Belly dance (or “raqs sharqi” in Arabic) is an art form with ancient roots in Middle Eastern folk dance. Its complex movements can be fluid as a snake one moment and as percussive as a drum beat the next. Although it takes years to master belly dance, the process is a rewarding one. It engages our minds, grounds us, and heightens our senses and our awareness of how we move in space. It is also a low-impact exercise that nourishes and strengthens our joints and muscles (particularly our core muscles and shoulders). This course is tailored for students in the beginner levels, to gain a solid foundation for further study in raqs sharqi. You will learn proper posture, isolations such as snake arms, figure eight moves, hip circles, and of course, shimmies! Combinations and traveling moves will also be taught. This course requires pre-registration. No class January 19.