November/December Session. 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 drumbeat 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.

November/December Session. For those of you belly dancers who have reached the intermediate level! This course is for students who already have a solid foundation in the basic movements, proper alignment, and rhythmic patterns found in raqs sharqi. It will focus on musicality and improvisation, primarily within the Egyptian school of technique. This course requires prior study with Lola, and joining is by invitation only.

November/December Session. This informal “jam session” style of ensemble is for adult intermediate and advanced ukulele players. Members of this ensemble share with each other new tunes and techniques, and encourage each other to become comfortable with performance practices. Enrollment is open to adult students who have already taken Ukulele Ensemble for Beginners through level II, or upon passing an audition. Sign up for the whole session for $5 per week, or drop in for $8 (cash-exact change only for drop-ins).

November/December Session. Come and discover the rhythm that beats within you! Brush up (pun intended) on your basic tap dance terminology, work on your beginner steps, and have fun with choreography. This class is suitable for adults with a limited amount of experience with tap dancing (for example, if you took some tap as a kid, or have taken one or two of our beginner courses, this course will be perfect for you). Join us on the dance floor and we will have some fun!

You too can learn to play the Steel Pans (“Steel Drums”) while having a lot of fun! No experience is necessary. The youth ensemble is offered FREE of charge to dedicated students who can attend rehearsals each week. If you wish to join, first email Julie@therhodycenter.org to discuss details. Ages 9-16. This ensemble is made possible thanks to donors and an equipment grant from the Champlin Foundation. This course requires preregistration.

November/December Session. Learn to play the steel pans (“steel drums”) while having a lot of fun! No experience is necessary. We are seeking dedicated members who can regularly attend rehearsals. This course requires pre-registration.

November Mini Session. For those with little or no ballet experience, this class will explore the fundamental movements and language of ballet. We will primarily work at the barre to learn the basics and unlock the mysteries of this graceful art form. As we build strength, be prepared for toned legs and improved posture! Wear clothes comfortable to move in, soft ballet slippers or socks are acceptable. Suitable for beginners aged 16 and up. This course requires pre-registration.

November/December Session. Energetic and expressive, Bollywood dance originates in the fun dance routines performed in Indian movies. It combines folk, classical, and R&B styles into both its music and dance moves. There are no hard and fast rules--the point is to have fun, learn some choreography, and incorporate facial expression into your dancing. It is recommended that you wear clothes that you can move around in. This class can be higher in impact and intensity level, but will be tailored to its students’ interests and abilities. Ages 16 and up. Beginners are more than welcome! This course requires pre-registration.

Just a test

November/December Session. This course is for beginner ukulele students who have the fundamentals down! To take this course, you should be very comfortable moving between basic chords including C, F, G, G7, and Am with no hesitation, and be familiar with D7, A, E7, C7, and A7. You should have the DDUUDU strum pattern down pat. We will work on some harder chords, explore more challenging songs, and try new strumming techniques. After this course, you will surely be ready for Uke Jam! This course requires pre-registration.

Unleash your creative side as you learn hip hop choreography that also incorporates elements of world dance, including salsa, bhangra and other street styles. Class will start with a Zumba-style follow along for warm up, continue with a portion where we learn new steps, and will end with learning choreography that builds with each class. This course requires pre-registration.