Belly Dance

Belly Dancing

Belly dancing is based on one of the oldest social dances in world history, originating in North Africa, Asia, and the Middle East. Belly dancing is both a beautiful form of dance and an exercise. Both a fun way to stay in shape and to express your personal creativity. The most distinguishing feature of belly dancing is the movements performed by the abdomen. These belly movements may be circular, rolling, angular or vibrating.

Several different styles of belly dancing are popular in the United States today. There are two basic forms of belly dancing: "raqs baladi" and "raqs sharqi." Raqs baladi is performed for celebration by both males and females of all ages. These belly dances are usually performed during social gatherings such as weddings and parties. The second form of belly dancing, raqs sharqi, is a more theatrical version and is the most popular form of belly dancing performed in America today. It is also performed by both male and female dancers.

Belly Dancing Movements:
It may seem that only the abdominal area is moving but this dancing involves several other parts of the body as well. While dancing, a dancer must isolate major muscle groups and work them in isolation or in opposition to other parts of the body. Sharp, angular movements are inner directed, with belly dancing covering very little floor space. Belly dancing is usually performed as a solo dance, but groups may also dance together in a choreographed routine.

Belly Dancing Costumes:
Belly dance is performed wearing long skirts or harem pants. Some belly dancers prefer to simply wear a leotard or a stretchy, form-fitting top. While belly dancing, it is often desirable to keep the midriff uncovered, allowing the defining movements of the abdominals to be visible.

Although some dancers prefer to dance in bare feet, shoes are sometimes necessary when dancing outside of the home or studio. Comfortable shoes or sandals with flexible soles, such as ballet slippers, are good choices.

History of Belly Dancing:
Much debate surrounds the origins of belly dancing, probably due to limited academic research. Several theories exist about the true development of this unique dance form. Over the years, different styles of belly dancing have evolved from various cultures. Belly dancing has popularized for several reasons, including entertainment, cultural ritual, childbirth preparation, physical fitness, and celebration. Because belly dancing seems to be a combination of many different dance styles, it therefore has a variety of origins. One such origin seems to be ethnic folk dancing.

Health Benefits:
Many people have discovered the many health benefits of belly dancing. Besides providing a fun, low-impact workout, belly dance strengthens and tones the entire body while developing balance and grace. Belly dancing also improves flexibility of the hips and back as well as increases core strength.

Some people believe that belly dancing is beneficial to pregnant women. Belly dancing tones the muscles used in childbirth. Dancers must isolate the muscles of the abdomen, which directly benefits pregnant women. Some of the deep-breathing techniques used in belly dancing are also taught in childbirth classes.

Jazz Dancing

Jazz Dance

Jazz has become one of the most popular dance styles mainly due to its popularity on television shows, movies, music videos and commercials. People enjoy watching jazz dancers, as the dancing is fun and energetic.

Jazz dancing showcases a dancer's individual style and originality. Every jazz dancer interprets and executes moves and steps in their own way. Jazz dancing is very energetic and fun, consisting of unique moves, fancy footwork, big leaps and quick turns. To excel in jazz, dancers need a strong background in ballet, as it encourages grace and balance.

Dress:
Jazz classes are casual and relaxed, so feel free to select your own clothing. A dancer's body lines need to be visible, however, so baggy clothes are generally discouraged. Tights and leotards are fine, but most jazz dancers prefer to wear jazz or dance pants. Jazz pants are usually boot-cut or flared styles, as tight bottoms would restrict ankle movement. Tops usually worn for jazz include form-fitting tank tops, t-shirts or leotards.

Class Structure:
A good jazz class explodes with energy. With music styles ranging from hip-hop to show tunes, the beat alone will get you moving. Most jazz teachers begin with a thorough warm-up, then lead the class in a series of stretching exercises and isolation movements. Isolations involve moving one part of the body while the rest of the body remains still. Jazz dancers also practice the art of suspension. Suspension involves moving through positions instead of stopping and balancing in them. Most jazz teachers will end the class with a short cool down to help prevent muscle soreness.


