Teaching Philosophy

By Seyyide

"The only reason for mastering technique is to make sure the body does not prevent the soul from expressing itself." La Meri

It is my belief that there is no recipe for becoming a good dancer- other than making your talent blossom through dedication and consistent work. Therefore, when I establish a teaching relationship with a student, I rely on giving constant feedback and challenges in a nurturing environment, as the means to build good foundations. You will find me teaching you lots of technique, while essential topics such as breathing, posture, presence, musicality and grace are part of every single class. Having fun is also part of it, as this dance form is particularly effective at boosting your mood and energy. I also try to give some background on the original context of the dance, and share what I know about its roots and evolution whenever I have a chance.

Regarding who should take my classes.... I've had students from 8 to 63 years old. All body types are welcome, as this dance works with the natural forms of the body instead of against them. Everyone can learn something from this dance. Now, if you dream about or are already involved in performing, I will be most happy to coach you and lead you in this path, striving to help you become the best dancer than you can be.

Every ballet dancer knows to start her routine by working at the barre, well, so do we for belly dance. My classes are packed with specific information, yet we take about 10-15 minutes time at the beginning to not only warm up but also condition and prepare the muscles that are essential for this dance form. Not that we use a barre (although it can help if we have it available) but we need to condition, stretch and fortify the body, to create the foundations for isolation and balance. Proper conditioning also prevents you from hurting yourself, which could happen by doing the things the wrong way. For this purpose, I use elements coming from yoga, floor bar and a few concepts of Pilates and Alexander technique. You will get awareness of muscles that you didn't use in other forms of exercise, and a new perception of your entire body. Proper alignment and body image will be developed as well as coordination. If you always thought that you had two left feet, give yourself a chance to overcome that limitation.

Styles  

Although I have trained and perform in many styles (Egyptian, Turkish and American fusion) my classes are mostly based on the Egyptian style, as I have been inspired by the teachings of many of the leaders of the Egyptian dance, such as Yousry Sharif, Faten Salama, Aida Nour, Raqia Hasan and Farida Fahmy, among others. Other big influences were Amir Thaleb of Argentina (who himself profoundly admires Mahmoud Reda's style), as well as Nourhan Sharif and Katia of Boston (also specialized in Egyptian style).