Thinking of Spring...

Spring semester, that is...

5 more weeks until baby is due-
only 2 more weeks of Belly Dance classes and no more prenatal classes for now-
but that just means I have plenty of time to plot & plan for next semester!

Classes will start again in February,
and we have a couple exciting new classes to announce:

Just Drills
Tuesday night 5:30-6:30
this class is intended for students with some dance experience or who are taking a concurrent technique class to get a little extra practice in. We will not take a lot of breaks for explaining or breaking things down. Students should already be familiar with basic Belly Dance movement vocabulary, but I will make corrections as needed.
14 week session, $180, $125 if taken concurrently with technique class, $15 drop in

Raqs Sharqi Belly Dance Level 1
Tuesday nights, 6:30-7:30
6 week session, $80, full semester (12 weeks), $150, $15 drop in

Men's Choreography class
Thursday nights, 5:30-6:15
This 14 week session will focus on learning a choreography for men only which will be presented at the spring recital, May 8, 2010. Concurrent technique class is required since we will focus solely on nailing this choreo for the duration of the class.
Since this is a shorter, choreo based class, the fee is only $125 for the 14 week semester
Drops ins are discouraged because we really need you here the whole time!

Intermediate/Advanced class
Thursday nights, 6:30-7:30
In addition to advanced technique, we will be working on a sagat ensemble piece for the spring recital- that's right, you and your classmates get to dance to your own, unaccompanied finger cymbals! you do not have to perform to participate in this class (but you know you want to!) I will have mp3s of the finger cymbal parts by the first week of December, so you can be practicing those cymbals while waiting for class to start again in February!
14 week session, $180 or $15 drop in.

New payment options too!

You can now pay for more than one session at a time & save, or set up a monthly payment plan. Watch for the nifty new buttons on the revamped website, due to go up later this week! Yay!

Solo Performance, September 4!

Don't miss out! As part of the grand opening weekend at Space for Movement Studio, I will be performing a live one hour set at 8pm on Friday, September 4.

Admission is $10 for adults, children 12 & under are free. Plenty of time to check out the First Friday events downtown (don't forget to come check out Ellen Million's work here at the studio!) and then catch a fun show with the family before heading home.

I will be presenting both Classic Orientale Raqs Sharqi, a little bit of modern Belly Dance and a smidge of folkloric for good measure. Come join us!

Fall Classes

It's that time again- Due to time constraints & building maintenance at Mary Siah, the Saturday and the Thursday Fundamental Belly Dance classes are on a slightly different schedule this year.

Thursday Fundamental Belly Dance will be held at the new Space for Movement Studio at 410 2nd Avenue at 6:30 pm beginning September 3. Classes will run in 6 week sessions, $80 for each session or $15 drop in. Contact me for early bird special pricing.

Saturday Fundamental Belly Dance will be held at Mary Siah Recreation Center at 12:15. Classes will begin September 19 and run through the week before Thanksgiving. This 9 week session is $120 or $15 for drop ins. Contact me for early bird special pricing.

Intermediate/Advanced Belly Dance will be held Tuesdays at 6:30 at the Space for Movement Studio, beginning September 1. We will start the semester with drills for drum solo and move on to slow & sinuous taxim. $160 for the full semester or $15 drop in. Contact me if you need to discuss payment plans

Dancing Thru Pregnancy will be held Tuesdays and Thursdays at 5:30 at Space for Movement Studio, beginning September 1.
NEW, LOWER PRICING: $15 per class, $160 for a 12 class punch card, $300 for a 24 class punch card. Classes will be held twice a week through the end of November.

& for those who have not seen me all summer, yes, I am pregnant again! We are all doing just fine and I anticipate a great semester- we are, however, taking care of heavy shimmy instruction early in the semester while I can still handle it! Fluid movements & a focus on arms & ornamentation are reserved for November.

Fab new location!

Fall classes start September 1 at the NEW STUDIO... more class info to come soon.
Meanwhile check out the new studio being opened by fellow Fairbanks Belly Dancer Joyce Young.

Space For Movement is located at 410 2nd Avenue, in the historic Elbow Room building in downtown Fairbanks. Joyce is hosting a first friday event September 4 featuring yours truly and a hafla/open house September 5. Come join the fun! More information here.

