Staffordshire Teachers – Stoke, Newcastle-Under-Lyme
Last Updated on February 4, 2024
Teacher: Lesley Foulkes
Location of classes: Newcastle-Under-Lyme, Staffordshire.
Level of lessons: Beginners.
Time and cost: Often holds 6-week short courses.
Types taught: Tribal Belly dance.
Other additional information: Short introductory course for beginners to tribal dance.
I have been dancing on and off for most of my life but have been belly dancing for approximately 10 years.
I have studied Latin American, Ballroom, Flamenco, traditional Egyptian dancing as well as ATS tribal dancing.
I am one of the founders and principal choreographers of the Zazu Tribal Dancers.
The 6-week course is a tribal basics course for beginners, it is primarily to get fit, have fun, and introduce people to some tribal moves. Places are always limited for the workshops so people need to book early to avoid disappointment.
Lesley can be contacted for more information on Newcastle classes, via her Twitter Page.
Teacher: Donna Gardner
Stage Name: Pedralta of ‘World Fusion Dance’.
Location: Staffordshire and Birmingham in various venues.
For more information see Donna’s website pedralta.com
Level: N/A
Time/Cost: see website for the latest lessons in Staffordshire and Birmingham.
Type taught: Tribal belly dance and Pedralta World Fusion Dance, flamenco fusion, Egyptian folkloric (saiidi )fusion with stick, veil, finger cymbals, and sword.
Experience & style: Donna Gardner is an experienced performer and teacher throughout the UK and Europe.
She was the first UK teacher to study in San Francisco with Carolena Nericcio, the founder of Fat Chance Belly Dance is a group dance, characterized by improvisation.
Dancers learn a vocabulary of moves and then use them to create improvised dance, responding to the music and to each other.
Donna formed Pedralta Dance in 2005 with her fellow dancer, Lez Hogg.
The now Pedralta World Fusion is a troupe of four dancers. performing a unique style of tribal dance that draws from Flamenco and also from folkloric Egyptian.
PWF is also known for precision sword dancing and dynamic, powerful performances.
Donna’s teaching focuses on helping each dancer to reach their potential.
She underwent further training to teach those with physical limitations and is able to adapt the format to enable those with limitations to participate fully.
She is also a master teacher and can assist other teachers in doing the same. Posture, poise, and confidence are key and Donna helps each dancer to achieve these.
The classes are also very friendly and a lot of fun. Students have their own Facebook page where they can discuss music, post photos, etc.
Student dancers have an opportunity to perform publicly through Donna’s latest project Urban Tarab.
Teacher: Carol Howard
Location of classes: Michelin Athletic Club Trent Vale and Audley Community Centre, Stoke on Trent.
Level of lessons: Various.
Time and cost: Times of lessons change throughout the year so please contact Carol for the latest lesson times.
Types taught: Lebanese, Egyptian Classical, Bhangra, African, Cabaret, Tribal.
Other additional information: low impact, no backbends or floor work. Lots of choreography and a relaxed and friendly environment.
Opportunity to join a troupe of tribal and cabaret belly dance with Carol.
Interesting information: Typical mid-life start aged 40, with a history of dance training for shows from aged 8, my natural path has taken me back to lots of stage work and costumes!
I love belly dancing because you can be ‘you’.. There is lots of room for new dancers in the world of belly dance! My style is ‘cheeky’.. I’m lost in my own world as I dance so there’s hope for us all! Stage name Zeena.
Teacher: Helen
Venue: K.Dee.K Danceworks, 1st Floor, 98-102 Church Street, Stoke on Trent.
Website: www.kdeekdanceworks.co.uk
At K.Dee.K Danceworks we aim to make our classes fun, relaxing, and easy to understand.
Classes focus mainly on Egyptian-style belly dance and use all kinds of music, anything that makes us want to shake and shimmy!
A typical class would include a warm-up, technique work and exercises, routine work using different combinations of moves, and finally a cool-down.
We also believe in building individuals’ self-confidence and encouraging students to start putting moves together and using their own variations as soon as possible.
You are welcome to join our beginner class at any time! As we run the sessions as open classes we encourage students not be competitive and take things at their own pace, working to the best of their ability.
About Me: I have been dancing for over 5 years and teaching Belly Dancing for just over 1 year.
I love all kinds of dance and also teach Bollywood, Salsa, Ballroom, Latin, and Tango! All K.Dee.K Danceworks instructors are UKA qualified (medal tests available!) and fully insured.
The following two tabs change content below.
Dr Valeria Lo Iacono is a belly dancer and a dance researcher with a PhD in dance and heritage. Valeria also teaches and performs as a belly dance but also enjoys learning ballet, jazz dance and other dance genres.
Latest posts by Dr Valeria Lo Iacono (see all)
- Belly Dancing over the Age of 40, 50 and Beyond - January 21, 2024
- Health Benefits of Belly Dance - January 20, 2024
- 10 Countries for Learning Belly Dance - January 18, 2024
