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Student Resources
Here, you will find student reading, including links to other resources, material written by our teachers, and links to lots of video clips!
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Lisa Lumina
Sep 18, 20245 min read
Parts of a Raqs Sharki Set
Egyptian Sets Dancers today often don't use a formal set structure. For example, a dancer performing at a wedding in Cairo in 2024 might...
150
Lisa Lumina
Sep 13, 20243 min read
Your First Solo
If you've been dancing for a little while, and have some movements you feel comfortable doing, it's time to start making your own dances!...
110
Lisa Lumina
Jul 29, 20243 min read
Asia and South America
10 of 11 This post will be short because I don't know much about either of these regions, but I don't want to leave them out. In the...
50
Lisa Lumina
Jul 22, 20242 min read
Men in Raqs
11 of 11 Men do and have always participated in raqs, They might dance at home or at parties, in the casual style, as you can see from...
90
Lisa Lumina
Jul 15, 20245 min read
Modern Egyptian and Global Competitions
9 of 11 Many American dancers hold Egyptian style up as a standard as a result of shifts that happened during the 80s. Cheaper travel and...
120
Lisa Lumina
Jun 5, 20245 min read
Improvised Does NOT mean Unprepared
If you've taken my classes, you've heard me talk about how raqs is traditionally improvised, about the cultural value of the feeling in...
140
Lisa Lumina
Mar 27, 20242 min read
Must Know Songs: Spring Semester
From level 2 on, please pick a song each week to familiarize yourself with. Keep an ear out for songs you might like to dance to at...
160
Lisa Lumina
Mar 3, 20245 min read
Femininity for All
The other day, I picked up some pink paint swatches. I'm considering repainting my bedroom (currently a light green) in a color that I...
200
Lisa Lumina
Feb 1, 20246 min read
New Age American
7 of 11 We used to call this "Modern American" style, but that isn't really accurate anymore. An undercurrent of spirituality,...
270
Emerald Starling Belly Dance
Feb 1, 20244 min read
Fusion Styles ~ by Emerald Starling
8 of 11 The story of fusion belly dance as we know it today can be traced back to Jamila Salimpour and her classes and performances on...
210
Lisa Lumina
Jan 26, 20245 min read
Transitional Egyptian
Aka late golden era, aka retro Egyptian Post 6 of 11 Technically the dance is always in transition, rather like a flowing river. But,...
120
Lisa Lumina
Jan 24, 20244 min read
Vintage American Style
Post 5 of 11 Our next style goes by many names! Sometimes called "American Cabaret", or "Am Cab" for short, "Vintage American", "Vintage...
140
Lisa Lumina
Jan 24, 20244 min read
Turkish Styles: vintage and modern
Post 4 of 11 When the Ottoman empire expanded into Egypt and the Levant in the early 1500's, entertainers like the Awalim were brought...
100
Lisa Lumina
Jan 20, 20243 min read
Lebanese Style
Post 3 of 11 This post is to give students enough of an orientation to Lebanese style to get the lay of the land. You can probably tell...
90
Lisa Lumina
Jan 20, 20244 min read
Golden Era Egyptian Style
AKA vintage Egyptian Post 2 of 11 In each post in this category, I'll highlight certain clips from each style. Each dancer has their own...
130
Lisa Lumina
Jan 20, 20244 min read
Orientation to Oryantal Dance Styles
Post 1 of 11 To kick things off, let’s get our bearings. Here is the diagram created by Nadira Jamal showing the relationship of belly...
80
Lisa Lumina
Jan 16, 20247 min read
Practice Plans for Intro and Beginner Students
We've all been there: you made time to practice, got your hip scarf on, and then are standing in front of a mirror wondering what to do....
170
Lisa Lumina
Jan 7, 20242 min read
Must Know Songs: Winter Semester
From level 2 on, please pick a song each week to familiarize yourself with. Keep an ear out for songs you might like to dance to at...
310
Lisa Lumina
Dec 29, 20233 min read
Rhythms for Level 2
This post is a place for level 2 students to find resources to support the rhythms and drum solo semester of classes. It is by NO MEANS a...
240
Lisa Lumina
Dec 15, 20232 min read
About Props: Saidi Cane
Some more info on cane (assaya) this week: it's use in Saidi Style. This is the style most bellydancers associate with cane, but again,...
110
Lisa Lumina
Dec 15, 20232 min read
About Props: Lebanese and Egyptian Beledi Cane
Lots of beginners think cane is indicative of Saidi style. What if I told you that, no only does Saidi style not always use a cane, but...
110
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