So you want to take a belly dance class, but you're not sure what to expect.  How do you find a teacher?  What should you wear?  What will class be like?

The first step, logically, is to find an instructor in your area.  It's really important to find a teacher who matches your needs.  Every student comes into the classroom for different reasons.  Do you want a cardio or fitness-based class, or are you more interested in learning a performance-based form?  There are actually many different styles within the world of belly dance (I'll save this for a future blog post), and you might not know what style you're most interested in.  That's OK; I encourage people to check out several different teachers when they first start out to discover what interests them and what teaching style "clicks" best.  Check shira.net for a really thorough listing of instructors in your area. 

Once you find your teacher, what's next?  A lot of students wonder what to wear to class.  For some reason people think that everyone bares their belly in the classroom, and that's definitely NOT the case.  Most people wear the same clothing you'd wear to a yoga class: yoga pants and a tank top/t-shirt.  My only advice is to avoid wearing anything super baggy since it's hard for the teacher to see your form. 

You may also want to purchase a hip scarf to wear during class.  This isn't critical, but most dancers will tie something around their hips.  Ask your teacher for advice; I personally do not like coined or beaded hip scarves since they make a lot of distracting noise and shed all over the place, leaving a mess on the floor that can create a hazard for other students.  I much prefer fringed fabric scarves. Some teachers have policies that only allow fabric scarves because of the hazards stated previously.  I found a few scarves at my local Marshall's or Target when fringed shawls were popular.  They can also be found on dahlal.com, a wonderful source for all things belly dance.  Additionally, lrosedesigns.com custom makes scarves (they also make skirts, pants and tops—great quality and a blessing for those of us with irregular inseams since these items are made to measure). 

Shoes aren't necessary, but I do feel that it's important to properly cover your feet to protect from whatever is on the floor.  Dance shoes also make it easier to spin and turn (more important as you progress into intermediate/advanced classes).  Here are a few types of shoes that work:

• Lyrical sandals.  These suede shoes only cover the ball of your foot.  They're great if you like to use your toes to grip the floor but want a little suede to aid in spinning/turning.
• Ballet slippers.  Full-coverage with a suede bottom; these are inexpensive and a great option for everyday classes.
• Hermes sandals.  These are lace-up shoes that fully cover the bottom of your foot with a suede sole.  A lot of dancers use these in performances because of the way they look.  The straps can be replaced with colored cords to match costumes, too!
• Jazz boots.  This is what I use in rehearsals and workshops because they cover my whole foot and have a hard rubber split sole.  The rubber is awesome on carpeted surfaces; I hate dancing with suede on a carpet because it builds up friction.  A lot of workshops will be held in hotel conference centers, which are carpeted. 
• Ballroom shoes.  Most beginning dancers do not begin with ballroom shoes.  These are what most dancers will wear during a performance because they match our glamorous costumes.  If you're looking for affordable ballroom shoes, I highly recommend Bold Expressions.  They custom make shoes in many styles and color combinations, so you can literally have a shoe for every costume! 

You can purchase any of these types of shoes at your local dance supply store or online.  I like to use Discount Dance Supply because they have great customer service and competitive prices.

Okay, so we know what to wear and what we might want to buy.  Now let's talk about a few small etiquette items. 

1. Don't talk when the instructor is explaining anything.  A no-brainer, you'd think, but a lot of people miss very important information because they're chatting with their friends.  It will also irritate the people around you!
2. A related item: if you're wearing a coin hip scarf, don't shimmy around while the instructor is talking.  Your jingling will distract your classmates!
3. Try to make sure everyone can see themselves in the mirror.  If you're in the front, just do a quick check to make sure the people behind you can see themselves...everyone wants to make sure they look nice while dancing, and it's a small thing that makes a big difference!
4. If the instructor offers correction, don't take it personally.  If you knew everything, you'd be the only person in the world with nothing to learn!  Corrections aren't meant to embarrass you, they're meant to make you a better dancer.  EVERYONE MAKES MISTAKES

The final and most important item to bring with you is a good attitude!  Have fun with your class and be willing to learn!  Not everything will come easily; this artform is MUCH more difficult than it looks.  But with hard work and a good attitude you'll be well on your way to becoming a great dancer. 

RECAP:

1. Wear comfortable yoga clothes
2. Dance shoes are optional but recommended
3. A hip scarf is the only investment you may want to make, but it's not required
4. Keep in mind general classroom etiquette
5. Bring your positive attitude

Good luck and HAVE FUN!

*DISCLAIMER: I am not affiliated with any of the vendors listed in this post or on this website.  Any endorsement is through my personal experience as a consumer.

For more information, visit www.safiyahdances.com