Adriana's Belly Dance Arts Centre: The oriental approach to dance - 12/01/2010

Australia can now welcome a taste of the Orient on its land, for with Adriana's Belly Dance Arts Centre, women of all ages and sizes can learn the beautiful art of belly dance to increase their flexibility and broaden their knowledge on different cultures.

Adrian, the principal of Bellywood and the head of Tasmania’s first belly dancing school, is ready to impart her 24 years of experience to teach women this kind of dancing along with helping them gain more self confidence in a fun and very mystic environment.

Classes focus mainly on Egyptian dance, however, some styles such as the Sha’abi, Baledi and Kahleegy from the Gulf regions may also be taught. Adriana has permission to teach different belly dancing aerobics and exercises in her class to ensure the flexibility of her students before they start learning the actual dance. Authentic dance props, like the assaya (the cane) and the sagat (finger cymbals) can be sold along with coin and beaded hip scarves specially imported from Egypt to add more to the realism of the environment.

Oriental drumming classes take place regularly to learn and practice the darabukka (Arabic drum) as well as create rhythms for dancers to move on. Workshops for this are available whenever guests decide to drop by the centre and conduct a session to teach their own skills.

Dance workshops are also conducted regularly, whether by Caroline Evanoff or some other guest teacher, to offer dancers more understanding of oriental music and dances so that, combined the dancers can choreograph their own steps eventually after they have done training at Adriana's Belly Dance Arts Centre.

In addition to conducting classes and workshops, Adraina and her team from Bellywood are also available for hire of entertainment at different functions and events, with Hens’ parties, birthdays and conferences being their specialties.