Kashmir's Belly Dance Classes (Christchurch)
Real Belly Dance Experienced Teacher Small Classes

Kashmir - the Belly Dance Teacher

Kashmir has been teaching belly dance in Christchurch, New Zealand, since 1997. She brings both a love of belly dance - which she has studied since 1991 - and an interest in teaching (it is a sad fact that some excellent dancers are poor teachers). Kashmir not only trained and had experience as a Secondary School teacher but undertook further study in teaching dance from the Queensland University of Technology. A further interest is "Safe Dance Practice" - which in addition to the unit with QUT - Kashmir has attended lectures and practicals with several physiotherapists.

For fuller information on Kashmir's background - check out details of her training (in belly dance, folkloric dance, teaching and related topics).

Kashmir's Belly Dance Studio

When you come to learn belly dance with Kashmir, most likely your belly dance class will be in her belly dance studio in South Brighton, Christchurch. Kashmir has been teaching from her own studio since 2001. The studio is small - but that's okay because Kashmir feels it is important to be able to give each belly dance student enough one-on-one attention.

The only fitness test is you can climb one flight of stairs. This leads to the studio lobby.

Then you are in the dance studio with mirrors, posters, veils and other belly dance related trappings.

Starting Belly Dance Classes

When you start belly dance classes with Kashmir, you will normally begin with an 8-week Introductory course (but from January 2010 there will also be Belly Delight). This assumes no prior knowledge of the dance. Over the next 8 weeks you will begin to learn how to control your body - so it does exactly what you want it to do. These are the first words of belly dance - moving your body. You still are not dancing - but you can begin to communicate.

During this time you will also learn something of the background and culture that belly dance springs from. You will see videos of (good) bellydancers from all over the world. You will be introduced to the music and rhythms of the Middle East. You will have your first veil lesson.

There are also optional lessons on costuming and learning about what areas your body needs to look at to optimize your dance journey.

After the First Eight Weeks Learning Belly Dance

Then what? For some people that is enough - a taste of the exotic - then something else. For those who want to continue, Kashmir offers continuing classes (minimum class size is four) in her style of belly dance - belly raqs. Most groups choose to work on a choreography. This gives a safe framework to extend dance knowledge. You will sharpen up your technique, add new moves and learn more about transitions.

If belly raqs with Kashmir is not your preferred belly dance style, the 8-week course provides and excellent grounding in basic technique which can be used with other belly dance teachers.

Belly Delight

The alternative to the Introductory Course, is the drop in Belly Delight classes. You still learn belly dance and you still have fun doing it but

It is lighter on technique taught
It is lighter on belly dance history and background
It is designed so people can drop in and out, rather than building a spiral curriculum
It is only one hour long

Join a Class Beginner Timetable FAQs

Too Shy to Learn Belly Dance in a Class?

Contact Kashmir about one-on-one belly dance tuition.

What Other Students Say

Here is some feedback from students learning belly dance from Kashmir. They are having fun with belly dance - and so can you!

Return to www.bellyraqs.co.nz

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Kashmir's Belly Dance Classes (Christchurch) Real Belly Dance Experienced Teacher Small Classes