Hannans Belly Dance Studio
Curriculum

"Hannan's Belly Dance Studio offers incredible classes by amazing professional teachers for ALL levels of dancers."

Hannan's Bellydance Studio is able to support your dance goals, whatever they may be. Should you wish to gain fitness, flexibility, grace, and poise through dance, we would love to help you with that.
If you just want to have fun while learning about dance, music and make friends, we're there for you too.

For students with more serious goals in mind or the desire to become a professional, we are ready to help you meet your goals with advanced and professional training from true experts.

Many dancers say that they are looking for Professional Level Egyptian Belly Dance Training and find it difficult to find in Canada. Get it straight from the source at Hannan's Belly Dance Studio with Nada El Masriya.

"Nada is the Ambassador of Egyptian Dance in Canada." - Fifi Abdou

"I saw Samia Gamal's elegancy tonight when Nada El Masriya
was performing". - Dr George Sawa

Your happiness is our first priority. We will NOT push you to have more serious goals than you would like. Of course, if you want to pursue dance more diligently, we will fully support and push you.
Keep talking to your teachers about your dance goals, we're here for you!

CLASS LEVELS

We are the first studio in Canada to offer a comprehensive curriculum. This curriculum takes the guess work and frustration out of learning Egyptian Dance.
There are 7 levels which are further divided into modules. You can start in any module at any time with the assurance that you will gain complete training in that level. Please see the level section below for detailed information.

We also offer Assessments to help you track and build your skills at any time. To move from the basic levels into the more advanced levels we even offer Level Evaluations.

Sick? Busy? Miss a Class? No Problem! You can make up the class.
See our make up policy here. Or call 416 462 3498.

Affiliated Schools, Studios and Academies

BACK TO TOP

Health and Safety of Belly Dance.
We have heard from students of other studios and small belly dance outfits that they have sore backs or knees after belly dancing.
Nada always says "Think before you take classes." It is in your best interest that your teacher has either 8 to 10 years of belly dance experience or is monitored and coached by a head belly dancer with at least 12 years of experience. Nada El Masriya has over17 years of Belly Dance experience, and constantly coaches the teachers of Hannan's Belly Dance studio.

Many health problems can be alleviated by regular healthy exercise and belly dancing is a low impact way to improve your health, flexibility and mood! If you have a health issue, please inform your teacher before you start and they will take good care of you.

Class Durations
Our classes are longer so that you can get a good workout and really let the moves sink in. Some students take our classes because they are longer and therefore they get more value for their money at Hannan's Belly Dance Studio.

BACK TO TOP

More Questions?
Please contact us at 416 462 3498 or hannandance@gmail.com

Class Levels

Level 1 - Introduction to Belly Dance (Fun Way to Exercise)

It is recommended for all brand new students to start with Introduction to Belly Dance.

This is for those looking to get an idea about the art of Belly Dance. We teach you a simple overview of all the movements that are taught to beginners in a fun and dancey way, with enough exercise to keep you healthy and happy. Students get to know their body in a new way, learning to relax and flex muscles that may not have been used in a long time.

This level includes:

1. Sets of Belly Dance Moves
2. Posture and Arms
3. A taste of Arabic Music
4. Fitness and Fun

This level has only 1 module, and we recommend that all dancers new to the field of Belly Dance take this level at least 2 times before moving on to Beginner level.

BACK TO TOP

Level 2 - Beginner Belly Dance (The Fundamentals)

Beginner is a fun, sweaty, dance-filled experience! As you dance the hour away, you will be introduced to the fundamentals of posture, isolations, steps, shimmies, and accents of belly dance. As well, you will start dancing with the elegant and ethereal veil.

This level includes:

1. Isolations
2. Shimmies
3. Posture and Arms
4. Sets of Moves – in each module
5. Introduction to Veil
6. Fitness and Fun

This level has 2 modules and we recommend that dancers take each module at least 2 times before moving on to Continuing Beginner level.

We suggest that you take an assessment to determine if you should move to Continuing Beginner.

BACK TO TOP

Level 3 - Continuing Beginners (Refining and Building)

Beginners with the fundamentals move on to Continuing Beginner. Using the foundation from beginner, you will start exploring the more complicated basic belly dance movements as well as refining and combining all of the fundamentals. This level introduces the important concept of layering body movements and isolations over a shimmy.

If you are a returning student and are not sure whether you should take continuing beginner or intermediate, please talk to your teacher.

In this level, the finger cymbals (Zills) are introduced.

This level includes:

1. Sets of Moves – in each module
2. Basic Layering of moves introduced in Beginner Level
3. Posture and Arms
4. Introduction to Finger Cymbals (Zills) and Rhythms
5. Introduction to Veil
6. Strengthening Exercises
7. Fitness and Fun

This level has 4 modules and we recommend that dancers take each module at least 2 times before moving on to Bridge to Intermediate.

It is normal for Students take continuing beginner level classes for at least six months.

