Jewels of the Desert
A Premiere Middle Eastern Dance Troupe
A Premiere Middle Eastern Dance Troupe
Classes
Classes are taught in two locations in Southern California.
Sariana teaches an Advanced Bellydance/Performance Preparation class at Oasis Dance Studio in Highland, California, Thursday evenings from 5:30 - 6:30 p.m. Classes are taught in six-week sessions. For more information see their web site at www.oasisdancestudio.net for class schedule and fees.
In Yucca Valley, bellydance classes are taught by Aminah and held on Wednesday evenings at the Yucca Valley Community Center. Beginning Bellydance is taught from 6:00 - 7:00 p.m. and Advanced Beginning Bellydance is from 7:00 - 8:00 p.m. Class instruction is organized into 6-week sessions. Students can pre-register for class in person at the Community Services office Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m., or online at www.yucca-valley.org. For more information call the Community Services Department at (760) 369-7211.
Can't make the classes or don't live in the area? You can find a teacher directory organized by location at www.mecda.org. There are also many instructional DVDs available, please see the Shopping section on the Links page for vendors. Ansuya, from Bellydance Superstars, teaches online classes from her home studio in Florida. You can view a free class online at www.ansuya.com before signing up for weekly classes.
How Do I Join the Troupe?
Jewels of the Desert East (Yucca Valley) holds troupe practices on Tuesday evenings from 5:30 - 7:30 p.m. at the Yucca Valley Community Center, Cholla Room. Jewels of the Desert is an intermediate/advanced level troupe and participation is by invitation only. Troupe members should have goals of developing performance technique, stage personality, ensemble and solo dance experience, and enjoying the camaraderie of women dancing together. A troupe fee of $15 per member is due at the first practice of each month which covers the rental of the room and liability insurance.
Jewels of the Desert West (Highland) practices on Thursdays during class time, and anyone signed up for the advanced level class may participate in the troupe.
Prism, a beginning level troupe, is available for students in Aminah's Wednesday evening class so that they can have opportunties to perform in informal settings before moving up to the advanced level troupe.
Sariana teaches an Advanced Bellydance/Performance Preparation class at Oasis Dance Studio in Highland, California, Thursday evenings from 5:30 - 6:30 p.m. Classes are taught in six-week sessions. For more information see their web site at www.oasisdancestudio.net for class schedule and fees.
In Yucca Valley, bellydance classes are taught by Aminah and held on Wednesday evenings at the Yucca Valley Community Center. Beginning Bellydance is taught from 6:00 - 7:00 p.m. and Advanced Beginning Bellydance is from 7:00 - 8:00 p.m. Class instruction is organized into 6-week sessions. Students can pre-register for class in person at the Community Services office Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m., or online at www.yucca-valley.org. For more information call the Community Services Department at (760) 369-7211.
Can't make the classes or don't live in the area? You can find a teacher directory organized by location at www.mecda.org. There are also many instructional DVDs available, please see the Shopping section on the Links page for vendors. Ansuya, from Bellydance Superstars, teaches online classes from her home studio in Florida. You can view a free class online at www.ansuya.com before signing up for weekly classes.
How Do I Join the Troupe?
Jewels of the Desert East (Yucca Valley) holds troupe practices on Tuesday evenings from 5:30 - 7:30 p.m. at the Yucca Valley Community Center, Cholla Room. Jewels of the Desert is an intermediate/advanced level troupe and participation is by invitation only. Troupe members should have goals of developing performance technique, stage personality, ensemble and solo dance experience, and enjoying the camaraderie of women dancing together. A troupe fee of $15 per member is due at the first practice of each month which covers the rental of the room and liability insurance.
Jewels of the Desert West (Highland) practices on Thursdays during class time, and anyone signed up for the advanced level class may participate in the troupe.
Prism, a beginning level troupe, is available for students in Aminah's Wednesday evening class so that they can have opportunties to perform in informal settings before moving up to the advanced level troupe.
Class Information and Etiquette
We want you to have a fun and fulfilling experience in our classes! We hope that these guidelines will help make your experience a positive one. Our goal is to provide a supportive and fun environment for you to cultivate the art of bellydance. We look forward to sharing the joy of dance with you!
Wear whatever makes you feel beautiful and enjoy celebrating your body! Comfortable dance clothing such as stretch pants and a close-fitting sports/tank top or t-shirt is recommended for dance technique correction. If you wear clothing that is too loose the teacher will not be able to see if you are executing the movements correctly.
A hip scarf is highly recommended to help see your movements better. Hip scarves are sometimes available for sale in class, but you can also use a large scarf, shawl or evening wrap. You can dance in bare feet, ballet or rubber-soled jazz shoes, but no tennis shoes because they do not give your feet adequate freedom of movement.
Other class supplies, such as veil and finger cymbals, will be required later on in your instruction. If you want to make your own veil purchase 3 yards of chiffon, silk or lightweight flowing material and hem the edges.
Please arrive to your class promptly so you will not disrupt the class in session. For your own safety warm up in the corner of the classroom if you are late before joining the instruction in progress.
Questions directed to the instructor are encouraged, but please do not talk in class. Also we ask that you turn off your cell phones or set them to vibrate so they do not disrupt the other students.
Please do not chew gum in class!
Visitors are not allowed in the room during class, except parents escorting minors, as this can make some beginning students uncomfortable.
Work at your own pace and listen to your body. Do not do anything that causes pain. If you find that you are in pain during or after class, please notify the instructor immediately. If you have pre-existing injuries or physical limitations, or if you are pregnant, consult your doctor before taking class.
We want you to have a fun and fulfilling experience in our classes! We hope that these guidelines will help make your experience a positive one. Our goal is to provide a supportive and fun environment for you to cultivate the art of bellydance. We look forward to sharing the joy of dance with you!
Wear whatever makes you feel beautiful and enjoy celebrating your body! Comfortable dance clothing such as stretch pants and a close-fitting sports/tank top or t-shirt is recommended for dance technique correction. If you wear clothing that is too loose the teacher will not be able to see if you are executing the movements correctly.
A hip scarf is highly recommended to help see your movements better. Hip scarves are sometimes available for sale in class, but you can also use a large scarf, shawl or evening wrap. You can dance in bare feet, ballet or rubber-soled jazz shoes, but no tennis shoes because they do not give your feet adequate freedom of movement.
Other class supplies, such as veil and finger cymbals, will be required later on in your instruction. If you want to make your own veil purchase 3 yards of chiffon, silk or lightweight flowing material and hem the edges.
Please arrive to your class promptly so you will not disrupt the class in session. For your own safety warm up in the corner of the classroom if you are late before joining the instruction in progress.
Questions directed to the instructor are encouraged, but please do not talk in class. Also we ask that you turn off your cell phones or set them to vibrate so they do not disrupt the other students.
Please do not chew gum in class!
Visitors are not allowed in the room during class, except parents escorting minors, as this can make some beginning students uncomfortable.
Work at your own pace and listen to your body. Do not do anything that causes pain. If you find that you are in pain during or after class, please notify the instructor immediately. If you have pre-existing injuries or physical limitations, or if you are pregnant, consult your doctor before taking class.
