Times and Locations ~ Course Descriptions ~ FAQ
| Monday | Tuesday | Wednesday | Thursday | Saturday |
| Beginning Belly Dance in Citrus Heights (5:30 pm-6:30 pm) | Beginning Belly Dance in Rancho Cordova (6 pm- 7 pm) | Beginning Belly Dance in Elk Grove (6 pm- 7 pm) | Vinyasa Yoga in Carmichael (9 am-10:15) | |
| Jewels of the Nile Dance Company Practice (7 pm- 8:30 pm) | Beginning Belly Dance in Midtown (7:30 pm- 8:30 pm) | Beginning Belly Dance in Davis (8 pm-9 pm) | Intermediate Belly Dance in Midtown (7:30 pm- 8:30 pm) | Beginning Belly Dance in Arden Arcade (11 am-12 pm) |
Beginning Belly Dance Classes in Citrus Heights
Simply Music Studio
7531 Ste. A Madison Avenue
Mondays 5:30pm-6:30pm
$29/ 4 weeks or $10 drop in. Students can start any week since classes are not arranged into predetermined sessions. Please register in person 15 minutes before start of class. Cash or check only, please. This is a small class format. It is recommended that you email Kalila prior to first class to confirm spaces available.
Beginning Belly Dance Classes in Rancho Cordova
Riverview Community Center
916-362-1841
10700 Ambassador Drive
Tuesdays 6pm-7pm
$29/ 4 weeks or $10 drop in. Register online at www.crpd.com, in advance at the Hagan Community Center (2197 Chase Drive, Rancho Cordova), or in person 15 minutes before the first class. Advance registration is highly recommended.
Beginning Belly Dance Classes in Sacramento
Jodette's Belly Dance Academy
916-447-3793
2131 K Street
Tuesdays 7:30pm-8:30pm
$29/ 6 weeks or $10 drop in. Students can start any week since classes are not arranged into predetermined sessions. Sign up in person 15 minutes before start of class. Cash or check only please.
Beginning Belly Dance Classes in Elk Grove
Laguna Town Hall
3020 Renwick Ave
Thursdays 6pm-7pm
$29/ 4 weeks. Register online at yourcsd.com or by phone at 916-405-5300.
Beginning Belly Dance Classes in Arden Arcade
Address given upon registration
Saturdays 11:00am-12:00pm
$29/ 6 weeks. Students can start any week since classes are not arranged into predetermined sessions. Address will be given upon registration. New students must pre-register at Jodette's Belly Dance Academy (2131 K street). Continuing students may reregister before class. Cash or check only, please.
Beginning Belly Dance Classes in Davis
Pamela Trokanski Dance Workshop and Performing Arts Center
530-756-3949
2720 Del Rio Place
Wednesdays 8pm-9pm
Both drop-in and tuition is available. For tuition chart (based on number of classes per week) and more information, please visit Trokanski.com
Intermediate Belly Dance Classes in Sacramento
Jodette's Belly Dance Academy
916-447-3793
2131 K Street
Thursdays 7:30-8:30
Students will learn more advanced zil patterns, choreography, veil work, floor work, and aspects of performing.
$10 per class. Students must pay before each class at Jodette's Belly Dance Academy. Students can start any week since classes are not arranged into predetermined sessions. Cash or check only please.
Health Awakening Studio
9045 Fair Oaks Blvd
Saturdays 9am-10:15am
All courses at Health Awakening are on a donation basis. Students are encouraged to donate as much or as little as they are able. First time students are encouraged to arrive 15 minutes early to fill out activity waiver. Full course schedule and information can be found at HealthAwakeningStudio.com
Private Lessons
Kalila is available to teach private and semi-private lessons. Lessons are customized to meet the needs of the student and can cover choreography, use of props (veil, double veil, sword, tray, cane, candles, zils), performance preparation, personalized technique refinement, or just a private environment to learn the content of a regular beginning class. One time group classes are also available and are perfect for baby showers, bachelorette parties, girls night in, birthday parties, and more. To schedule a lesson with Kalila call Jodette's Belly Dance Academy at 916-447-3793 or email Kalila directly at kalila_raks@hotmail.com Fee Structure is as follows:
1 Student- $35/ hour
2-3 students or 1 student purchasing 2-3 lessons- $30 each student/ hour
4-6 students or 1 student purchasing 4-6 lessons- $25 each student/ hour
7-10 students or 1 student purchasing 7-10 lessons- $20 each student/ hour
11 or more students- $15 each student/hour
*Additional fees may apply for travel outside of Sacramento/ Modesto area.
Workshops
Kalila is available to teach workshops at your studio. Workshops are customized to meet the needs of the students and can cover a range of skills including finger cymbals, floorwork and/or prop balancing, Khaliji, Melaya, Saidi, and more! To book a workshop with Kalila call Jodette's Belly Dance Academy at 916-447-3793 or email Kalila directly at kalila_raks@hotmail.com
Beginning Belly Dance
This class is designed for non-dancers and/or those who have little or no belly dance experience. The class begins with an isolation warm up designed to get beginning dancers used to isolating the muscles that will be used in belly dance. We focus on one or two of these isolations each week by incorporating them into short combinations. We then go into variations on the basic movement being practiced. Each combination is first broken down into parts and practiced slowly. Then the combination is repeated several times to music. The class concludes with a stretch cooldown. Zils (finger cymbals) are optional (but highly recommended) for beginners, and basic zil practice is incorporated throughout the class.