BACK TO TOP

Level 4 - Bridge to Intermediate (Perfecting and Preparing)

This level is a transition and preparation for our advanced levels of Belly Dance. Some students feel they are ready to move to Intermediate but want to be fully prepared for the challenge that awaits. In this level we perfect the Continuing Beginner movements and elaborate upon them while introducing bits of the Intermediate curriculum.

This level includes:

1. Drilling all Continuing Beginner Moves
2. Posture and Arms Development
3. Introducing a few Intermediate Level moves
4. Introduction to Intermediate Level Layering
5. Strengthening Exercises

Although this level has only 1 module, we recommend that dancers repeat it until they feel ready for the Level Evaluation to enter the Intermediate level.

BACK TO TOP

Level 5 - Intermediate (Multi-Layered and Complex)

Students who have completed all the beginner levels and the Bridge to Intermediate class can take the Level Evaluation to move to Intermediate Level.

Intermediate belly dance covers intense multi-layered shimmies, complex combinations, Egyptian rhythm identification, Arabic Music appreciation, cultural understanding, basic finger cymbal use as a prop, challenging advanced movements, fantastic steps, an introduction to Egyptian Folklore as well as an introduction to Belly Dance Choreographies.

Veil and finger cymbals are required for this class.

This level includes:

1. Hipwork (Module 1)
2. Complex Combinations
3. Travelling Steps (Module 2)
4. Challenging Advanced Movements
5. All About Shimmies (Module 3)
6. Basic Finger Cymbal and Veil use as a prop
7. All About Bellywork (Module 4)
8. Introduction to Egyptian Folklore
9. Egyptian rhythm identification and Arabic Music appreciation
10. Super Strengthening Exercises

This level has 4 modules ands we recommend as much repetition as needed to make you feel comfortable with all the amazing content.

Intermediate students stay in this level for an average of one year or longer.

BACK TO TOP

Bridge to Advanced (Perfecting and Preparing)

Although not a level, Bridge to Advanced is similar to Bridge to Intermediate. This is a preparation for the Advanced Bellydance Level.

This class includes:

1. Complex Combinations
2. Intense Multi-Layered Shimmies
3. Challenging Advanced Movements
4. Basic Finger Cymbal and Veil use as a prop
5. Super Strengthening Exercises

It is not necessary to take Bridge to Advanced to take the Level Evaluation for the Advanced Level.

This level has only 1 module, although we recommend that dancers repeat it until they feel ready for the Level Evaluation to enter the Advanced level.

BACK TO TOP

Level 6 - Advanced (Looking Easy and Natural)

Students who have completed all the Intermediate modules can take the Level Evaluation to move on to the Advanced Level.

If you thought you met the limits of Belly Dance, this level lets you know that everything until now was only the beginning. At the advanced level, every move will be integrated, explored and expanded in great detail. Advanced belly dance puts together every skill you have learned so far while adding even more challenging and physically demanding movements. Also, in every class you will learn sets of moves with complex dynamics, as well as making fundamental moves part of your everyday movement vocabulary.

You will learn about the instruments, rhythms, music, culture and the feelings attached to the sounds of Egyptian Music.

In advanced belly dance, we also put an emphasis on developing and identifying style through props, improvisation and choreography.

Upon completion of our Advanced level, students should be able to perform Classical Oriental, Folklore, Modern Pop Belly Dance and use Props in a belly dance show.

Every Session will address specific topics in detail such as:

1. Level Change Movements
2. Complex Multi-Level Combinations
3. Ornamentative Travelling Steps
4. Introduction on how to build Choreographies
5. Combinations of Advanced Movements
6. Complex Hipwork
7. Advanced Egyptian Shimmies
8. Finger Cymbal and Veil use as a prop
9. Basic Improvisation
10. Egyptian Folklore

This level is for on-going and continuous development. Every session will concentrate on different subjects. You can do the advanced class indefinitely as new material is always being introduced and the moves have so much depth. Students take the Advanced level class for an average of one year or more.

BACK TO TOP

Student Troupe – "Egyptian Academy Troupe"

You may take this class by invitation only. This class was created to give our advanced students and high intermediates opportunities to learn choreographies and perform live at events.

This is a great way to develop your musical understanding, enhance your stage presence and build your confidence.

This class is fun and for on-going development. It is an important step to becoming a professional dancer and to be able to apprentice in the professional dance company Rhythm of the Nile.

BACK TO TOP

Level 7 - Professional (True Egyptian Artistry)

This is the highest level of Belly Dance. This class is open to invitation only for Advanced students who have spent many sessions in our Advanced Level Class.

This is where we introduce the most complicated and challenging moves only performed in Egypt. By this level your dancing has matured enough for you to begin to really see the complexities performed by the top Egyptian Dancers, beginning to see the dance through Egyptian Eyes. You will begin to be able to recognise and appreciate the similarities and differences between Egyptian style and North American Belly Dance.

