Amanda (was Aziyade)
Well-known member
When you teach ballet, you have a huge source of material to help you put together class syllabi, help you learn to teach, etc.
When you teach bellydance, the resources are scarce. Can we list what teacher resources are available? (What I'd like to list are not SPECIFIC METHODS, like Fat Chance teacher training, but generalized teaching resources for Middle Eastern dance that apply to any style and method.)
I found the following:
BOOKS/PRINT RESOURCES
1. Taaj's book Beyond Bellydance Moves
Amazon.com: Belly Dance Beyond Moves, Combos, and Choreography 82 Lesson Plans, Games, and Exercises to Make Your Classes Fun, Productive and Profitable (9780557426720): Taaj: Books
This is a book full of exercises and games for your students, grouped by concept (dynamics, stage presence, level changes, etc.) I love this and consider it the best $25 I've ever spent on teacher training. Seriously -- spend the money. The exercises are completely customizable, with so many options, that you could teach for 5 years using nothing but the concepts in the book, and STILL not run out of material.
2. Kawakib's book Guide to Teaching Middle Eastern Dance is short but worth a look. Check it out here (at the bottom): Bellydance by Anthea: Kawakib's Dance Tips
3. Amaya Felice's Belly Dance: The Teacher's Book. This is the only book I've ever actually sent back to Amazon. The translation is a disaster and the only advice the book seems to offer is "teach basic moves first." Don't waste your money.
Amazon.com: Belly Dance: The Teacher's Book: Methodology, guidance and didactic resources (9781450507479): Amaya Felices, Maria Falces: Books
4. Not MEDance specific, but Creative Dance for all Ages was recommended to me. I haven't bought it yet. Amazon.com: Creative Dance for All Ages: A Conceptual Approach (9780883145326): Anne Green Gilbert, Helen P. Smith: Books
DISTANCE EDUCATION TEACHER TRAINING PROGRAMS
1. Shemiran Ibhrahim has a How To Teach Bellydance teacher training package available (and on sale now!) Belly Dance Teacher Training DVD - Resource for Belly Dance Teachers and Students
I ordered this, and although I haven't fully explored it, I think it's especially great for the first-time teacher. She also supplies you with a syllabus, student handouts, a full description of how to teach the movements, and a class breakdown of how much time should be spent on what. Teachers with some experience in the classroom may not find it as valuable, especially if you already have your syllabus, but I still learned from it, and I'm in the process of producing my own handouts and handbooks, based on what she provides here. The content is movement-based, Egyptian Cabaret style, but you could argue that what she describes here is the basic movement breakdown for all bellydance.
Shemiran also offers in person teacher training, and travels throughout the world to do the training.
2. Taaj also has The Belly Dance Trainer, a distance-education teacher training program:
The Belly Dance Trainer Certification Program- Syllabus
The syllabus looks really good and you can buy individual modules. This is now done entirely online. I'm very very pleased with the content on this one. There is no movement-based description, so it's applicable for both Tribal and Cabaret teachers. The content is entirely "how to teach" and how to structure a class, with sections on musicality, rhythmic training (and how to teach that to your students) and teaching choreography skills and improvisation skills.
3. Dolphina's online "training" program: Teacher Training | GoddessLife
I'm ONLY listing this to be thorough. I can't imagine what on earth she "teaches" and the fact that she's certifying anybody of anything is ridiculous, but here it is. She also offers in-person training. For the online "program" you send her $500 and make a phone call, and she sends you a certificate. Ridiculous.
IN-PERSON TEACHER TRAINING PROGRAMS
CANADA
1. Hadia's Teacher Training: Hadia's New Site
Comes HIGHLY recommended by everyone who has attended.
2. Yasmina Ramzy and Arabesque Dance offers a teacher training with optional certification: Arabesque Teacher Certification
EGYPT
1. Dr. Hassan Khalil has a teacher training program that comes highly recommended: Prof. Dr. Hassan Khalil - ISOC - Cairo/Egypt
2. Raqia Hassan has teacher training workshops in December. Winter Course
3. Keti Sharif does her teacher training course in Cairo. I'm not sure if this is just teaching the A-Z method, or training in general: Intensive Courses - A-Z Bellydance on the Red Sea, Egypt
GERMANY
Beata and Horacio Cifuentes have teacher training in Berlin: CATT Training Berlin Certified Academic Teachers Training Semester Dates 2010 Berlin
SWEDEN
Samasen offers training in Stockholm: Lärarutbildning | Layali Orientaliska Dansakademi
THAILAND
MysticalDance teacher training in Thailand: Welcome to Mystical Belly Dance
UK
1. JWAAD UK teacher training program: Teacher Training - JWAAD
Comes highly recommended.
