Schedule of Sera's Bellydance Classes in New York City:
Class will begin the week of April 14th. Enrollment is now open, meaning you can email Sera to reserve a space in class. If you were enrolled in the last session, you are encouraged to continue with your same class as new material will be presented in each class. If you are not on Sera's mailing list, please send a request to be added to:
Sera@seradance.com
(For questions, email: Sera@seradance.com)
Spring Session Begins April 14th
_________________Beginner IThursdays 7:45-9:00_________________ |
_______________________Schedule of BI classes for Spring Session: (no class September 4th) ________________________ |
_________________Beginner II
Mondays, 6:30-7:45_____________________ |
________________________
Schedule of BII classes for Spring Session: Meeting April 14th, 21 (no class April 28th) May 5, 12, 26 (no class May 19) June 2, 9, 16, 23 (no class June 30) Sneak-peak at Summer Session Schedule: July 7th, 14, 21, (no class July 28th) August 4, 11, 18, (no class Aug 25th) September 8, 15, (drop-in sep. 22, no class sep 1st) ________________________
|
_________________Low-IntermediateThursdays, 6:30-7:45________________ |
________________________Schedule of Low-int classes for Spring Session: May 8, 15, 29 (no class May 1st, 22nd) (no class September 4th) ________________________ |
_________________Intermediate/AdvancedMondays, 7:45-9:00________________ |
_________________________
Schedule of Int/adv. classes for Spring Session: Meeting April 14th, 21 (no class April 28th) May 5, 12, 26 (no class May 19) June 2, 9, 16, 23 (no class June 30) Summer Session Schedule: July 7th, 14, 21, (no class July 28th) August 4, 11, 18, (no class Aug 25th) September 8, 15, (drop-in sep. 22, (no class sep 1st) _________________________ |
___________________________________________
Location:
The Arch
66 West 39th Street, at 6th avenue
3rd floor
New York, NY 10018
_____________________________________________________
Descriptions:
Sera's Bellydance classes focus on technique and concise movement as well as expressive movement. Sera strives to develop strong, individual, confident dancers through the development of strength, control, and flexibility, posture, stamina, and a sense of beauty and grace through movement. Sera's styling is contemporary and challenging. Her movements are rooted in Tribal Fusion Bellydance, drawing from ballet, Modern, Jazz, hip-hop, and ATS tribal to make a blend of what she calls East Coast Tribal. Classes are upbeat, focused, and move continuously.
Beginner I:
Learn the foundation of Bellydance through technique, muscle development, and dance movement. This class is an absolute beginners course in Bellydance in which you will discover your innate sense of grace and confidence, and the potential you have to develop the dancer in you in a fun and safe environment. You will find that learning to bellydance is very challenging, but if you are patient with yourself, you can do it. It is suggested to take this session for 3 times in a row before advancing to the next level, to build a solid foundation. A simple choreography will be taught throughout the session for optional participation in a student recital/party at the end of the session.
Low-Intermediate:
Build on the the foundation you have established. This class is for dancers who have already taken bellydance classes and want to focus on technique, and have a clear understanding of the basic movements of Bellydance. Dance movement, posture, muscle development and control will establish your path towards dancing with strength, poise, confidence, and joy. Before taking this class, you should have a strong understanding of: Umi hip circle, horizontal figure 8s, chest slides/lifts/drops, hip lifts/drops, A choreography will be taught throughout the session for optional participation in a student recital/party at the end of the session.
Intermediate:
Continuing your path towards becoming a bold, confident, dancer. This class will focus on the development of styling, muscle control, grace, strength, stamina, dance movement and confidence. This class is for those who feel they have a strong foundation in Bellydance, and want to meet the challenge of becoming a better dancer. Before taking this class, you should be able to do a 3/4 shimmy, a figure 8 with your chest, low-body undulation, body wave, popping arms, layered movements with upper and lower body, and choreography. A choreography will be taught throughout the session for optional participation in a student show at the end of the session.
Drills:
(not yet offered this session, we are waiting for a space for Tuesdays: 6:30-7:30)
In this class, we work on drilling all of the movements of the other classes, and we will occasionally work with movements outside of the typical bellydance vocabulary. We will attempt to meet a high level of physical challenge with movements and combinations. For participation in this class, you should be enrolled in one other of Sera's classes. There will be NO time spent on break-down of movements. We will be dancing continuously so as to increase stamina, strength and flexibility. The last 10 minutes will be spent stretching and strength training.
This class will not be performing in the next show.
Student Recital/show/party!!!!!
A performance gives us a fun goal to work towards. The student show will be an informal, safe environment for dancers to feel a sense of community and fun. Each class level will perform as well as Sera and possible guests, followed by open dancing and snacks. This is a great opportunity for you to build confidence. It is completely optional, but at least come to see the show.
