Move your body… Love your body!

Belly dance classes will teach you a fun, safe, body positive dance form, encourage you to move your body in new ways and develop muscles you didn’t even know you had. Kristine’s classes are open to everyone, regardless of your previous dance experience, current fitness level, size, shape, age, height, favourite colour, etc. Those with two left feet and the rhythmically-challenged are always welcome!  Her classes are based on correct and safe technique, and develop creative expression and confidence in movement.  Whether you are looking for a little “me time” in your week or hope to dance on stage one day, Kristine will provide knowledgeable instruction in a welcoming environment. Belly dance draws from folk dances throughout the Middle East, North Africa, and Eastern Europe. Traditionally these dances were performed at casual social gatherings as way to enjoy spending time with friends and loved ones. Often women danced just for other women, taking turns to show off their personal technique. Kristine draws from these traditions and adds modern flair with funky music and technique that is always safe for the body.

quotationsKristine made me feel at ease while dancing, remarkable only because I’m self-conscious in just about every way. The constructive feedback she gave not only helped me learn basic technique, but also gave me the confidence I needed to keep going to class. —Danielle, student

An Announcement About 2020

2020 marks my 20th year learning and loving belly dance!

I’m taking a hiatus from teaching regular classes this year. This is NOT a hiatus from dance – in fact, quite the opposite.

I want to focus more on my own practice and growth as a dancer. Learning and improving is what I am most passionate about, and while I love teaching it comes with a substantial administrative workload that has begun to feel burdensome.

So while I might not be teaching regular classes:

  • I WILL be active online and in the community
  • I WILL be dancing up a storm on my own
  • I WILL be up for dance chats/nerdyness/unabashed enthusiasm anytime
  • I WILL be available for performances, private lessons, and workshops
  • I WILL be working with my troupe regularly
  • I WILL be excited about and working hard on some collaborations with other people (have an idea? I’m always open to them!).
  • I MIGHT offer the odd pop-up workshop.

I can’t say when I will be back to teaching regular classes. Maybe in 6 months, maybe in a year, maybe never. I’ll get back to teaching when I have learned and created some new things I’m really excited to share.

Kristine

Class Descriptions

Use the tabs below to check out the descriptions of each of our class levels currently offered.

 

American Tribal Style®

American Tribal Style belly dance (ATS) is a specialized format that allows groups of dancers to perform synchronized improvisation together. It’s also incredibly fun to do – basically it’s a really fun, supportive dance game you play with your friends!  You’ll learn a vocabulary of movements and cues that will allow you to get up and dance with any other ATS dancers anywhere and look amazing with no preparation. Created by FatChanceBellyDance (San Fransisco), ATS inspired many other amazing group improv formats like ITS, Datura improv, BlackSheep Belly Dance, Devyani, Fly Fusion, etc.

The fall 2019 session is open to ALL levels, from brand new dancers to experienced pros. We’ll be starting with ATS fundamentals so everyone will learn together.

Beautiful Unusual Power Hour

Train like Beautiful Unusual! Join the BU performance group as we work hard on technique, drills, and creative exercises. Kristine makes no promises about what will be covered – it’s whatever she’s currently working on with the group. We might drill the nitty gritty out of a few basic moves, do brain-breaking drills, play zills, explore variation and emotionality, or experiment with improvisational exercises. We might do one specific thing for a whole hour or we might cram 10 different topics in. What we CAN promise is that it will be interesting, challenging, and you’ll work up a sweat!

Though this class is essentially the troupe’s rehearsal “warm up” everyone will be treated equally. We’re all there to learn! You’ll receive feedback and be able to ask questions in the same manner as all other Kristine’s classes.

All dancers with some previous belly dance experience are welcome – from beginners who have a few moves down through experienced pros.