Complete Jazz Warm-Up Routine
Before a dance practice session, be sure to perform proper warm-up routine. Warm-up exercises help to raise our body temperature, increase blood flow, and make muscles ready for the demands of the dancing ahead. A good jazz warm-up prepares your body to dance.

The following jazz warm-up routine will prepare your whole body for activity as well as get you motivated to dance. Pump up your favorite dance music to get your body energized and inspired. Use this jazz warm-up routine to get focused and ready.

Jazz Stretch Routine:

Stretch Right

Stretch to the Left

Stretch to the Center

Body Roll - Jazz Stretch

Torso Side Stretch

Flat Back Stretch

Flat Back Drop Stretch

Point and Flex Leg Stretch

Side Straddle Split Stretch

Center Straddle Split Stretch

Jazz Steps:
Dancers are encouraged to add their own personality to make each step unique and fun. Jazz steps include chaines, piques, pirouettes, jazz turns, and some ballet turns, to name a few. Leaps include grande jetes, turning jumps, and tour jetes. Signature to jazz dancing is the "jazz walk." Jazz walks can be performed in different styles. Another popular jazz move is the "contraction." A contraction is accomplished by contracting the torso, with the back curved outward and the pelvis pulled forward.

Basic Jazz Square:

A jazz square is a smooth, sassy step in which a dancer completes a square with four steps. Stand with feet together, arms down by the sides and knees softly bent.

Starting Position

Right Foot Over Left

Step Back

Step to the Side

Step Front

Folk Dancing

Folk Dance

Folk dance is a form of dance developed by a group of people that reflects the traditional life of the people of a certain country or region. Folk dancing originated in the 18th century to distinguish dance forms of common people from those of the upper classes. The steps of folk dances are passed through generations, rarely being changed. Folk dancing is usually associated with social activities, although some folk dances are performed competitively.

Many children games are traditional folk dances, such as "The Farmer in the Dell" and "London Bridge". Today, popular folk dances include square dancing, clogging, contra dancing, highland dancing and Irish jigs.

• They are dances performed at social functions by people with little or no professional training, often to traditional music or music based on traditional music.

• They are not designed for public performance or the stage, although traditional folk dances may be later arranged and set for stage performances.

• Their execution is dominated by an inherited tradition rather than by innovation (although like all folk traditions they do evolve)

• New dancers often learn informally by observing others and/or receiving help from others.

• The term "folk dance" is sometimes applied to dances of historical importance in European culture and history; typically originated before 20th century. For other cultures the terms "ethnic dance" or "traditional dance" are sometimes used, although the latter terms may encompass ceremonial dances.

• There are a number of modern dances, such as hip hop dance, that evolve spontaneously, but the term "folk dance" is generally not applied to them, and the terms "street dance" or "vernacular dance" are used instead. The term "folk dance" is reserved for dances which are to a significant degree bound by tradition and originated in the times when the distinction existed between the dances of "common folk" and the dances of the "high society".

• A number of modern ballroom dances originated from folk ones.

• The terms "ethnic" and "traditional" are used when it is required to emphasize the cultural roots of the dance. In this sense, nearly all folk dances are ethnic ones. If some dances, such as polka, cross ethnic boundaries and even cross the boundary between "folk" and "ballroom dance", ethnic differences are often considerable enough to mention, e.g., Czech polka vs. German polka.

• Not all ethnic dances are folk dances; for example, ritual dances or dances of ritual origin are not considered to be folk dances. Ritual dances are usually called "Religious dances" because of their purpose.

Types of folk dance:

Types of folk dance include clogging, English country dance, International folk dance, Irish dance, Maypole dance, Morris dance, Nordic Polska dance, Ball de bastons, Square dance, and Sword dance. Sword dances include Longsword dances and Rapper dancing. Some choreographed dances such as contra dance, Israeli folk dance, Scottish country dance, and modern Western square dance, are called folk dances, though this is not true in the strictest sense. Country dance overlaps with contemporary folk dance and ballroom dance. Most country dances and ballroom dances originated from folk dances, with gradual refinement over the years.

