Bellydancing

This class will focus on the basic moves and vocabulary of belly dance with emphasis on the earthy and mysterious Tribal style. Students will learn about the different music, history, and culture of this dance style. Students will also learn body awareness, basic hip movement, muscle isolations and mini combos for any form of belly dance and later learn technique for tribal stylization.

Attire: Comfortable dance pants. No skirts please. The instructor needs to see how you are moving to make sure it is the correct way. Hip scarves are optional. Hip scarves that do not jingle are preferred to avoid disruption. Ballet slippers, socks or bare feet are ok.

PLEASE NOTE THAT AS OF NOVEMBER 1ST 2011 BELLY DANCING HAS BEEN DISCONTINUED UNTIL FURTHER NOTICE. FOR MORE INFORMATION PLEASE CALL.

Naimah is an award winning belly dancer from baltimore, MD who is nationally recognized. She began exploring the art of bellydance in 1999 with some background knowledge in ballet, modern, hip hop, and african dance. She has studied bellydance with well known talent such as Devra Johari, Antonia, Lotus Niraja, and Piper. Her bellydance career began with Egyptian style Cabaret but after intensive study with many instructors from all over she has found her niche in the art of Modern Tribal style bellydance. This style allows her to be more expressive and blend American Tribal Style bellydance with modern dance, classical indian, hip hop, flamenco and a little dash of cabaret. Naimah is known for her mysterious, gothic infused, fluid movements. Her moves have been compared to that of a “man eating plant” and a “mechanical snake”.

Naimah is certified in the Piper Method School of Dance, and is certified in the Suhaila Salimpour format of dance. She is now the director of Troupe Amandari. It is a troupe comprised of intermediate to advance level students as well as professional performers. She has performed with live bands such as Ishtar, Animus and beatboxer Shodekeh. She has appeared in the music video for “Dark Hall” by the band Mindless Faith, and has been featured on the Fox 45 morning news in Baltimore. She has also performed and taught workshops at CCBC World Dance Festival, the BOCA Festival, KisFest, and Shimmy in the Sun in Costa Rica. Please join Naimah at Spring Caravan 2010 where she will teach Bold and Dynamic Tribal Fusion Combos.