does anybody know where you can learn belly dance for free?

Question

by teaching your self online or a free downloadable video for like tribal belly dance like a more modern take on belly dance like shakira

Answer 1

You should really try to find a class or an instructor who can give you private lessons. Books, Videos, DVDs, Websites, Articles, etc... are all supplemental materials meant to enhance and support what's learned in class. None of these materials can teach you safety. None can correct your moves if done incorrectly. You can't get feedback. You don't get interaction. You can't aske questions about them to the instructor. There are soooooooo many reasons why you should not try learning from only supplemental sources. I cannot stress enough how important an actual instructor is. Even if you read on these sources most if not all will say something like "not a substitute for a real teacher." Especially if you are a beginner learning bellydance this way could be unsafe. Although bellydance (when done correctly) is quite beneifical to the body there are movements that if done incorrectly could cause damage. You might not notice it immediately. You could do Tunisian twists wrong and end up ruining your knee or hip joints after a while from repetitive misuse. Or you might think yourself proficient enough to attempt advanced movements like Turkish Drops which are one of the few bellydance moves which are extremely dangerous even for advanced professional dancers. Bellydance does require certain posture and technique which if you have no experience is difficult to pick up from a video or written source. However, here is a condensed list of resources which you may find helpful (starting with links to help you find a class or instructor). Also, you should try your local library as they often have these items. Oh, as a side note shakira's "style" is not really a modern bellydance it is a combination of modern Lebanese bellydance and several Latin Dances. It's not considered by many to be modern bellydance but a combination of dance styles.

WEBSITES (for finding teachers/classes)
http://www.shira.net - probably the most extensive directory
http://www.middleeasterndance.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 there 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 - 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 VIDEOS
http://www.trybellydancing.com/ - Like a mini instructional video available online. It's not bad quality.
http://www.expertvillage.com/interviews/egyptian-belly-dancing.htm Several mini instructional segments on various moves as well as zills, costuming, and musicality.
http://bellyrolls.com/howtopage.html - more mini on-line instructionals. The video quality is a little poorer and not is clear to see but the instructional quality is decent.

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.
If you have any questions about bellydancing, please feel free to contact me through my site http://www.middleeasterndance.net

Answer 2

I've seen some belly dancing basics shows on cable. There are also some training DVDs out there that you can buy for a very low cost, as well. I tried some of them, but honestly, it was very difficult to learn until I started taking actual classes. Having the teacher show you and correct your mistakes made learning some of the movements (which are not all that easy) much more manageable.

Hope this helps!

Answer 3

Singapore have no free thing. The cheapest thing is to buy CD and copy what the teacher is doing if next time you got money then you go and join CC.You will very easy to catch up.

Answer 4

I was flipping through iCONTROL the other day and I seen it on there, so if you have Time Warner Cable, look on ICONTROL, then iCONTROL Free, then Sports and fitness, then go through all those choices

Answer 5

not for free, but possibly a video?

http://www.learn-to-belly-dance.com/

Answer 6

try different sites on the internet. also go to your public library!

Answer 7

yes u can use lime wire for tht