New Summer Classes!

Beginning Belly Dance for the summer (by popular demand!) will begin July 11. Classes will run for six weeks at noon on Saturdays at Mary Siah Rec. Center. The cost for the full session is $80, $15 for drop in. Classes are 1 hour long. Hope to see you there! As usual, you can pay at class or online, space is available on a first come first serve basis. The deadline for the early bird special is June 30 ($72 which can be mailed or sent via paypal to alaskadancer@alaska.net)

Summer Classes!

By popular demand, I am offering one more 6 week session before taking some time off for the summer

May 9-June 13
Saturdays, noon at Mary Siah Recreation Center,
Level 1 choreography- we will be working on technique specific to the choreography we will be working on, rather than strictly following the standard foundation level curriculum. $80 per session, $15 drop in

In June I will be visiting family, camping in July, but get ready for a folkloric intensive when I get back!

July 21- August 25
Tuesdays, 6:30-8pm at Dance Theatre Fairbanks (downtown in the old 7th avenue fire station)
Dances of the Maghreb- Tunisian & Morrocan folkloric dance- we might head over to Turkey too if we have time... 1.5 hour class- $100 full session, $20 drop in

(don't forget to email me for early bird discounts or if you want to pay via paypal)

directions to University View B&B

Directions for those attending the Thursday night Raqs Sharqi class:

From Chena Pump road heading away from town
Turn Right on Chena Ridge Road
Turn right on Chena Ridge Spur Road
Turn left on Morningside Drive
Turn right on Hawthorne Court
Very first driveway on right.

New Spring Sessions

Saturday classes have been postponed as well, as have prenatal classes.
Post partum classes are still ongoing, Wednesdays from 4-5pm at Dance Theatre Fairbanks on 7th avenue.

Prenatal classes begin Tuesday, March 17 at Dance Theater Fairbanks
& will be held Tuesdays & Thursdays 5:30-6:30pm
$16 per class, $180 for a 12 class punchcard or $336 for a 24 class punchcard

Raqs Sharqi Belly Dance session A- March 26-May 7 (no class April 30),
Thursdays 7:00-8:00 University View B&B
Raqs Sharqi Belly Dance session D- March 28-May 2
Saturdays 12-1pm Mary Siah Rec. Center
$80 per 6 week session, $15 drop in, $120 for both concurrent sessions

(remember, foundation level sessions may be taken in any order and all are appropriate for beginers as well as intermediate dancers looking for review.)

Thursday night class postponed!
I was in a car accident last week & need to be frugal with my 'strenuous activity' for a while. Saturday classes will continue as scheduled, as will the prenatal and post partum classes, however I have canceled Thursday night Raqs Sharqi classes until I have had a bit of time to heal.

A new Thursday night session is tentatively scheduled to begin March 26. It will run 6 weeks and be held at 7pm- location TBA

Thank you for being patient with me, my hips can't handle more than one hour of class a night right now.

AfterDance change of schedule!

AfterDance postpartum fitness will start Wednesdays at 4pm beginning February 18 at Dance Theater Fairbanks.

Prenatal classes will continue at 5:30 on Tuesday and Thursday.

Hope to see you there!

Update on Spring classes:
Due to some confusion & advertising issues- the February session will begin on the 19th as originally planned, but I will let it run 7 weeks, so those of you who signed up for the January 6 week session & missed the first class due to cold get that first week of the next session free, & those who are just joining get a little bonus.

The fee for the 6 week/7 week (however you want to look at it) is still $80, don't forget the early bird 10% discount available if you pay by this Saturday!

I have learned my lesson, I promise to schedule a week between sessions in case we need a 'snow day' from now on...

Spring classes, 2009:
Classes were scheduled to begin last week, but, due to cold weather, I am counting last week as a winter sanity bonus and starting the 6 week session this week (January 15 for Thursday classes, January 17 for Saturday classes)

This means the second session will begin February 26 instead of February 19. There will be an additional 4 week rehearsal period for those who wish to participate in the spring recital Sunday, May 1.

Class times, locations and fees remain the same.

Hope to see you there!