shiradotnet
Well-known member
Last night, I sent an email to a prospective student who asked what the difference was between my "Level 1" class and my "For Exercise" class. Composing a response to her helped me clarify some of my thinking on this.
In my reply, I said that "Level 1" is "dance instruction". I'll teach a move, spend time drilling it, make individual corrections, and try to polish up people's form, such as fixing awkward arm positions. I teach a simple choreography so that at the end of the 7-week session, people have a dance they can remember and do. People are welcome to ask questions at any time. Anybody who aspires to perform someday should take this class, not the exercise one, because this class will prepare people for Level 2 which is where I provide the opportunity to dance in student recitals.
I said that "For Exercise" has two audiences: 1) people in my Level 1/2 classes who want to take a second class each week for getting some drilling/practice, and 2) people who are interested in a class format designed to keep them moving. There is no choreography taught. Because the format is "follow the bouncing butt" and the focus on keeping the movement going, the class is not very conducive to asking questions.
In both classes, I use Middle Eastern music. In both classes, people will learn the beginner-level belly dance moves. In both classes, people will learn enough to bust a move on the dance floor when they go out dancing with their friends. So it's a question of what you want the focus to be - acquiring dance skill, or moving in a way that's fun.
In my reply, I said that "Level 1" is "dance instruction". I'll teach a move, spend time drilling it, make individual corrections, and try to polish up people's form, such as fixing awkward arm positions. I teach a simple choreography so that at the end of the 7-week session, people have a dance they can remember and do. People are welcome to ask questions at any time. Anybody who aspires to perform someday should take this class, not the exercise one, because this class will prepare people for Level 2 which is where I provide the opportunity to dance in student recitals.
I said that "For Exercise" has two audiences: 1) people in my Level 1/2 classes who want to take a second class each week for getting some drilling/practice, and 2) people who are interested in a class format designed to keep them moving. There is no choreography taught. Because the format is "follow the bouncing butt" and the focus on keeping the movement going, the class is not very conducive to asking questions.
In both classes, I use Middle Eastern music. In both classes, people will learn the beginner-level belly dance moves. In both classes, people will learn enough to bust a move on the dance floor when they go out dancing with their friends. So it's a question of what you want the focus to be - acquiring dance skill, or moving in a way that's fun.