Intermediate Belly Dance
Intermediate belly dance is designed for dancers who are preparing to perform or simply for dancers who are ready for a more challenging workout. The entire course is focused around creating a performance, be it for a public audience, an audience of close friends, an audience of one, or simply for yourself. The class begins with isolation warm ups and progresses through a series of choreographies. These will typically include the standard components of a performance such as veil work, drum solo, and taqsim, and may include more specialized skills such as folk dances or balancing depending on student needs and interest. Aspects of performance are woven throughout the class including the parts of a belly dance performance, details that seperate a professional dancer from a beginner, audience interaction, and music selection. More advanced zil patterns will be drilled and common middle eastern rhythms will be discussed. Veils and zils are mandatory for students at this level. Students in intermediate class are encouraged to wear their hair down and pulled back from the face with a scarf or headband since the hair is used during performance.
Yoga For Dancers
This class combines Vinyasa flow with elements of Iyengar, Kundalini and more to strengthen, lengthen, and balance. This class will improve overall posture, strengthen muscles, and increase range of motion. Special attention is given to proper anatomy and alignment to protect the joints and back and reduce risk of injury. Sweat is a desired outcome! So, bring a towel and water as well as a yoga mat. High quality mats available for sale in class. Appropriate for all levels.
Do I need to be a certain weight/fitness level/age/gender to belly dance?
I have had all kinds of students in my classes from children to grandmothers to women of widely varying weights to students with exceptionalities to teenage boys! Students should not feel they need to fit a certain mold to enjoy belly dance because everyone is welcome, and class is conducted in a low-key, supportive atmosphere. If a student has prior health issues, he or she should always consult a doctor before beginning any new exercise routine and he or she should not participate in any movements that cause pain. However, many people find health benefits in belly dance because it improves balance and posture by strengthening the core muscles, it releases stress, and it builds energy. Throughout the class, general variations are offered to the group as a whole which students may select if they are having difficulties. If the instructor is notified ahead of time of any conditions that may make certain movements difficult, she can work with you to create specific variations for difficult movements which will be offered during class without singling out any students.
What do I wear to class?
The most important thing is to be comfortable. In general fitted workout clothing that does not constrict movement is best because the instructor checks students throughout class for proper positioning, alignment, and movement. Extremely baggy clothing makes these things difficult to see. Some students wear clothing that shows their belly, and some do not. Most students dance barefoot, but ballet slippers, hermes sandals, or dance paws can be worn if a student prefers. Students in beginning class can wear their hair up or down (but out of the face). Students in intermediate class are encouraged to wear their hair down and pulled back from the face with a scarf or headband since the hair is used during performance. See below for questions regarding wearing coin scarves, veils, or zils.
Do I need finger cymbals/ a hip scarf/ a veil?
Hip scarves are optional, but they are encouraged. A scarf around the hips be it a coin scarf, a fringe scarf, or just a pretty piece of fabric can be helpful because it creates a clear horizontal line across the hips that makes it easy for students to check their hip alignment in the mirrors. Coin scarves create weight on the hips, and many beginners find it easier to "feel" the hip movements while wearing a coin scarf. In addition, coins can create auditory feedback. Students can literally hear the difference between sharp accents and slow fluid movements. A variety of scarves are available for purchase at all classes.
Finger cymbals are optional for the beginner, but they are highly recommended. Often beginning students make the mistake of postponing finger cymbals until they are intermediate students (or worse, until they are ready to perform.) Zils are an instrument, and like any instrument, they must be practiced. You CAN learn finger cymbals and basic movements at the same time if you are patient with yourself. Too often dancers who have postponed learning finger cymbals find that once they decide to learn them, they must relearn many basic movements in order to do them with finger cymbals. Save yourself frustration in the long run and learn them from the beginning! Finger cymbals are required for intermediate students and are available for purchase at all classes.
Veils are not generally used in beginning classes but are mandatory for intermediate students. Veils are available for purchase at all intermediate classes.
HELP! I've been to a class, and I can't coordinate my feet and hips and hands all at once!
Belly dance is like learning anything new. You will not be perfect your first time. Be forgiving of yourself and just have fun. It will all come together once you start to develop muscle memory, and that will take time. In a typical class combinations are taught in "layers." First the footwork is practiced, then hip or body movements may be added, then arm and hand movements are added, and finally details are added. If a student becomes "lost" at any point, it's ok to go back a step and just practice footwork for a while or just practice feet and hips. Add in the other layers once you feel comfortable. Which brings us to...
I want to learn belly dance for my senior project/an upcoming event.
That is fantastic! But again, be realistic with yourself. Unless you are superhuman, you will not emerge from a 4 week beginning class ready to perform, let alone as a belly dance expert. You will emerge with a foundation in some of the movements and principles of belly dance, but if you are planning to perform for a special event or project give yourself ample time to study and practice. Ideally, this is something you should start at the beginning of the school year in order to be reasonably prepared by the end of the school year.
I have another question not listed here.
Email Kalila directly.