Your own personal style will be discovered and developed through personal attention.

This class is taught by a native Egyptian, Nada El Masriya, the studio’s Artistic Director.

"Nada El Masriya is the Ambassador of Egyptian Dance in Canada." - Fifi Abdou

Every Session will address specific topics in detail such as:

1. Advanced Egyptian rhythm identification
2. Advanced Improvisation
3. Arabic Music appreciation with lyric translation
4. Egyptian Dance Culture Understanding
5. How to build Choreographies
6. Egyptian Folklore
7. Enhanced Movement Transitions
8. Complex Level Changes
9. Attitude and Expression in Egyptian Dance
10. Ornamentative Travelling Steps
11. Multi-dynamic Hipwork
12. Sophisticated Egyptian Shimmy Momentum
13. Inspiration in Egyptian Dance

This class is about development and inspiration. Even professionals who have performed for years take this class to keep progressing towards mastery of Egyptian Dance.

BACK TO TOP

Egyptian Folklore (The Origins)

Starting from our Continuing Beginner level we recommend our students to take our Egyptian Folklore Class. All modern belly dance has it’s roots and vitality set in Egyptian Folklore.

This class will soften and enhance your moves and technique. It will return your belly dance to it’s earthy origins. A professional belly dancer is only considered a professional in Egypt when she has mastered folklore.

There are many styles of Egyptian Folklore. Every city in Egypt has it’s own style of Belly Dancing. Baladi, Shabbi, Simsimayya, Alexandrian, Saidi, Gawazi, Siwi, Bedaun, Hagalla, Felahi, Andalusia, and Mambouti just to name the most common.

This class runs continuously, teaching the many techniques and styles of Egyptian Folklore. This class can be taken again and again for years.

BACK TO TOP

Zumba

Zumba Fitness® is the only Latin-inspired dance-fitness program that blends red-hot international music, created by Grammy Award-winning producers, and contagious steps to form a "fitness-party" that is downright addictive.  Taking Zumba Fitness at a dance studio setting provides a personalized atmosphere with respect for personal space quite different from a gym setting.  Easy to follow footsteps are slowly broken down during warm up.  You can even make a request of your favourite Zumba music!
Emilia keeps her CPR A/AED training up to date and she is also a licensed ZIN member - Emilia's Zumba Details.
Enjoy Zumba from the Instructor Who Knows You!

BACK TO TOP

W.O.W. Classes

W.O.W. stands for “Women of the World”.  It is a fun-filled, choreography based class aim to empower students who love to perform in addition to Hannans Student Gala. Choreography will include Orientale Raq Sharqi and Fusion style dances such as Hip Hop Bellydance, Riveting Reggaeton, Belly-nesian, Scintillating Belly-Salsa and others. 

W.O.W. dancers will also learn to perform with props which may include but not limited to silk veil, fan veil, tambourine,Tunisian jar, basket, hand candle and others.

Emilia recommends that you possess the following qualities:
1. Attitude and Stage Presence (a must!).
If you do not have this quality, not to worry.  You will learn them!;
2. Performance Commitment
(which may include street festivals and charity events);
3. Technical ability of higher Bridge and beyond.

BACK TO TOP

Arabic Drumming Class (Levels 1 & 2)

Learn how to drum from a true expert. Remond Sarweh studied percussion with ‘Abdel-Men‘em Isma‘il, and theory with his brothers Selim and Emile Sarweh, obtaining his Arabic music degree from the Damascus Conservatory of Music. Before immigrating to Canada, he performed in Syria, Lebanon, Jordan, Iraq and Egypt, with many famous Arab singers and dancers such as Nagwa Fouad. Acknowledged as a virtuoso tambourine performer, as well as a singer, lutenist and composer, Raymond has performed with The Traditional Arabic Music Ensemble at many Toronto venues including the Royal Ontario Museum, CBC, Harbourfront, and the Music Garden.
All this and an incredible Drumming teacher too.
You must have your own drum for the class.
For information on where and what type of drum to get contact 416 462 3498 or email hannandance@gmail.com

BACK TO TOP

Affiliated Schools, Studios and Academies

Hannan's Belly Dance Studio has affiliated Studios and Belly Dance Schools who teach our Curriculum and are coached by Nada El Masriya.

Interested in being Affiliated with Hannan's Belly Dance Studio?
If you are interested in using our curriculum in your studio contact us with a Youtube video or DVD of your teaching and information about your studio.

www.dancebellydance.ca

Dance Belly Dance is located in Orillia, Ontario, Canada.

 

www.downhips.com

Down Hips Dance Studio is located in Kitchener, Ontario, Canada.

 

www.bellyelegance.com

Belly Elegance is located in Red Deer, Alberta, Canada.

BACK TO TOP

Homepage • Belly Dance Classes • Contact Us • Nada El Masriya

Copyright © 2010 Hannan's Belly Dance Inc. All rights reserved