how can you learn to belly-dance?

Answer 1

The absolute best way to learn is to take classes from a live instructor. Below I've included a list of resources for you to help you locate bellydance teachers as well as some supplemental educational sites, books, and videos. I do not reccomend learning from videos as you put yourself at a much higher risk of injury but videos are great home supplement to live classes and allow you to use the basis you learn in class about posture and positioning so that minimize your chance of injury while using videos. Also a video cannot give you feedback to help you better understand how that move works on your body. Books and website descriptions are great for gaining more insight into how a move is done and also (once you have mastered basics and understand the dynamics of how the dance is done) for learning new moves or variations on moves you may already know.

WEBSITES (for finding teachers/classes)
http://www.shira.net - probably the most extensive directory
http://www.middleeaseterndance.net - my site which has a decent sized directory as well
http://www.bhuz.com - another large directory as well as a great forum which can answer pretty much every question you will ever have about bellydance since it's comprised of bellydancers from all over the world.
If you can't find lessons looking on these three sites their may not be any in your area.

WEBSITES (for learning moves on-line)
http://www.middleeasterndance.net - my own site look under the movements section, there will be enough to keep you busy for a long time. Also please read the before you begin section with the disclaimer, warm-up, cool-down, and basics about posture.
http://www.shira.net - don't mind what the other person said about this site I doubt she even knows how to bellydance. Shira's site is an extensive collection of articles written about and for bellydancers and can provide you with a wealth of information that will be very beneficial. It's one of the oldest and most respected sites on the Internet and is referenced by bellydancers world-wide. She has a specific page which tells you how to do some moves as well as extensive links to other sites that offer on-line lessons as well.
http://www.venusbellydance.com/vocabulary.htm - More movement descriptions.
http://www.aleena.com/miramar/ - go to on-line dance lessons there are several articles about dancing there.
http://www.zilltech.com/onlinelessons.htm - Another old, well, respected website full of information you should check out. She offers a few instructions for several basic moves.
http://www.kawakib.com/page-30.html - more of a technique lesson but might be helpful after learning some basics.
http://www.raqs.co.nz/moves.html... - has some descriptions of select movements.

BOOKS
Belly Dancing Basics by Laura A. Cooper (ISBN: 140271078X) - newer book, not great but not bad either.
The Art of Belly Dancing by Dahlena with Dona Z. Meilach - This book is out of print but shows up on amazon and e-bay from time to time. It's ok but it's written for a different time the history part is especially questionable but the moves are pretty straight forward.
Grandmother's Secrets by Rosina-Fawzia Al-Rawi (ISBN: 1566563267) - An interesting read has several descriptions of dance moves as well.
A lot of books have been coming on the market recently and most of them (excluding out of print books) are available at Barnes and Nobel or borders books as well as other chains and smaller stores.

ON-LINE INSTRUCTIONAL VIDEO
http://www.trybellydancing.com/ - Like a mini instructional video available online. It's not bad quality.

VIDEOS
Precision Motion Workout Series by Suzanna Del Vecchio - offers good posture basics as well as quality instruction on many moves.
Bellydance for Fitness Series by Neena and Veena Bidasher - this series is very cheap and available from major retailers like target, walmart, borders, and Barnes and Nobel but the quality of instruction is low. This is more of a workout for beginner dancers who already have had some training. The videos are a good quality as far as picture and sound but these are not good for an absolute beginner.
There's tons of them available if you want to read some reviews I've written about various videos go to my site and check out the reviews section. http://www.middleeasterndance.net... you can also e-mail me with any other questions you might have about bellydancing or related subjects directly through my site (sorry, I rarely respond to e-mail from my yahoo account).

Answer 2

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Answer 3

Take local classes. It's very good to colaborate in a group setting. The best belly dance instructional videos come from www.bellydance.org. My favorite instructor is Ansuya. Private instruction and workshops are very good as well. Don't expect to learn this dance quickly and watch as many performances as you can. You would be surprised how much it will effect you as you grow in the dance.

Answer 4

You have a few options. You can learn from videos or in a class for a few. In classes you can reasearch group classes or private lessons. Like every other form of dance, it takes a lot of practice to get the moves down. Keep practicing and work hard if you like it. Its a lot of fun.

Answer 5

Check your local dancing agencies and see if anybody is teaching it, or check like the YMCA or other sports club for those seminar classes that introduce you to belly-dancing. If those don't work, perhaps buy a self-instructed video.

Answer 6

For one, if you were fortunate enough to live close by, I teach bellydance and you would love it. Since you don't I recommend highly the programs availabe from World Dance New York! Try out their website, they are terrific instructors with methods directed at beginners as well. Good luck, and great choice in dance. Your body will thank you all the way to old age like me!!!!

Answer 7

Do a web search for local belly dance classes or dance studios and call to see if they have classes, or if you want to learn in the privacy of your home, here is an amazon.com search for belly dance videos. Hope this helps :)

http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_ss_gw/104-6676130-6299947?url=search-alias%3Daps&field-keywords=belly+dancing&Go.x=0&Go.y=0&Go=Go

Answer 8

Check your county listings. They usually offer some type of dance lessons. Or, try going to your nearest Rec. Center. I'm sure they offer classes. Or, try enquiring at the nearest YMCA!

Answer 9

watch belly dancing tapes
or better watch watch Shakira
lol
you can probably learn from her

Answer 10

Bally's &
24 Hour Fitness

Both have Belly-Dancing classes. Call 'em and see if they offer one near you. It is also on "FIT TV" everynow and then.