Classes & Workshops
60–90min classes are $22 drop in.
Class cards available for discounted classes too.
New classes added. Check it out!
2024 Class & Workshop Schedule
Classes Held at Desert Dream Dance and Movement (*unless otherwise noted)
1515 Soquel Avenue, Santa Cruz CA 95062
Holiday pop up workshops Dec 23, 24, and 30, 2024.
Janelle’s classes are hybrid, in person and live streaming.
Questions contact: janelledance@gmail.com
Class fees for Janelle Belly Dance ongoing classes:
5 class pack $75 (starts Jan 15, get your 2024 pricing now!)
12 class pack $140 (starts Jan 15, get your 2024 pricing now!)
Class cards expire 90 days from purchase date, no refunds. Drop in welcome, $22.
Private Lessons, $125 per hour, OR $450 for a block of 4 private lessons to be used within 60 days of purchase date. NO REFUNDS.
Class attire: Please wear comfortable clothes appropriate for a dance class, and a light hip scarf is optional. no skirts or coin belts please. Dance shoes optional, but recommended. Yoga mat recommended.
Go to Janelle’s Webstore to register for class or contact Janelle for Venmo or Zelle options.
Winter Session 2025 classes are here!
New 2025 session Starts Monday January 6th
Monday
Dance Movement 5 week series January 6th–February 3rd, 6:00–7:00pm ($75 or $22 drop in)
Level 2 Belly Dance (technique & Vocabulary) 7:10–8:40pm
Tuesday
Level 1 Belly Dance (technique) 6:00–7:30pm
Wednesday
Folkloric Fusion 5:30–6:30pm
Saturday
Intro Belly Dance 10:30–11:30am
Salimpour Vocab 1 11:35–12:35pm
*check out social media for UP-TO-DATE events
Salimpour 101 (S1) 3-day intensive coming in March 2025
Stay tuned for information and registrations
Class Descriptions
Folkloric Fusion
Folkloric Fusion blends Suhaila Salimpour Format, Jamila Salimpours Iconic Step Vocabulary, Salimpour finger cymbal method, Dance Movement (also a class developed by Suhaila Salimpour), regional and cultural stylizations from the Middle East, Classic Middle Eastern rhythms and music, world music and rhythms, street dance, jazz dance, pop music and much more!
Belly Dance Level 2 Technique
In L2 we take our fundamentals to the next level and explore increased timing in movement, introduce layering concepts and more complex foot work patterns and combos. Finger cymbals drills and more complex patterns introduced.
Belly Dance Level 1 Technique
L1 is designed to teach students the necessary skills to safely execute the movements used in belly dance. Suhaila Salimpour’s format focuses on muscular control, dance posture and alignment to efficiently execute belly dance movements. Build strength, stamina, and increase flexibility to develop strong technique, precise isolations and balance for traveling movements and turns. We also introduce basic finger cymbal technique and musicality.
Introduction to Belly Dance technique
This class is perfect for students brand new to Salimpour School format & terminology or students wanting a review. Each week we will focus on a new step or isolation and drill in home position as well as basic stepping patterns. There will be optional level increases as well. All levels welcome!
L1 Salimpour Vocabulary (New Day and Time)
Intro to Jamila Salimpour Step Vocabulary – Level 1 (fundamentals) classic steps from the Salimpour School step vocabulary, first codified and published by Jamila Salimpour with additional steps added by Suhaila Salimpour. Learn the rich history, cultural and regional context, and sentimental element behind each step. These steps are not “vintage” they are classic and are still a huge part of our dance practice and modern representation of the music and dance we do today. Finger cymbals are optional but will be briefly reviewed and used in this class. Each class will end with a fun dance combo using our “steps of the day”.
Level 1 Belly dance combo!
Each technique class ends with a fun belly dance combo focusing on our class topic of the day.
Level 2+ Belly dance combo!
Combo time! Most classes end with a fun combo. Each class has a different topic or theme. Music: Zay El Hawa on the album “Dalaa El Nawaem” by Fadi El Saadi.