2. Mia Serra's UK Teacher Training: Belly Dance Teacher Training - Get certified
3. Learn Bellydance UK site: learnbellydance.co.uk - Bellydance teacher training
USA
1. Goddess Dancing Teacher Training: Teacher Training
I don't know anything about this.
2. Dance for the Soul teacher training: Dance for the Soul Teacher Training with Stefanie Masters
I don't know anything about this.
3. Delilah's Instructor Training: Delilah's Belly Dance Retreats: January 2006: Two Belly Dance Retreats with Delilah! for Belly Dance Instructors & Beginning to Intermediate Students www.delilahs-belly-dance-retreat.com
I have taken workshops with Delilah, but not on teacher training.
4. Oreet's SharQui program: SharQui The Bellydance Workout
Based on watching the dvds, it looks like it's not a specific method or style, but it is designed as a fitness program. Good for teachers who want to try a "Belly Fitness" gig at a local gym.
5. Venus Bellydance teacher training: Venus -Bellydance Workshops
6. Riskallah Riyad has a teacher training course called Footprints: a Journey Toward Teaching Excellence. Details here: Teacher Training
OTHER
1. Sahra Saeeda's Journey Through Egypt isn't specifically teacher training, but it will give you the cultural and historical knowledge necessary to become a good Middle Eastern dance teacher: JtE
2. Fitness Training Organizations like ACE: Become an ACE-certified personal trainer and maintain your personal training certification with the American Council on Exercise. Also offering, Group Fitness Instructor, Lifestyle and Weight Management Consultant and Advanced Health and Fitness Spec and AFAA: Personal Trainer Certification, Group Exercise Certification and Aerobics Certification - AFAA offer group fitness training and certifications that can be helpful for dance teachers.
3. Yoga teachers training might be helpful.
what else? I'm going to add your suggestions to a blog post somewhere eventually.
When you teach bellydance, the resources are scarce. Can we list what teacher resources are available? (What I'd like to list are not SPECIFIC METHODS, like Fat Chance teacher training, but generalized teaching resources for Middle Eastern dance that apply to any style and method.)
I found the following:
BOOKS/PRINT RESOURCES
1. Taaj's book Beyond Bellydance Moves
Amazon.com: Belly Dance Beyond Moves, Combos, and Choreography 82 Lesson Plans, Games, and Exercises to Make Your Classes Fun, Productive and Profitable (9780557426720): Taaj: Books
This is a book full of exercises and games for your students, grouped by concept (dynamics, stage presence, level changes, etc.) I love this and consider it the best $25 I've ever spent on teacher training. Seriously -- spend the money. The exercises are completely customizable, with so many options, that you could teach for 5 years using nothing but the concepts in the book, and STILL not run out of material.
2. Kawakib's book Guide to Teaching Middle Eastern Dance is short but worth a look. Check it out here (at the bottom): Bellydance by Anthea: Kawakib's Dance Tips
3. Amaya Felice's Belly Dance: The Teacher's Book. This is the only book I've ever actually sent back to Amazon. The translation is a disaster and the only advice the book seems to offer is "teach basic moves first." Don't waste your money.
Amazon.com: Belly Dance: The Teacher's Book: Methodology, guidance and didactic resources (9781450507479): Amaya Felices, Maria Falces: Books
4. Not MEDance specific, but Creative Dance for all Ages was recommended to me. I haven't bought it yet. Amazon.com: Creative Dance for All Ages: A Conceptual Approach (9780883145326): Anne Green Gilbert, Helen P. Smith: Books
DISTANCE EDUCATION TEACHER TRAINING PROGRAMS
1. Shemiran Ibhrahim has a How To Teach Bellydance teacher training package available (and on sale now!) Belly Dance Teacher Training DVD - Resource for Belly Dance Teachers and Students
I ordered this, and although I haven't fully explored it, I think it's especially great for the first-time teacher. She also supplies you with a syllabus, student handouts, a full description of how to teach the movements, and a class breakdown of how much time should be spent on what. Teachers with some experience in the classroom may not find it as valuable, especially if you already have your syllabus, but I still learned from it, and I'm in the process of producing my own handouts and handbooks, based on what she provides here. The content is movement-based, Egyptian Cabaret style, but you could argue that what she describes here is the basic movement breakdown for all bellydance.
