Sydney’s favourite belly dancing classes:
for fun, friends and fitness
Feel Fabulous,
Be Inspired!
Our classes are fun, friendly and inspiring. Come with a friend or alone - unlike other dance forms, no partner is required. So give yourself the gift of an hour a week that's just for YOU to feel feminine and gorgeous!
There is no upper age limit: our oldest current student just turned 90, and I've heard of 100-year-old dancers! If you need a self esteem boost, a belly dance class is a great way to do it. Please also check out the Bellydance At Any Size Manifesto. We believe that "everyone has a right to move their bodies in a safe and comfortable environment regardless of their age, weight, shape, ability or activity-level. Belly dance activity should not be an exception."
“Bellydancing is a beautiful way to connect with our feminine, creative, sensual energy. The dancing feels liberating and joyful. Belly dancing is also a fun way to strengthen the core muscles and helps you to relax and unwind after a busy day at work. Even if you think you can’t dance, Rachel breaks down each move so that they are easy to follow and anyone can do them. It’s soul inspiring - I love it!!”
What is Belly Dancing?
Despite the name, bellydance isn’t about your belly. There are many names for this dance and its regional variations, including Oriental Dance, Egyptian Dance, Middle Eastern dance, raqs sharqi, raqs baladi, danse orientale. We use the term “bellydance” because it’s the most commonly understood here in Australia; but we invite you to help educate your friends and family to use these other (better!) terms.
No, it's not about harems or seduction! This dance goes far deeper than that. Belly dance began as a folk dance, long ago, in Egypt and surrounding areas. It was a dance of community and of celebration; it was how people partied at weddings and other important social gatherings, and a way of expressing oneself. It was something for everyone (men as well as women) to participate in, regardless of age or skill. And in some communities, bellydance remains all of these things.
Only in about the past century has it been refined and put on the stage as something for audiences to watch. Now, we see elements of western dance (eg ballet) being combined with the traditional hip- and torso-focussed movements to create a more visually exciting look. (The two-piece costumes commonly seen nowadays are also a modern invention.) Modern bellydance is beautiful, expressive, and has a rich repertoire of moves using all parts of the body, from the head to the toes.
Bellydance isn't as easy as you might think, but it's hugely rewarding. On the physical level, exercises in class can improve your co-ordination, body awareness, core strength, posture, flexibility and more. There are mental and emotional benefits as well, including enhancing body image, creative expression, memory, spatial awareness and even alleviating depression.
Check out our students and classes in action!
One of many performances by our fabulous students.
“Thanks for introducing me to bellydance, thanks for creating a comfortable, friendly environment in which to learn, giving me great opportunities to perform and to grow and for believing in me so I actually believe in myself. Thanks for creating Inspire! Bellydance - it’s a beautiful community of wonderful and amazing women. I feel privileged to know each and every one of you!”
About our Belly Dance classes
Make new friends and improve your fitness as you learn a new skill and discover another culture. Be inspired to find the joy and passion in dance! You'll also gain an appreciation of Middle Eastern culture, and perhaps a penchant for sequin-encrusted exotic costuming. You can also perform what you've learnt at regular events such as "Haflas" - Bellydance community events with teachers and students from around Sydney. Enrolled students also receive free access to videos that revise class content so you can practise at home.
The lessons also offer you a physical and mental challenge. Each class begins with a warm-up and grounding exercise to prepare the body and get you in the mood to dance. Typically, we then revise the previous week's steps, learn new moves, and put them together into short sequences. Some weeks will have more of a focus on technique, others on musicality and improvisation; some terms look at choreography, others focus on technique. Finally, we stretch out and cool down.
We place our focus on technique, safety, enjoyment and appreciation. Class sizes are small enough to guarantee individual attention so you can get your technique right from the very start. Mothers and daughters as young as 4 are welcome - it's a beautiful way to develop your relationship! Most of our studios do not have mirrors, so they are perfect for women who are not yet comfortable with their body image. Instead, we encourage you to explore how the moves feel from the inside, rather than how they look on the outside. This is the true essence of Egyptian Oriental dance (belly dance).
