Belly Dance Instructors & Classes

About Mee Mee
(Instructor for the Adult Belly Dance Class)

Although professionally she studied the language of the computer and graduated with a Master degree in Computer Sciences, music and dance has always been parts and parcels of her life. As she was growing up, she had danced to the Hawaiian Hula dance, the 60's A GoGo Dance, Malay and Chinese Cultural Dance, Sarawakian Dance, played the trumpet and mellophone in the school's Brass Band and was the head of the Art and Cultural Student Hostel Club in the university.

Her love story with belly dance started back in August 2005, when she attended her first class at the Zero Fitness Dance Studio. She simply just fell in love with the femininity of the dance, its gracefulness, its inner power and its elegance. She was under the tutelage of Ms Conny Lim from the Zero Fitness Dance Studio for a few years and then ventured out on her own.

In her effort to improving herself as a dancer and teacher, she continuously takes workshops from belly dance gurus within and outside of Malaysia. Up-to-date, she has taken workshops from professional belly dance masters like Prof. Hassan Khalil and Nuriyya from Egypt, Kaeshi Chai of the BellyQueen, Sharon Kihara of the Belly Dance Superstars, Jenna and Samra Lara from the United States, Hadia and Nath Keo from Canada, Nigma of El-Oasis from Spain, Karen Madrid from Mexico, Shanaz from France and her latest was Dina the Egyptian Belly Dance Diva in Singapore. It will be a never-ending learning and self-improvements journey in her pursuit to perfections in the dance.

Achievements

• April 2010 – invited as a guest judge by Let’s Dance Malaysia in the Absolute Stunning Ladies Dance competition event at the Hard Rock Hotel, Penang.
• Aug 2009 – Dance99 led by Mee Mee emerged as the Champion of the belly dance troupe competition in the Malaysian Open Dance Fest in Kuala Lumpur
• Aug 2009 – won the first runner up in the belly dance Intermediate Individual category of the Malaysian Open Dance Fest in Kuala Lumpur
• Mar 2009 – completed level 1 of Hadia’s Teacher Training Course, a 20 hour intensive training which includes Hadia’s famous body awareness, body anatomy, alignment and injury prevention classes and more. For details, please check out Hadia’s website at hadia.com.
• Aug, 2005 – 2008 – completed the belly dance program from Beginner to Advance at the Zero Fitness Dance Studio.

About Vivian
(Instructor for Kids Belly Dance Class)

Vivian has started dancing at the tender age of 6 years old. She has experienced the Chinese Cultural Dance, Modern Jazz and now Belly Dance. Ever since she started dancing, she has developed a love for the stage and she looks forward to every opportunity to perform and dance her heart out! She also adores children so much so, that it makes her a favourite among the kids in the belly kids class.

Her training in belly dance started back in 2005 when she took her first class with Ms Conny Lim at the Zero Fitness Dance Studio. From then on, there was no stopping her from pursuing her passion in the dance. She continues to study to improve her dance skills with other professional belly dance master like Kaeshi Chai of the Bellyqueen, Sharon Kihara of the Belly Dance Superstars, Sherlyn Koh of the Sirocco Secrets, Nath Keo from Canada and Shanaz from Paris. Belly dance to her is mysterious, graceful yet powerful!



Classes

Dance99 teaches a combination of Egyptian and American Cabaret style of Belly Dancing. Classes begin with a dynamic warm-up to warm up the whole body and lubricate the joints before working on the core muscles and techniques of the dance and end with a cool down to lower the heart rate and lengthen the muscles with some simple stretches to improve flexibility. Dance99 emphasizes on safety while dancing to ensure students enjoy the benefit of dancing, free from injuries.

Beginner - Students will be exposed to the great Middle Eastern music and learn all the fundamental movements of belly dance, its posture and alignment, isolation, shimmies, some basic turns and walks, and arms movements.

Intermediate – Intermediate students learn more intense layered shimmies, introduction to rhythms, more challenging combinations, and usage of props like veils and cane.

Advance – more challenging choreographies and props like finger cymbals and others. Students will be exposed to improvisational skills and other styles of belly dance. The advance class is an indefinite class where new materials will be introduced constantly from time to time.

Content prepared by Dance99 at http://dance99.com.my

Belly Dance

History of Belly Dance

There has always been much fascination about the history of belly dance, or in the community of belly dancers, it is preferred to be referred to as the Middle Eastern Dance or Raks Sharki (the Oriental Dance in Arabic). The origin is fiercely debated as there are no concrete evidences that support on the claims made. However, many believed that belly dance is one of the oldest dance-form dated back from as far as the fourteenth century BC where evidence of the dance are shown at the Egyptian tomb paintings and at the Persian miniature paintings from the 12th and 13th century that resemble partially clad dancers whose callisthenic positions appear to be similar to those used in belly dancing.