Beginners (for the Scared & Uncoordinated)

beginners classAre you new to belly dance? Rhythmically challenged with two left feet? Think you are too uncoordinated/old/young/fat/thin/shy to dance? This class is for you! It’s intended for those with less than two years of dance experience (zero is less than 2). Starting with proper posture and alignment, Kristine will introduce and review the basics of belly dance in a welcoming, inclusive environment. We’ll cover movements in the torso, feet, and arms. Each class we’ll review and drill movements, and put them together into brief combinations.

This class is open for those with previous belly dance experience who would like to be introduced to Kristine’s teaching, and/or would like to drill the basics. You’ll get feedback based on your current skill and experience level – plus there’s no such thing as too much practice!

In the last half of the session, you’ll learn a complete choreography. You’ll have the opportunity to show this off to your fellow students and friends/family at our end-of-term hafla (party). This “performance” is entirely optional – if you don’t feel ready you are very welcome to cheer on your classmates from the audience!

Kristine tailors her teaching to your individual fitness and skill level, ensuring your full participation and success in class. She is dedicated to offering a welcoming, inclusive, and fun environment – while working hard. She’ll also make bad jokes and weird (but helpful) analogies – laughter is always guaranteed!

Intermediate

Continue on your belly dance journey with new technique, movement refinement, layers, and more intricate drills and choreography. Plus finger cymbals! In this intermediate level we’ll dig further into technique and musicality as you learn new ways you body can move (and work your brain too). We focus on more complex and refined isolations, basic layering of movements, faster drills, foot patterns, musicality concepts, and introduce zills (finger cymbals). We welcome input and suggestions if there is anything particular you would like to work on, though Kristine has plenty ideas to keep the class busy too!

In the last half of the session, you’ll learn a complete choreography and have the opportunity to demonstrate it for your fellow students, friends, and family at our casual end-of-term hafla (party). This “performance” is entirely optional – if you’d rather not dance, we welcome enthusiastic audience members!

We recommend having completed approximately 2 years of belly dance classes (with Kristine or elsewhere) prior to registering for this class. If you aren’t sure what level to take, feel free to get in touch.

Multilevel classes welcome everyone from brand-new beginners to experienced dancers. We’ll start with the basics and add additional layers and challenges for those with more experience. Kristine will offer feedback appropriate to your level to ensure you feel both inspired and challenged! Classes are a judgement-free zone, and everyone will feel included and encouraged in this class no matter where you are in your belly dance journey.

We will work with finger cymbals in this class: bring them if you’ve got ’em, or borrow a set in class. We’ll work on drills and combos, and towards the end of the session put together a choreography for you to (optionally!) show off at our private end-of-term celebration.

Possibly our nerdiest class so far, Intelligent Improvisation encompasses a number of class series that develop your ability to create movements and interpret your music effortlessly. Though taught primarily as improvisational skills this material is equally useful for creating choreography (which starts as improv after all!). Classes include a technique section to introduce concepts (because Kristine loves nerdy dance theory AND technical drilling). You’ll then be guided through step-by-step exercises to explore for yourself. Improv doesn’t need to be scary! You’ll start with structured activities and ideas and slowly build toward longer sequences and more creative freedom. As with all Beautiful Unusual classes, we ensure a safe, supportive environment in which to learn and experiment.

These classes are suitable for ALL levels. Some previous belly dance experience is beneficial, but we also welcome newbies. If you know one move, you can improvise!

May/June 2019: Theme & Variation

Create interesting, cohesive combos on the fly! Avoid panic, fear, and that moment when everything you thought you knew about dance flies out of your brain! We’ll explore strategies to build complex movement sequences by varying a simple theme. This is an indispensable skill for improv that allows you to perform seemingly complex and professional sequences easily and confidently.

The Fine Print

Online payments via PayPal are preferred for tracking purposes. However, credit card payment can alternatively be taken by phone. Call Kristine at 587-225-1140. If you prefer to pay by cash or cheque, please call or send an email to arrange this. For additional information on making payments, refunds, and our other policies, please review our Class Terms & Policies. Our Class Information page provide details on what to expect, what to bring, and how to get the most out of your classes.