Price:
For 9-week SPRING session (see schedule above). Payment up-front is required. No drop-in classes available (although you may make-up missed classes!!!), no refunds (as your reservation may turn someone else away)
All classes are:
$145 CASH on the first day of class
OR
$155 check on the first day of class
OR
$155 Paypal
(please note, Sera's classes have increased in price by $1 per class. Plus, the session is 9 weeks instead of 8 weeks (to lead us up to July 4th weekend). There are NO drop-in classes this session.
Either way you pay, you MUST reserve a spot by emailing Sera at sera@seradance.com.
You can pay by paypal here (not yet updated, but will be soon): PAYPAL
Or, you may also bring check or CASH :) to the first class, however, you must confirm your place in the class (via email to Sera@seradance.com) before the start of the first class.
Please do not confirm your place in the class unless you truly intend to show up.
These
are private classes. Please do not come to class unless you have
received a confirmation from Sera. If you don't receive a confirmation
via email then you may call 917-922-9081. All other inquiries please email: Sera@seradance.com.
Once classes begin, there will be NO refunds, as others may be turned away due to space limitations.
Additional expenses:
If you choose to participate in the performance, there will be additional expenses. We will hold drop-in classes which are similar to regular classes but for performers only. We could have up to 3 drop-in classes for performers before a show. Drop-in classes are $20 which is at most $5.00 more then what you pay for enrollment classes. The additional cost is created to offset the absence of the other class members who are not participating. Classes sometimes form study-groups who work without Sera. In this case usually the expense is only for the studio space which is usually $5 each or so.
Costuming for the performance can be expensive, or you can do it cheaply...but it usually costs at least $40 to create a costume, unless you already have something funky in your closet.
If there is a point in which you find that you are not participating in a class or performance due to the cost, please discuss it with Sera to talk about a payment plan, or doing a trade of some sort (babysitting, or help with class, etc.) as we do not want to exclude members of the community due to their financial status. At the same token, it is important that you understand that in order to create a show of choreography it is a full time job that is much more complex then offering a straight-up bellydance class without choreography. The work outside of class is only worth it if the instructor can be sustained from doing this work. The performance offers many opportunities for you to grow as a dancer, but if you feel that it is not worth paying for, there are many other great teachers in this city that I strongly encourage you to look into. It is important to know the difference between not being able to afford something, and not wanting to pay for something.
Make-up Classes:
During the 8 week session, you may make-up up to TWO missed classes by attending any of the other classes. Make-up classes must be made up before the end of the session, no carry-over into a following session or into drop-in classes, and no refunds for missed classes. Please do not ask for an exception. I truly wish I could accomodate everyone, but I must be fair. Thank you for understanding.
Class attire:
Please wear exercise clothing or dance-wear. Tight fitting stretch clothes are good for viewing muscle movements. A scarf on the hips is helpful for hip movements but is not necessary. Be prepared to sweat. We usually dance with bare feet, although ballet shoes, half-soles, or hermes sandals are quite acceptable. Wear what makes you feel good. But please don't wear jeans or tight skirts (unless you forgot your dance clothes, in that case please come anyway). There is a bathroom in our studio and a changing area just outside the bathroom. There is usually a line for the bathroom just before class so try to come early.
Other Information:
Sera will usually have her baby in class (with a baby sitter). Sometimes the baby will cry. Please have patience. This is the only way that Sera can afford to be a bellydance teacher.
If for any reason Sera will need to miss class at the last minute, an email will be sent on the day of class (or as soon as possible). In this case, the class session will extend one week (into the drop-in class week)
Some rules:
No observers allowed in the class. This includes your best friend, or your mother, or someone visiting from out-of-town. If you are in the class, you should be dancing or babysitting. If you are sitting out because you are feeling tired, that is acceptable. Just no outside observers.
Please don't bring your dinner to class. Chocolates at the END of class are quite welcome, but let's try to save snacks for AFTER we dance. Gum-chewing is discouraged as well (it is not safe, and it is a crutch for your nervous energy).
If you want to participate in the performance, you do need to be at the rehearsals before the performance.
Students are asked NOT to correct other students in movement. If you see someone doing a movement differently what is being instructed, you may address it to the teacher, but not to the class member.
It is important to have a supportive, safe, non-competitive, environment where dancers can express all that they are. We are interested in breaking RULES and tradition. We are interested in pushing our own boundaries and daring to do things in a new and different way. For this reason, I feel that it is very important that we keep negative comments to ourselves. I ask that you do not participate in gossip or criticism of other dancers. We can always find something wrong or something to pick on, but doing so only draws us into a judgemental and defensive state of being. It is easy to bond with someone over a negative perspective, but doing so only perpetuates your own depressed state-of-being. I challenge you to look only at what you love in others, and to actively find the things you love in the other dancers. As our community grows, it is vital that we don't find ourselves creating cliques, or building a negative perspective of our experience. I believe we are all here for different reasons, and we are all doing our very best. We have all worked very hard to build what we have. Our community is a beautiful thing. Let's keep it that way by choosing to invest our positive energy and love and honor into it. Let's take care of eachother by showing support.
With Love,
Sera