Levels & Descriptions

Ballet Orientale

Return to the core fundamentals of grace and strength with this
unique mind-body class for belly dancers. Based primarily on ballet
barre exercises, this class also explores Pilates, Yoga, Feldenkreis
and Alexander techniques to strengthen, align posture, stretch, add
musicality and open up expression and awareness through the entire
body. This class will strengthen your overall dance technique, add
dynamic and dazzling movement vocabulary to your choreography and
increase the confidence and elegance of your dance.

Crash Course Intro to Belly Dance

Created for individuals who are coming to belly dance for the very first time, this structured and easy to follow class is perfect for students to get to know the basics of belly dance. Each week, a new movement is introduced and drilled, building on and incorporating elements from the prior weeks. Particular focus is given to developing correct posture alignment, flexibility, arm positions and paths, fundamental shimmies, basic hip accents, introductory undulations, easy to follow traveling steps and combinations. No dance experience necessary.

Maqsoum Technique Class

This invitation-only class will focus pre-professional professional dancers in further refining movement execution through extensive drilling of advanced undulations and layering. Emphasis is also placed on developing strength and endurance. Students will be required to demonstrate ability to retain corrections, recall sophisticated traveling combinations and dance patterns and learn and perform complex choreographies.

Permission from the instructor is required for enrollment.

Oriental 1: Technique & Drills

The foundation of Saffron dance technique, this class familiarizes beginning belly dancers with the art form in a structured and easy to follow class. A new movement is presented and drilled each week while building on and incorporating elements from prior weeks. Particular focus is given to developing correct posture alignment, flexibility, arm positions, and gestures. The motions covered include fundamental shimmies, basic hip accepts, undulations and simple traveling steps and combinations.

No dance experience necessary.

Oriental 1: Teen Bellydance

We have created a special class for girls between 11-18 to introduce this beautiful and empowering artform. This structured and easy to follow class is perfect for students to get to know the basics of belly dance. Each week, a new movement is introduced and drilled, building on and incorporating elements from the prior weeks. Particular focus is given to developing a postive body image by learning correct posture alignment, flexibility, arm positions and paths, fundamental shimmies, basic hip accents, introductory undulations, easy to follow traveling steps and combinations. No dance experience necessary.

Oriental 2+: Technique Refinement & Veil

Designed specifically for students who have completed Saffron
Oriental 2: Technique & Drills and who seek to strengthen the
impact of their movement and to further expand their repertoire.
Students will review, refine, and strengthen the movements and
techniques presented in the basic Oriental 2 class and begin to learn
the fundamentals of veil, including simple turns, traveling steps, and
techniques to create a beautiful silhouette. Special attention will be
focused on strengthening posture and elongating alignment to add grace
and breath to the movement.

Prerequisite: Completion of Saffron Oriental 2: Technique & Drills.

Oriental 2: Choreography & Performance

Choreography & Performance Opportunity for those students who have completed a semester of Oriental 2 technique. Students enrolled in a Choreography & Performance Class are required to be concurrently enrolled in a Saffron Technique and Drills class (Level 02 or above). Choreography & Performance classes will feature completed choreography in the upcoming Dance Concert. Students are required to purchase a costume and/or props for the performance. Costume prices range between $150.00 - $225.00. Flexible Payment Option Available. Please Contact Studio for Details.

Oriental 2: Technique & Drills

This course builds on the fundamental movements from Oriental 1 and progresses through more sophisticated arm patterns, hip work, shimmies, gestures and undulations. The addition of simple layering with shimmies and basic isolations allows students to create more interesting movement patterns.

Prerequisite: At least 6 months of belly dance is required, including either completion of Saffron Oriental 1 or permission from the instructor.

Oriental 3+: Technique, Combinations & Layering

Students will receive extensive individualized attention to strengthen the impact of upper and lower body unducations and circles, layering with shimmies and traveling movements. Particular focus is placed on endurance within a quality execution. Each week, students will drill intricate turn and traveling combinations to develop their ability to learn and effectively execute choreography quickly and indepenently. At least 3 years of belly dance is required, including either completion of Oriental 3. Permission from the instructor is required.

Oriental 3: Technique & Drills

This class introduces more intricate upper and lower body undulations, circles, layering with shimmies, and traveling movements—with an emphasis on the quality of execution. This class also will begin to teach students how to interpret oriental music with appropriate movement decisions. Students will learn short combinations and choreography to assist with drilling movement and developing a more fluid muscle memory.

Prerequisite: At least 12 months of belly dance is required, including either completion of Saffron Oriental 1 & 2 or permission from the instructor.

Oriental Combinations

Samba Belly Workout

Shimmy Drills

Every bellydancer wants strong, effortless shimmies. This class will help you improve your shimmes by showing proper technique, building your endurance and flexibility. Each week will build on the previous. You will learn to layer movements on your shimmies.

SHIMMY SHAKEDOWN Workout

Dance, laugh, strengthen your body and tone that waistline. Belly dance will teach you the art of Middle Eastern Dance while stretching your mind, body and soul. These meltdown moves will tone and build muscle by strengthening the core muscles, arms and legs while building overall endurance. This class is also ideal for the aspiring bellydancer wanting to drill and fine-tune movement while building and stamina. Come shake to the beat of your own drum!

Specialty Egyptian Series: Introduction to Zills

This is 4 week workshop will cover striking techniques, beginner rhythm (triplets, doubles and Beledi) and how to combine basic movement with zill playing. A combination will be taught. Prerequisites: Completion of Oriental 2.

Tribal 1: Foundations

Tribal 2: Technique & Drills - Modern Tribal Fusion

Technique builds from week to week through structured drilling exercises based on the Suhaila Salimpour format. Students will also develop strong posture, arm positions, hip work, torso isolations, and basic foot patterns specific to this tribal style; classes follow an organized approach to building the basic elements of modern tribal dance.

This class is perfect for students who have belly dance experience but have never been exposed to tribal belly dance.

Tribal 3: Technique & Drills - American Tribal Style

Students will learn advanced variations to the basic ATS movements including calibrated spins, partnering, fades, advanced ATS combinations, floor work, head balancing, and belly rolls. This class fully integrates zilling into all fast movement. Particular focus will be placed on drilling ATS improvisation format, preparing dancers to lead or follow with any ATS dancer. Classes will solidify student’s knowledge of cues, transitions and ATS performance formats to enhance communication among fellow ATS dancers and create the amazing group improvisation that ATS is famous for.

Prerequisite: At least 6 months of tribal belly dance is required, including either completion of Saffron Tribal 1 & 2 or permission from the instructor.