Spring shimmies!

Whew, holidays are over, January is almost a blur and it's that time of year to brush off your shimmies or start them up for the first time. That's right, it's time for classes to begin again!

My Spring Session I begins on January 31 and runs through March 21, 2010. Just enough time to get everyone prepared for our second Hip Circle Hafla, a student recital, featuring my students as well of those of Bahaia and Stacey Lizette.

Both the Beginner and Intermediate level classes include a 30 minute drill/warm-up, a 15 minute stretch and 45 minutes of technique, combinations or choreography (depending upon the topic). Classes are held in central Austin at Tarrytown Dance, which is conveniently located at Windsor and Exposition. (2414 Exposition Blvd., Suite B-110 Austin, Texas 7703) Class rates are $15 drop-in, or $12 a class if purchasing more than one class at time.

• Beginner Classes: A perfect way to start your shimmies, or brush up on fundamental techniques. This spring, in additional to working on basic belly dance moves, we’ll be learning a short choreography. No previous experience required. Sundays, 5:00 p.m. to 6:30 p.m.
• Intermediate Classes: Continue to explore this dance form and learn improvisational skills and solo techniques. This spring we’ll be learning more about Middle Eastern culture and dance as well as learning a debke choreography. Sundays, 6:30 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.

Jukebox Belly Dance

Baharat, my student troupe is growing and changing a bit. It's become Baharat Dance Ensemble and includes my intermediate and advanced level students as well as guest dancers. This offers me the opportunity to invite dancers from the community to help me round out a choreography or work on special projects. It's a belly dance hook-up of sorts! Short term commitment, no other strings attached...fun and excitement for everyone.

The debut of the ensemble will be January 22, 2010 at Austin's Belly Dance Association (ABA) Jukebox show. This show features ABA members bellydancing to all non-Middle Eastern music. Think rock, pop, techno, country...whatever they want! The exciting news is, we'll be closing the show and we've worked sooooo hard on a Michael Buble number that will be the perfect ending for a fun and innovative evening.

Want to attend? Well, if you are already an ABA member, you and your invited guest get in free to the "I Survived the Holidays" party in the lobby from 6:30-8:00, where ABA will have snacks, drinks, and the photo albums that have archived our long existence (28 years!) on display. Show starts at 8pm, doors open to the public for ticket sales at 7:30pm, at the Dougherty Arts Center, 1110 Barton Springs Rd.