Austrian folk dance:

In Austria, folk dances in general are known as Folkloretänze, i.e. "folklore dances", whereas the Austrian type of folk dance is known as Volkstanz (literally "folk dance").

Figure dancing is a type of dance where different figures are put together with a certain tune and given a name. Round dancing, which includes the waltz, the polka, Zwiefacher etc, involves basic steps which can be danced to different tunes. In folk dancing, the waltz and the polka are in a slightly different form to standard ballroom dancing.

Austrian folk dance festivals follow a common sequence:

* everybody gets onto the dance floor and dances the opening round
* a welcoming speech is made
* waltzes are danced in blocks, with breaks in between.
* finally a special dance, often with a goodbye song.



Viennese festivals usually have four long sets of dances, with long breaks and figure dancing in between. Other parts of Austria have a larger number of shorter blocks (three to five dances each) with shorter breaks between them, and more figure dancing.

Hip Hop

The Hip hop/rap music is one of the most popular music styles. Hip hop and rap world is a vibrant and powerful cultural movement that seems unstoppable. Hip hop culture has grown out of its original home in New York City, and has taken over the whole United States - from the East Coast to the West Coast from the Dirty South in Atlanta to the new mecca in Houston, all the way to the great white north in Detroit and Chicago.

In 1979, when The Sugarhill Gang released their song "Rappers Delight," introducing white and black audiences across the United States, and around the world, to the beats, rhyming, and rapping that had been so big in New York for nearly a decade.

In the late 1980s and early 1990s, the gangsta rap craze got its big start, and it hasn't stopped since. First came Ice-T and NWA, who showed later hardcore artists how to rap about their real lives on the streets, all to thumping beats. From this genre, you have Dr. Dre, Snoop Dogg, Ice Cube, the Notorious BIG, Tupac, Wu-Tang Clan, Eminem, 50 Cent, and so on and so on.

Top 10 hip hop songs:

1. BedRock - Young Money & Lloyd. Album- We Are Young Money
2. How Low - Ludacris. Album- How Low - Single
3. Drop the World (feat. Eminem) - Lil Wayne. Album- Drop the World
4. Empire State of Mind (feat. Alicia Keys) - Jay-Z. Album- The Blueprint 3

5. Tie Me Down (feat. Ray J) - New Boyz. Album- Tie Me Down - EP
6. On to the Next One (feat. Swizz Beatz) - Jay-Z. Album- The Blueprint 3
7. Shut It Down (feat. Akon) - Pitbull. Album- Rebelution (Bonus Track Version)
8. Run This Town (feat. Rihanna & Kanye West) - Jay-Z. Album- Run This Town
9. Money to Blow (Street Version) - Birdman, Lil Wayne & Drake. Album- Pricele$$

10. Right Round - Flo Rida. Album- R.O.O.T.S. (Deluxe Version)

Hip hop Dance:

Hip-hop dance refers to social dance styles primarily danced to hip-hop music. This includes a wide range of styles notably breaking, locking, and popping which were developed in the 1970s by Black and Latino Americans. These styles were developed by technically trained dancers who wanted to create choreography for hip-hop music from the hip-hop dances they saw being performed on the street. Because of this development, hip-hop dance is now practiced at both studios and outside spaces. Hip-hop dance may only be a form of entertainment or a hobby. To others it has become a lifestyle: a way to be active in physical fitness or competitive dance and a way to make a living by dancing professionally.

Ballet Dancing

Ballet is based on techniques that have been developed over centuries. Ballet uses music and dance to tell stories. Ballet dancers have the ability to transport an audience to another world. Ballet uses music and dance to tell stories. Ballet dancers have the ability to transport an audience to another world.

5 Basic positions of Ballet:

Positions of the Arms in Ballet:

Preparatory Position

First Position of the Arms:

Second Position of the Arms:

Third Position of the Arms:



Fourth Position of the Arms:



Fifth Position of the Arms: