How To Choose a Belly Dance Teacher

Choosing a belly dancer instructor is risky business compared to other dance forms such as jazz or ballet. Unlike these other dance forms, there is no certification for belly dance instructors, nor is there a standardized terminology or method of teaching for belly dancing like there is for ballet or jazz and other dance disciplines.  This is because it is a cultural dance with various forms originating from over 20 Middle Eastern countries and other various regions. Each village has its own steps, traditions, and interpretations. It would be impossible to agree on a "right" way or names for steps.  Therefore, anyone can take a few belly dance lessons and begin teaching what they know. 

For these reasons, it is important to your training and future potential to know the approach and philosophy of a prospective instructor. If you miss out on important training, it is doubly hard to retrain, because you must undo what you've learned and relearn a more effective approach.

If the teacher is "showing you" the steps and you copy her, this is not belly dance technique and only visual learners will pick it up.  A good instructor teaches to different learning modalities (there are 7 types) so that everyone can learn and excel. A good instructor also teaches good posture and warm ups to avoid injury, and drills you in basic belly dance skills so you learn rapidly. How can you tell if you are speaking to a good instructor? Ask questions.

What kind of warm-ups do you do?

What is your basic technique like?

What is your philosophy of dance?

Do you teach to different learning styles?

If a student can't get the step, what do you do to help?

What else do you teach besides dance steps?

What posture do you teach?

Why I should choose you over all the other teachers in the area?

Ask to observe a class. There should be some technique, breakdown of the steps and drill. If the students are just "following the leader", your chances of becoming a good dancer will depend entirely on if you are a visual learner or if you are a "natural".

If you are just dancing for fun, why bother with all these concerns, just go have fun.  One word of caution though - belly dancing is addictive and many dancers soon find themselves hooked. If this happens to you, get a good belly dance instructor right away. You'll learn more and develop more of your own unique potential.

For more information about belly dancing technique go to Tips For a Flawless Technique

 

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