Class Descriptions

Experience the difference! White Lotus School of bellydance offers the most comprehensive Middle Eastern dance training & education availabe in Northern Arizona. We encourage community involement and offer something for everyone. Whether you are looking for a creative addition to your fitness goals, enjoy dancing as a recreational hobby, like dancing as a holistic practice or aspire to perform in one of our student ensemble showcase shows or are serious about training for a professional career in bellydance (performing or teaching), we have classes and a track of learning made just for you!

Our curriculum is segmented into  into three paths of learning ; Technique, Performance & Fitness. Studying all three tracks of learning is optimum for students with performance goals. The development of  unique style while capturing the authentic flavor of the dance & music is an integral focus of  our  curriculum. See below for complete class style and level descriptions. See class schedule for current schedule 

Technique classes (T)
Class structure includes warm ups, clear movement breakdowns, movement drills and integration of movements through short dance combinations, skill building exercises & education in dance theory. Although strict choreography is not taught in technique classes, choreographic sequences & essential performing & stage dynamics will be taught.

Performance Classes (P)
Class structure includes, warm ups, breakdown of technique & dance combinations for use in improvisational peformances & Choreographies taught in the performance classes. The performance oriented classes focus on teaching students Choreographies, theory and many skill building excersises that cultivate the development of dance artistry & individual performance skills appropriate for the students current skill level.  Dancers take a more focused approach to the skill development as they explore concepts  & theories of stage presence & persona, choreography theory, development of improvisational skills, musicality and more. All students taking performance class must also be enrolled in one additional technique class weekly. 

Belly-Basics (Beginners Technique)
This course is designed for students new to belly dance or seeking a belly dance refresher. No dance experience necessary. Students will learn basic belly dance technique, including posture, shimmies, isolations, undulations, traveling steps, beginning level finger cymbal instruction with breakdown of musical timing & simple dance combinations. Class will include a brief introduction to the history, context, and philosophy of belly dance and  provides students with a solid foundation to build upon.

Beginning-Intermediate  Technique & Choreography/Performance class
Designed for students who’ve achieved proficiency with beginners technique material and wish learn choreographed dances for stage performance. Master a choreography that draws upon the Beginners technique curriculum as you begin your focus on theintermediate technique curriculum. . Begin exploring Middle Eastern music rhythms and structure through Simple Choreographies & improvisation exercises that are taught in this class. Prerequisite: 1st & 2nd year students with Proficiency in beginners level 1 technique.

 Intermediate  Technique class
Dancers begin a more focused approach to classial bellydance form, technical precision and learing to use movement to their full potential as students practice more intense isolation drills with layering to bring body strength, coordination & endurance to the next level. Drill ’spacial awareness’ exersises for group choreographies, Learn rhythm based movements & solo dance combinations, deepen your understanding of middle eastern musicality & how to dance in relation to the music while begining a more focuses approach to improvisational skills & creating your own dance combinations. Class includes  intermediate finger cymbal instruction, stage space utilization, awarenss of dynamics, the development of artitry and more. Prerequisite: Second year students who have gained proficiency of  beginners level curriculum & have completed a minimum of 6 months of beg-intermedite technique/choroegraphy classes.

 Advanced -Intermediate  Performance/Choreography class
learning more intricate movement vocabulary. Advanced intermediate layering techniques,  Refinement of technique through learning advanced- intermediate combinations & choreographies.  Emphasis is placed on spins, entrance steps, speed , layering & the development of performance presence, persona, body carriage, rhythmic & musical interpretation. Prerequisite: Second & third year students who have gained proficiency of Intermediate  technique curriculum

Advanced Bellydance (Technique & Performance)
For dancers in their 3rd year of training or higher who have mastered proficiency in the Intermediate level 2 curriculum &  desire to learn the ins and outs of creating and performing full traditional style bellydance routines and theatrical shows. Learn advanced dance combinations,choreographies, advanced hand & arm placement,  advanced zill patterns including 6/8 & 9/8 rhythms,  stage space utilization, stage presence, mastery of dance artistry and more. Prerequisite: 3rd year students with proficiency in the entire intermediate teachnique & choroegraphy curriculum .
 

Tribal Bellydance Classes

Beginners Tribal Style bellydance -levels 1 & 2 (Technique)
Learn the basics of the White Lotus Format of Improvisational Tribal Style (ITS) bellydance. This class is suited for the beginner dancer & includes beginning level slow moves, fast moves, spins, turns, steps, beginning combinations & queues with a focus on group performance. This class is the prerequisite for enrollment in the intermediate tribal improvisation class and for performance opportunities with the Carries White Lotus Bellydance company 

Intermediate Tribal Style Bellydance -levels 1 &2 (Technique & Performance)
The focus of this class is on the group dynamic and learning the White Lotus format of improvisational tribal bellydance (ITS). Dancers strengthen the performance skills needed for performing improvisational group dances as they expand there knowledge through learning queuing techniques and more complex combinations and interactive group formations . Enrollment is upon approval from the director/instructor, Carrie Konyha. Must have a solid foundational knowledge and skill of basic bellydance developed. Prerequisite: Proficiency in  the Beginner levels 1 & 2 White Lotus tribal format

Advanced Tribal
Dancers take a re focused approach to leading dance moves & combinations as they learn  advanced dance combinations & techniques for improvisationsal goup formations. Explore dancing to  9/8 rhythms and playing complex patterns on your finger cymbals. Prerequisite: Proficiency in Beginning & Intermediate levels of the White Lotus Tribal format.

Fitness Classes

Spicey Bellydance Fitness class! (Mixed level Technique)
Practice weekly conditioning for maintaining a solid movement foundation in a full hour of non-stop bellydance movement. Designed to build strength, balance, flexibility, endurance, muscular control ,precision & whole body awareness, this class includes belly dance movement drills, dance combinations, core strengthening exercises & a yogic cool down. A fun & sexy fitness class!