To many, belly dance is an ancient dance that was performed by women for women only. It was danced as part of celebration to celebrate fertility, birthing and temple rituals. Women in the olden day’s belly dance to goddess worship rituals to seek safe and smooth birthing since there wasn’t much proper medication available at that time. Some request for a gift of life. It is also believed that the wave-like movements of the belly called the undulation in belly dance terminology were used by women to help easing the birth delivery. The dance was meant for both family and social gatherings. It is passed down from mother to daughter in generations. A girl’s first performance for other women was considered as her rite of passage to womanhood.

In Arabic, the folk dance that mothered the belly dance is known as Raks Baladi. Raks meaning dance and Baladi means country. Raks Baladi is indigenous to North Africa, the Middle East and as far as Iran. However, it was Egypt that has predominantly publicized and influenced the dance. The god-mother of belly dance was Badia Masabni who owned a night club in Cairo. Badia is known to have transformed Raks Baladi into Raks Sharki (Oriental Dance) as it is known nowadays. She had trained some of the most famous belly dancers like Samia Gamal and Tahiya Carioca with ballet and jazz classes, incorporate graceful arms movements and set a stage for the dance. Her belly dance shows attracted both Middle Eastern and European audiences that were visiting Egypt in bigger and bigger numbers at that time. She had also pioneered the use of choreography and added props like veils into the dance.

It was during this time, the costuming of belly dance went into a drastic change, from the long conservative dress or skirt with a scarf accentuating the hips to beaded two piece sequin costumes majorly influenced by the Hollywood movies and European cabarets. With the booming of the Egyptian Film Industry, Raks Sharki reached a level previously impossible and belly dance stars were born that remain legendary until today.

However, due to economic, political and religious climate in Eygpt, the Raks Sharki is slowly making its decline. A law was passed in 2003 which prohibits foreign dancers from obtaining work permits, causing even deeper decline in public performance. Even though, the law has been reversed a year later, the damaged has been made.

The dance however is flourishing elsewhere, especially Turkey and Lebanon. Outside of the Middle East, more dancers are picking up the dance. We can see that belly dance is being danced everywhere in the world. The Americans has structured the dance into something that can be taught in classrooms and started the trend of formal training and workshops for the dance, as what we have seen nowadays.


Benefits of Belly Dance

• Belly dance is safe - Belly dance in its purest form is the most body-friendly dance. Their movements are gentle and natural to the body, working with it instead of against it making it a dance for everyone, no matter what dance background or body shape you have.
• Low impact exercise – belly dance is low impact. It helps increases blood circulation in the body, elevates the heart rate and is effective for weight maintenance and rehabilitation.
• Arm exercise – snake arms in belly dance provides effective toning to the arms. Practicing the arm requires dedication and effort to move the arms gracefully and naturally.
• Relieves back pain – when belly dancing is done properly, it helps to massage the back gently with the rocking of the pelvis providing relief to the back.
• Preparation for childbirth – belly dance provides an excellent prenatal exercise repertoire that helps strengthens the muscles used in child delivery. The pelvis rocking and the abdominal wave-like movements taught in belly dance are natural movements which ease the birthing process. Mothers that belly dance are also known to get in shape quickly after giving birth.
• Reduces stress– with the stressful daily life, belly dance provides means to release stress from work and home. Belly dance provides a sanctuary for women to just “let go” and enjoy themselves and just be a woman!
• Improve digestion – Belly rolls, hip sways that utilizes the abdomen muscles helps food movement in the digestive system.
• Boost self-confidence – belly dance helps women to get in touch with their femininity, inner feeling, be happy with who they are and be proud of their own body. It is always nice to see new dancers feeling more confident and beautiful after they have started belly dance for a period of time.

References:

• A Brief History of Oriental Dance, From social dance to performance art (http://www.orientaldancer.net/articles/a_brief_history.shtml)
• A Brief History of Belly Dancing, the World’s Oldest known dance form is still performed today (http://worlddance.suite101.com/article.cfm/a_brief_history_of_belly_dancing)
• Badia Masabni (http://www.belly-dance.org/badia-masabni.html)
• The Art of Belly Dancing (http://www.belly-dance.org/badia-masabni.html)
• Benefits of Belly Dance (http://hubpages.com/hub/Belly-Dance)
• Health Benefits of Belly Dance (http://www.atlantabellydance.com/ProspectiveStudents/ClassHealth.html)
• Low Impact Exercise (http://www.buzzle.com/articles/low-impact-exercise.html)

Content prepared by Dance99 at http://dance99.com.my

Why YOGA??

