura Selenzi
Using a combination of lecture and dancing, Laura will explain show structure, working with musicians, professionalism, entrances, stage presence and more. This class is appropriate for any style of bellydance, but there will be a focus on Egyptian dance tradition.
Spins and Arm Styling
2 hours with Laura Selenzi
Do turns and spins leave you off balance? This class will improve your balance and grace, creating smooth and dynamic turns. We will cover quick direction changes, pirouettes, barrel turns, Dina spirals and even try our hand at whirling. To balance out all this spinning we will spend the other half of the class polishing clean, strong arm technique and learn some creative arm movements to create beautiful framing.
Choreography Workshops
2 hours with Monique Ryan or Laura Selenzi
We have many dynamic and exciting choreographies that can be taught in a 2 hour workshop, with props such as sword, veil, double veil, cane, and candles, or in various styles and themes. Have something in mind? Let us know and we can find the right piece for you.
Arms and Hands
1 hour with Laura Selenzi
Arms and hands extend your presence, frame your body, and add that final touch that completes your dance. Through technique breakdowns, combinations and drills, we will explore the nuance of the beautiful arm and hand movements of bellydance. Perfect for any level of dancer.
Indian Fusion Bellydance
1 hour with Laura Selenzi
In this workshop we will learn a section of Laura's slinky, sculptural choreography to the song "Ganpati" by Masaladosa. Using undulating bellydance movements and classical Indian hand mudras and poses, this piece blends the two cultures together in a mysterious yet fun choreography. This workshop is best suited to students with a solid understanding of basic bellydance movements.
Floorwork
1 hour with Monique Ryan
Floorwork can add a dynamic component to your bellydance repertoire. Learn how to get down and up gracefully, kneeling laybacks, sit spins, berber walks, and more! Volleyball knee pads recommended (you can get them at most sporting goods stores), as well as yoga mats.
Snakey Serpentine Combos
1 hour with Monique Ryan
Tribal fusion is known for being snakelike and sometime seems to have a "boneless" quality. This workshop will teach you how to embody the tribal fusion style with technique descriptions and combos.
Lecture/Discussion Panel
2 hours with Monique Ryan and/or Laura Selenzi
Can include any or all of the following topics:
-Why Bellydance? What does it mean to be a bellydancer, and to represent this art form? Why do people choose bellydance?
-Fusion: What is it? When is it appropriate?
-Q and A: We will take questions about anything bellydance related!