Fall 2008 Schedule
September 4-December 17 

Oriental 1 Technique and Drills

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.

Oriental 2 Technique and Drills

Students will build on the fundamental movements from Oriental 1, including more sophisticated arm patterns, hip work, shimmies, gestures and undulations. Simple layering with shimmies and basic isolations will teach students how to create more interesting movement patterns. At least 6 months of belly dance is required, including either completion of Saffron Oriental 1 or permission from the instructor.  

Oriental 3 Technique and Drills

Classes will introduce more intricate upper and lower body undulations and circles, layering with shimmies and traveling movements. Particular focus is placed on quality execution of the technique. This class will begin to teach students how to bring oriental music to life through appropriate movement decisions. Students will learn combinations and choreography to assist with drilling movement and developing a more fluid muscle memory. At least 12 months of belly dance is required, including either completion of Saffron Oriental 1 & 2 or permission from the instructor. 

Oriental 4 Technique and Drills

Classes will help students develop muscle endurance and refine movement execution through extensive drilling of advanced undulations and layering. Emphasis is also placed on more sophisticated traveling combinations and dance patterns to improve students' ability to learn and perform complex choreographies. Students will also deepen understanding and knowledge of classic oriental rhythms, music, artists and composers. Classes will also assist students in developing improvisational skills characteristic of belly dance. At least 2 years of continuous belly dance study is required, including the completion of Saffron Oriental 1 – 3. Permission from the instructor is required.   

Egyptian Combinations and Choreography

Featuring musical selections of the most famous Egyptian composers, singers and musicians including Om Kalthum, and Mohamed Abdel Wahab, this intermediate/advanced class introduces students to current and classical Egyptian music and composers. Students will learn combinations and choreographies to important musical selections and gain familiarity with their melodies and arrangements. This class requires concurrent enrollment in a technique class. At least 2 years of continuous belly dance study is required, including the completion of Low Intermediate belly dance.

Performance Class Workshop

The Performance Class Workshop series offers students the opportunity to participate in developing and refining group choreography for a stage performance. Choreographies are created using the movements from their corresponding Technique and Drills classes. Performance Class Workshops will feature each class’s choreography in Winter Dance Concert at Signature Theater on Saturday, December 13. Students enrolled in a Performance Class Workshop are required to be concurrently enrolled in a Saffron Technique and Drills class.

Ayub and  Maqsoum Student Companies

Saffron Dance student performance companies, Ayoub Student Company and Maqsoum Student Company, provide dancers additional opportunities for artistic development & personal growth. Ayoub Student Company and Maqsoum Student Company will feature group  choreographies in classical and modern Oriental and folkloric dance. Click here for more information on these Saffron student performance companies.

Tribal 1: Technique & Drills – American Tribal Style Basics

Learn basic movements and techniques fundamental to Pure American Tribal Style Belly Dance and introduces the ATS improvisation format and zilling. Specific focus is placed on development of posture for ATS movement, movements fundamental to Pure ATS, introducing the ATS improvisation format, introduction of zill technique.

Tribal 2: Technique & Drills – Modern Tribal Style Basics

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 the tribal style. This class follows an organized approach to building the basic elements of tribal and is perfect for students who have never been exposed to tribal belly dance.

*Asharah is not an official instructor for the Suhaila Salimpour School of Dance, but Suhaila Salimpour has given permission for Asharah to use the Suhaila Salimpour format in her classes.

Tribal 3: Technique & Drills –Modern Tribal Style

This class builds on technique developed in Saffron Tribal 1 & 2 by using more advanced elements of the Suhaila Salimpour and Fat Chance Belly Dance formats, as well as Asharah's own signature dance vocabulary. This class will work to develop core strength, stamina, isolations, and musical interpretation. Class work emphasizes the breakdown and drilling of each element. Students will incorporate technique and movement into traveling and combinations with a focus on execution and precision. A minimum of 6 months prior experience study with Asharah is required for registration.

Tribal Technique 3: 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 to prepared 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.