Crewkerne Belly Dance Classes
Valeria teaches belly dance workshops and classes in Crewkerne, South Somerset, UK. Crewkerne is a quaint village near places such as Chard, Ilminster, Chardstock and Yeovil.
Location of Crewkerne Belly Dance Classes and Workshops
At the moment, Valeria does not teach weekly classes but is planning to teach monthly workshops on different aspects of Egyptian
Please contact Valeria if you would like to be informed when the dates are released).
Workshops will take place in the Dance House, located at Gouldsbrook View, North Street, Crewkerne, Somerset, TA18 7AL
The Dance House does not have its own car park, but there is a council-run car park, called Abbey Street car park, just 5 minutes away from the venue, which is free of charge on Sundays.
The postcode of the car park is
TA18 7HY.
Click here for more information on car parks available in Crewkerne, South Somerset.
As you walk up North Street, just after the Baptist Church building (see photo above), you will see a small lane on the left.
Turn on that lane and you will find the entrance to the Dance House on your left-hand side, just a couple of meters (or a few feet) away.
Workshops Time/s
Please email Valeria to be kept informed when the dates are released, or watch this space.
Cost
Each 4-hour workshop is £20.00.
A £10.00 deposit will be required to secure your place and discounts apply if you would like to buy more than one workshop at the same time.
You can pay by cash or via PayPal. Email Valeria on
Levels of Belly Dance Classes & Workshops
These workshops cater to beginners and improvers (the exact level will also depend on the specific workshop).
During the workshops, you will be learning belly dance techniques, moves, and combinations or choreographies. These will include:
- the correct posture for belly dancers
- hands and arms movements
- hips figures of eight
- chest and hips isolation
- travelling steps
During some workshops, you will also have the opportunity to learn how to incorporate some props into your dance, such as finger cymbals, veils and canes.
You will also learn some background information about the cultural aspects of the dance.
What You Need To Bring
- You will need to wear comfortable clothes (such as stretch leggings or a long and wide skirt)
- A comfortable top with good support
- and a hip scarf (but to begin with, you can use any light scarf and tie it around your hips and later you can buy a coin hip scarf if you want i.e. from a site such as Amazon or eBay). Valeria also has some spare hip scarves that you can borrow on the day!
Belly dance is danced barefooted, so you will not need any specific shoes. However, if you are cold or need some protection for your feet, you may want to wear non-slippery socks or a pair of soft ballet shoes.
Is Belly Dance for You?
Belly dance is suitable for people of all ages and levels of physical fitness. During the classes, you will have the option to take it easy or step it up a level if you want, as long as you listen to your body. The classes take place in a safe and non-competitive environment, so Valeria will encourage you to do what you feel is right for you.
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Styles of Belly Dance Taught
You will mainly learn:
- Egyptian style belly dance, including raqs sharqi, baladi and shaabi dance.
- Some basic Turkish dance style technique may be covered also.
Valeria thinks that musical interpretation is very important, so you will learn the basics of Arabic music such as Arabic rhythms and melody, and how to express these in movement.
As well as set routines and choreographies, you will learn how to improvise to belly dance music and express your feelings through the belly dance movement vocabulary.
Live music may be available for some lessons.
Watch this space for a list soon coming up of workshops and topics!
How To Join Us
You can join us by:
- Following the
Crewkerne Belly dance FACEBOOK Group - If needed, you can contact me directly through the contact form
About Belly Dance
Belly dance is an umbrella term that includes a variety of dance forms and styles, such as Egyptian, Turkish and tribal. This dance form is also known as raqs sharqi (oriental dance in Arabic), oriental dance or baladi, depending on the styles and places of origin.
Belly dance has a long history, it is a lot of fun and a good way to exercise and socialise, with a lot of health benefits, both mental and physical. So, if you are based around South Somerset, East Devon or Dorset (in locations such as Crewkerne, Ilminster, South Perrott, Chard, Mosterton, Chardstock and Yeovil), give it a try!
About the Teacher of Crewkerne Belly Dance Classes
Valeria has been dancing since she was a child and has practiced ballet, jazz, and contemporary dance.
However, belly dance has been her passion since she had her first lessons in 2003 in Seoul, South Korea, with an Iraqi-American friend.
She has been hooked ever since, studying and learning belly dance wherever she lived in the world, before settling in Crewkerne.
Valeria is so interested in Middle Eastern dance, that she has completed a PhD on the history of Egyptian
raqs sharqi (a specific form of Egyptian belly dance).he has written academic papers on the topic, such as ‘Intangible Cultural Heritage Beyond Borders: Egyptian Bellydance (Raqs Sharqi) as a Form of Transcultural Heritage’
She always seeks to improve and learn so, in addition to attending workshops with internationally famous dancers such as Randa Kamel, Fifi Abdo, and Raqia Hassan she travels regularly to Egypt and Morocco for dance training.
Valeria has experience teaching at the university level, having taught sociology of sport at the University of Bath, and she holds a level 2 Certificate in Teaching Exercise to music. Read Valeria’s full profile here.
Do you have any questions or suggestions? If so, please contact Valeria.