We teach Modern and classical Egyptian, Egyptian Folkloric, and contemporary bellydance styles.
Bellydance Fundamentals: Start here!
For dancers who are just starting, who’ve danced at home / socially but never taken formal lessons, or with less than one year’s class experience.
Bellydance Fundamentals courses teach you posture, basic moves and technique, and footwork, as well as short combinations to encourage your creativity and expression. We explore Arabic music and rhythms, and introduce you to musical interpretation.
Fundamentals Technique vs Routine:
At any given location and time-slot, courses usually alternate between technique (foundation concepts, core moves, musical interpretation and improvisation) and choreography, so you'll have the chance to try both and even perform if you wish. All Fundamentals courses are open to absolute beginners as well as those with some experience, and we recognise that you’re more likely to choose based on the convenience of the location, rather than the class content! However, if you’re choosing between two equally convenient classes, then a Technique term is probably a slightly easier place to begin your journey, especially if you don’t have any other dance experience.
Bellydance is fun, but it is also very deep. Mastering it is a lifetime’s work; even becoming confident on the basics takes a long time. That’s why we recommend taking Bellydance Fundamentals classes for at least one year. Over that time, you’ll study Foundation Technique twice, and learn at least 2 different routines. Most dancers by that time are ready to challenge themselves further; but you can stick with Fundamentals as long as you like! Every time you come back to a move, take the opportunity to explore it more deeply and develop your control, grace, and ability to adjust the nuance and texture of the move. How’s your posture? What about arms and hands? And can you convey feeling through your face and body? Once you’ve nailed all of that, you might be ready for the next step.
How can I join?
Once enrolments open, the eligible classes will be listed here.
Open Level Bellydance: Some experience needed
LEVEL: 6 months+
For dancers with at least two courses of experience under their hip belt, so you’re familiar with the foundations.
If you choose a Folklore or Bellydance Fitness class, we recommend you also continue with a more standard Bellydance Fundamentals Technique or Choreography class so you continue to learn other aspects of the dance as well.
Beyond Beginners and Intermediate levels… and beyond
Upper level Bellydance courses are for students with at least a year of belly dancing class experience (though it depends on the individual; ask your teacher for advice on your level). There’s no upper limit to your experience level as we will keep you learning forever! Each term has a different topic, such as more complex technique; props such as sword or cane; folkloric styles; musical interpretation and more.
These courses will develop your dancing with a focus on more complex combinations and footwork, improvisation and musicality, and more advanced techniques that build on your key bellydance moves from Fundamentals classes. Depending on the level of classes, elements of Egyptian folkloric dance may be taught, as well as props such as veil, finger cymbals (also known as zills or sagat), stick (cane or assaya) and sword balancing.
Group performance opportunities are available at community events throughout the year.
Be warned: at this level you’re expected to put in plenty of practice in between classes.
1 year+: Once you’ve taken Fundamentals for at least a year, and can do all the foundation moves with confidence, control, and nuance, as well as having learnt and performed 2 or more Fundamentals level routines, you may be ready to upskill with ‘Beyond Beginners’. Once you’re here, you’ll continue to enjoy these classes for many years. We keep you learning and having fun by exploring the many aspects of the dance.
2 years+: Keep taking Beyond Beginners, because there’s no upper limit to the experience you will gain in these classes. Every term is different. But we do also offer an Intermediate level class, which moves slightly faster, has a higher level of assumed knowledge, and expects students to put in more practice time in between classes. Before you join Intermediate classes, you should have already completed a number of terms of Beyond Beginners; including a range of styles, props, regional variations and more; and be confident with BBs level moves such as camels, jewels, undulations, layered shimmies etc.
Don’t forget that the classes listed above (especially in the Open Level category) are also perfect for you!
Intermediate - Advanced Level
This class is available by invitation only, as we need to assess your skill level before you can join in. It’s offered both online and in person at our spacious Chatswood studio. Get in touch if you think this is the right class for you.