After a short warmup and long technique flow, this class teaches and practices a lyrical sequence set to music adapted from Rimsky-Korsakov’s “Scheherezade,” specially arranged for Oriental Dance. Lyrical Fantasy is designed for students at or above an intermediate level, and runs just an hour.

...

Once you’ve reached an advanced level, you have a good technical command of most belly dance vocabulary, but is your instinct for transitions equally developed? In this class, we’ll learn and practice an intricate sequence of detailed isolations, finding new pathways between moves, and putting th...

Put a “velvet glove” on your drum solo, and learn a complete choreography that commands attention without aggressive styling or hard edges. Going light on the shimmies and locks, we’ll instead use a mixture of crisp and juicy movements that reflect the musicality of the drum, showcasing isolation...

Today we’re starting at the end, learning the finale of the drum solo. Moving backwards allows us to always start choreography run-throughs with material we just learned. To see the full dance, please visit Part 8, the last video in this series.
Bookmarks for Ismail Lesson 1

0:01 Technique Flow ...

Building on last week, we move forward/backward in the choreography to Section R, and add R, S, T, U, and V. Also: saguaro arms.
Bookmarks for Ismail Lesson 2

0:23 Arm Technique Flow
0:24 Music: “Ra Returns” by Bella Gaia
4:07 Music: “Azzuri” by Middle Earth Ensemble
7:15 Technique Flow
8:47 Mus...

In this lesson: N, O, P, and Q.
Bookmarks for This Program

:09 Music: Caravan to Cairo
:10 Arm Technique Flow
3:12 Music: “Al Hinna,” Sherefe
5:30 Technique Flow
9:57 Music: “Ganil Hawa,” B. and H. Cifuentes
17:08 Music: “Ciftetelli Takasim 2,” Bellydance NY
22:28 Music: “Ya Ain Mulayatain,” Bel...

Lesson 4 covers sections I, J, K, L, and M.
Bookmarks for This Program

0:09 arm technique flow
0:20 Music: Karuna
3:55 technique flow
9:10 Music: Caravan to Cairo
12:54 Music: Ganil Hawa
20:03 Music: Bir Demet
23:32 Music: Ala Nar
29:37 Demo IJKLM
31:00 LM: Demo
31:29 LM: Step-by-Step
34:53 M: V...

In lesson 5, we cover sections C, D, E, F, G, and H.
Bookmarks for This Program

0:01 Music: Ra Returns
0:02 Arm Technique Flow
3:40 Music: Azzuri
4:06 Technique Flow
8:20 Music: Ottoman Lobotomy
13:29 Music: Ya Ain Mulayatein
17:14 Music: Arainia
21:56 Music: Caravan to Cairo
25:07 Music: Bir De...

We’re at the finish line! In this final class, we learn sections A and B. To make repeat practice more convenient, the full choreography is split out into a separate video. After you finish this lesson, practice the full dance by following along with Slow Choreography Practice or Regular Speed Ch...

The full choreography at reduced speed, danced to the mirror for you to follow along. No cues--music and dance only.

The full Ismail Choreography, at full speed, performed to the mirror, for you to follow along. This is dance and movement only, no cues.

You know how when you really know a move, you barely have to think about it, or really you don’t even think about it at all, your body just does it for you? This program will help you to build more of that body wisdom, and to cultivate it not just in moves but in the flow between moves, in transi...

You know how when you really know a move, you barely have to think about it, or really you don’t even think about it at all, your body just does it for you? This program will help you to build more of that body wisdom, and to cultivate it not just in moves but in the flow between moves, in transi...