Waves and Whirling:

An innovative series of classes with Roula Said, founder of the Om Laila System.

"Waves"
    •    These classes focus on the waveforms or currents of energy that travel with fluidity through the entire body.  We track their pathways through awakening the eyes of the chakras and are taken on marvelous journeys of self-exploration.  Oh...and some very awesome bellydance happens while we're at it!

"Whirling"
    •    These classes also explore the ecstatic art of the whirling dervish.  More specifically they explore the essential impulse to whirl - as a child does, giving the body guidance to support this deeply natural act. 

Level 1-2:
    •    Introducing the large waves and inhabiting them/letting them inhabit us.
    •    Working the waves in different relationships to gravity (standing, lying down, seated, etc). 
    •    progressing to the the tighter, more articulated waves
    •    exploring shimmy as fast waves
    •    whirling preparations/hemisphere balancing exercises
    •    initiating whirling

Level 3-4
    •    Layering shimmies with waves
    •    traveling and level changes
    •    moving between waves, using waves as transitions and "drones" upon which to improvise
    •    vocalization and rhythm production
    •    adding veils and finger cymbals
    •    whirling preparations/hemisphere balancing exercises
    •    building the duration and intensity of whirling

What makes our classes unique?

Committment to our Students

At Om Laila, we are deeply committed to nourishing our students - body and soul. We have excellent teachers selected not only for their skill and technical prowess as dancers but for their generosity of spirit and heartfulness as human beings.

At Om Laila, we are devoted to providing excellence in teaching the art of bellydance with a curriculum that is very strong in essential bellydance technique largely, though not exclusively, founded in the Egyptian Style. Our teachers stay current of American Cabaret and Tribal Styles as well. We also draw on other related movement disciplines such as yoga, Continuum Movement, Pilates, NIA and Alexander Technique to bring elements of universal truth to the way we teach bellydance.

We also include a musical dimension to our curriculum. We delve into rhythm with clapping, finger cymbals and drumming. We also delve simply yet deeply into an exploration of Arabic modes (like major and minor - but with another seven on top of that) through a very relaxing and poetic vocalizing exercise that has us chant simple wordless phrases. The phrases are emblematic of any one of the nine foundational modes. The melody is sung into each of the chakras using either a vowel or moving consonant from Arabic singing. The effect is quite calming and magical - like a fabulous OM at the end of a very satisfying yoga class.

Those who wish to develop more deeply as musicians or self-accompanying dancers will be given opportunities to do so. Those who wish to focus more on dance alone can also find classes which are more oriented toward choreography and bellydance technique.


Description of Classes

Level 1: Introductory Beginner

In many ways, this is the most important level as it is where you will set the foundation for all your technique. You will learn the following elements of bellydance vocabulary:
• 6 basic stationary hip isolations
• the distinction between weighted and unweighted hip movements
• isolations in the chest, shoulders and neck
• 7 basic arm positions
• 3 types of shimmies
• preliminary traveling steps
• basic versions of the fundamental geometric forms of bellydance: circle, figure eight, undulation/wave
You will also become familiar with the Chakras and how we use them for teaching bellydance.
Most students will spend anywhere from 12 to 24 weeks at this level. It is well worth mastering these movements before moving up.

Level 2: Continuing Beginner

This level is where we begin to create more words, phrases and sentences from the alphabet that you have mastered in Level 1. You will also be introduced to the basic vocalizing work.

You will learn the following elements:
• more traveling steps built on the basic hip movements
• layering of shimmies on all the basic hip, chest, shoulder and neck isolations
• adding three quarter shimmy and choo choos to the shimmy repertoire
• working with veils
• working with finger cymbals (zylls or saghat)
• learning to identify and clap the basic rhythms of the dance
• combinations and choreography

Levels 3 and 4: Intermediate and Advanced

The degree of technical difficulty increases in these levels:
• more complex layering
• more difficult level changes
• more challenging combinations and choreographies
• improvisation exercises are introduced into the classes and there is more emphasis on self expression and nuance
• folkloric styles with props such as the asaya (cane) are explored
• musical awareness is brought into greater focus through vocalizations and rhythm work
• more room for exploratory work – delving into territory that outside the realm of traditional bellydance