YOGA is a practice of integrating the mind, body and soul to create a greater connection with your inner nature. This integration brings balance to your life, helping you discover your potential for energy, relaxation and good health. YOGA is an activity you can start at any age and continue over a lifetime.

Studies show that regular YOGA practice has a positive effect on breathing capacity and reduces the physical and mental symptoms of asthma sufferers.

Class focus on move that are best for a particular group such as seniors or children.

If you haven't exercised in a while, it's a good idea to check with your doctor before beginning any new exercise program.

Come feel for yourself the goodness of YOGA as your muscle melt and the mind begins to release its tension and anxieties.

BLAST AWAY 5 POUNDS OR MORE IN 30 DAYS!!

Hello Guys & Gals…..

Not sure, if Salsa & Bachata are your things ? … but willing to give it a go ….
Come and join us this 20-21 March 2010, for a taste of what is in store for U

Interested ???

GRAB your Early Bird Tickets at our studio ASAP for the Early Bird price

or

call 017-4379583/04-3905113& email d'dancer@hotmail.com for more details..

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Workshop : (A) Salsa Bootcamp
: (B) Bachata Bootcamp
Master Trainer : 2005 Malaysian Salsa Champion
Date : (A) 20-3-2010 (Saturday)
: (B) 21-3-2010 (Sunday)
Time : (A) 2.30pm-6.00pm
: (B) 11.00am-3.00pm
Venue : D'dancer Station
Pearl Island Country Club
Level 1, No.8, Persiaran Kelicap
11900 Penang
Enquiry : 012-4808055 (Jeline, After 6pm on Weekdays)
: 017-4379583 /04-3905113(CY Tan)
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Remarks**

1. Cash Voucher for Rhythm Identity classes in PJ.
2. 2 x Free Pass @ RM40 (transferable) for D'dancer Station classes for signed up any one workshop.
3. 8 x Free Pass @ RM160 (transferable) for D'dancer Station classes for signing up Full Weekend Packages.
4. "0" Registration Fee for D'dancer Station Membership
5. Free One (1) CD with mixture of Salsa/Bachata Songs for the first
Ten (10) Participants who enroll for the Full Weekend Packages
6. Special Discounts for the below events:-
a. Salsa Fiesta de Indonesia in Bali from 2-5 April 2010 at USD500 triple sharing (Market Rate @ USD600 triple sharing)
b. Malaysian Salsa Festival in KL from 3-6 June 2010 at RM650 (Market Rate @ RM720)
7. On The Spot Mystery Surprise !!

** Terms & Conditions Apply!!

SALSA & BACHATA WORKSHOP @ D’DANCER STATION
CONDUCTED BY JAXEN TAN OF RHYTHM IDENTITY

Rhythm Identity was set up by a pair of Salsa brother and sister team sometime during the 4th quarter of 2006. They were then well known for their unique style of Salsa which was very much different from the rest of their peers.

Their Motto has always been “It’s not what you do: it’s how you do it”. Having learned from some of the best Salsa Instructors in Malaysia as well as Internationally, they have set up

Rhythm Identity with the aim to develop and improve the Salsa and Bachata scene in Malaysia and to instill into it a positive attitude and mindset which they believe will make Malaysia’s Salsa and Bachata scene prosper.

In 2009 Rhythm Identity brought into Malaysia the Zouk dance, being the pioneer of this form of Brazilian dance style in Malaysia.

Instructor Credentials:-

2005 Malaysian Salsa Champion
Utilizing techniques by LDA Sydney
Represents Malaysia Internationally in Bachata
Pioneer of Bachata Moderna in Malaysia
One of the top Bachata Schools in Malaysia
Represents Malaysia Internationally in Bachata
Pioneer of Zouk in Malaysia
Have performed and taught in Congress and Festival around Asia.
Appearances in NTV7 as well as Just DANCE magazine.

Dear Valued Members and Friends,

Warmest Greeting from D’dancer Station!!

We are proudly inviting 2005 Malaysian Salsa Champion, Mr. Jaxen Tan of Rhythm Identity to conduct the Salsa and Bachata Workshop on 20-21 March 2010 at D’dancer Station. .

Do come and join us if u loves dancing, keeping fit, staying young & healthy and making friends!!

Please forward this message to your friends and always remembers ALL ARE WELCOME^^^^

See u on 20th & 21st March 2010 J

Thanks & regards.
D'dancer Station
W: www.d-dancer.blogspot.com