Never taken a belly dance class before? READ THIS!!

Belly dancing, or Raqs Sharqi, as it is known in the Middle East, is a dance that has existed for hundreds of years. As a dance that was traditionally performed by women for women, it is a celebration of the female spirit.

Majida Anwar teaches many classes in the Atlanta Area, for a listing of her current classes, visit the Classes page.

F.A.Q.

What can I expect from a belly dance class?

Belly dance is an art form that gives many women a creative outlet usually not available to them. It increases your flexibility, agility, and strength and it creates a positive self-awareness of the body.

What is the format of your class?

Most of my classes have a warm up included stretches and aerobic exercises specific to belly dance, a review of what was covered in the last class, new material for the day, and a cool down.

What are the instructor’s credentials?

I have been belly dancing since the age of 5 through my Jordanian family. In addition to my cultural background, I have been teaching dance to women of all ages including children for about 5 years now. I have taught workshops around the Southeast with the Awalim dance company in addition to doing my own workshops here in Atlanta. I have a deep knowledge of both cabaret and tribal styles. This past spring I received a General Skills Certification from Carolena Nericcio of Fat Chance Belly Dance for American Tribal Style belly dance, very few instructors around the USA have this certificate. I like to add cultural, historical, and musical material to my classes. Belly dance has an extremely rich history and background, and I believe that students need this knowledge to become a complete dancer.

Am I too big/ too small to belly dance?

Belly dance is an art form for all shapes and sizes. I’ve seen dancers both small and large that are beautiful, talented, and technically skilled belly dancers.  The movements are natural on the body and thus strengthen your core in a safe and healthy way. If you practice daily, you may find yourself becoming more fit because of belly dance!

What do I wear to class?

Most students wear yoga pants and a fitted top. I do not require my students to show their midriff. I do, however, need to see your hips and body posture to make sure you are executing the moves correctly. I also recommend ballet shoes to protect your feet.

Where can I go to learn more about belly dancing?

On my links page, I have listed many websites that are so full of belly dance information that you could be reading article after article for days!