Shemiran also offers in person teacher training, and travels throughout the world to do the training.
2. Taaj also has The Belly Dance Trainer, a distance-education teacher training program:
The Belly Dance Trainer Certification Program- Syllabus
The syllabus looks really good and you can buy individual modules. This is now done entirely online. I'm very very pleased with the content on this one. There is no movement-based description, so it's applicable for both Tribal and Cabaret teachers. The content is entirely "how to teach" and how to structure a class, with sections on musicality, rhythmic training (and how to teach that to your students) and teaching choreography skills and improvisation skills.
3. Dolphina's online "training" program: Teacher Training | GoddessLife
I'm ONLY listing this to be thorough. I can't imagine what on earth she "teaches" and the fact that she's certifying anybody of anything is ridiculous, but here it is. She also offers in-person training. For the online "program" you send her $500 and make a phone call, and she sends you a certificate. Ridiculous.
IN-PERSON TEACHER TRAINING PROGRAMS
CANADA
1. Hadia's Teacher Training: Hadia's New Site
Comes HIGHLY recommended by everyone who has attended.
2. Yasmina Ramzy and Arabesque Dance offers a teacher training with optional certification: Arabesque Teacher Certification
EGYPT
1. Dr. Hassan Khalil has a teacher training program that comes highly recommended: Prof. Dr. Hassan Khalil - ISOC - Cairo/Egypt
2. Raqia Hassan has teacher training workshops in December. Winter Course
3. Keti Sharif does her teacher training course in Cairo. I'm not sure if this is just teaching the A-Z method, or training in general: Intensive Courses - A-Z Bellydance on the Red Sea, Egypt
GERMANY
Beata and Horacio Cifuentes have teacher training in Berlin: CATT Training Berlin Certified Academic Teachers Training Semester Dates 2010 Berlin
SWEDEN
Samasen offers training in Stockholm: Lärarutbildning | Layali Orientaliska Dansakademi
THAILAND
MysticalDance teacher training in Thailand: Welcome to Mystical Belly Dance
UK
1. JWAAD UK teacher training program: Teacher Training - JWAAD
Comes highly recommended.
2. Mia Serra's UK Teacher Training: Belly Dance Teacher Training - Get certified
3. Learn Bellydance UK site: learnbellydance.co.uk - Bellydance teacher training
USA
1. Goddess Dancing Teacher Training: Teacher Training
I don't know anything about this.
2. Dance for the Soul teacher training: Dance for the Soul Teacher Training with Stefanie Masters
I don't know anything about this.
3. Delilah's Instructor Training: Delilah's Belly Dance Retreats: January 2006: Two Belly Dance Retreats with Delilah! for Belly Dance Instructors & Beginning to Intermediate Students www.delilahs-belly-dance-retreat.com
I have taken workshops with Delilah, but not on teacher training.
4. Oreet's SharQui program: SharQui The Bellydance Workout
Based on watching the dvds, it looks like it's not a specific method or style, but it is designed as a fitness program. Good for teachers who want to try a "Belly Fitness" gig at a local gym.
5. Venus Bellydance teacher training: Venus -Bellydance Workshops
6. Riskallah Riyad has a teacher training course called Footprints: a Journey Toward Teaching Excellence. Details here: Teacher Training
OTHER
1. Sahra Saeeda's Journey Through Egypt isn't specifically teacher training, but it will give you the cultural and historical knowledge necessary to become a good Middle Eastern dance teacher: JtE
2. Fitness Training Organizations like ACE: Become an ACE-certified personal trainer and maintain your personal training certification with the American Council on Exercise. Also offering, Group Fitness Instructor, Lifestyle and Weight Management Consultant and Advanced Health and Fitness Spec and AFAA: Personal Trainer Certification, Group Exercise Certification and Aerobics Certification - AFAA offer group fitness training and certifications that can be helpful for dance teachers.
3. Yoga teachers training might be helpful.
what else? I'm going to add your suggestions to a blog post somewhere eventually.
Last edited:
please consider yourself rep'd
