Open level workshops from beginners to improvers with professional dancers and instructors.
The workshops during our tours will be held with in a spacious area in the hotels we stay.
The workshops&classes organized out of our tours can be held in a dance hall as well due to the situation. (only in Istanbul)
Our workshops are selected to help students alike broaden their dance training and improve their skills.
It is a fun, sweaty, dance-filled experience with motivation from friendly, dedicated folk&bellydance teachers..
Based on a Turkish format of clear movement breakdowns, drilling the basics, hands on corrections and integrating movements through combinations, choreography and improvisational exercises.

Students will learn new movements each class, building coordination, grace, strength, and flexibility.

Come&discover the joy of this dance form and celebrate movement through an ancient, life-embracing art

 

The Magic of the Orient in the Heart of the Orient.
Make your Dance Dreams come true!

Oriental dance is the oldest recorded dance form in the history of mankind. It can be seen the hieroglyphics of Egypt dating as far back as 4000 B.C.
In Turkey, particularly in sultans’ court which was in Topkapi palace the dance was protected and nurtured. for over 300 hundred years in medieval times. This time period is referred to as the "golden age" of belly dancing.

The concubines from all over the world were brought to Topkapi palace in Istanbul which was the capital of Ottoman Empire.Topkapi palace was not only consist of education and administrative sections,it was the residence of sultans as well..As sultans living in the palace there were several activities and entertainments organized for the sultans.One of these entertainments was göbek dans(belly dance) .

Concubines considered as a kind of member of great family of sultan and they got educated in several subjects such as art,music and dance etc.,To come into favor of the sultan and challenging to become the Sultana of palace they had to study and practice perfectly all these things they have learned..As an art of dance,belly dancing was so much important in this challenge with the others in Harem..
The music and dance was artistic, creative, and enjoyed for the effect it had on the human soul. The complicated musical scales and modes were produced during this age, and largely remain the same to the present day.

Even though things have changed a lot for the life of women in Turkey since then as same as the rest of the world and there are different ways of having and holding power in modern times.But you can still be the Sultana of belly dancing with admirable eyes on you while you are dancing.

So what are you waiting for?

Come and join our belly dancing classes instructed by our expert dancers and teachers with combining a tour around this imposing country which is right in the middle of West&East and be one of the sultana with mixing your creativeness..

For more information about workshops please click here

History and style

There was dance first…

Homeros

History and style of Oriental dance

Oriental dance is the oldest recorded dance form in the history of mankind. It can be seen the hieroglyphics of Egypt dating as far back as 4000 B.C. During the nomadic days, dance was performed primarily by women for the purposes of entertainment and religious reasons. It thrived until 600 A.D., when the Islamic religion became popular and banned all music and dance. In paintings, depiction of people was banned. The only artistic expression freely allowed and accepted was poetry. To this day, there is no music in Islam. The call to prayer is not considered music and the words of the Koran are not to be sung.

Yet, during this time and for 500 years thereafter, music and dance did find a way to survive. In Turkey, particularly in the sultan’s courts in Istanbul, the dance was protected and nurtured. This time period is referred to as the "golden age" of music. The music and dance was artistic, creative, and enjoyed for the effect it had on the human soul. The complicated musical scales and modes were produced during this age, and largely remain the same to the present day.

Today Egypt remains the major trendsetter for the costuming and presentation of oriental dance, but Turkish style belly dancing has developed a unique flavor of its own.

The music has basically the same rhythms, but often uses rhythms that Egyptian music does not, such as the chiftetelli and the karsilama (also known as kashlimar). Chiftetelli is slow and lends itself to flowing veil dances, snakey arm movements, and sensual floorwork. In a way, it can be considered counterpart to the Egyptian takasim, the solo improvisational music played between various parts of a longer routine. The karsilama is an unusual 9/8 beat rhythm, counting 9 beats to the measure. Egyptian music never uses this rhythm. Getting used to recognizing the karsilama rhythm and to dancing to its lively feeling is a bit tricky.

Turkish instrumentation also varies from that of Egyptian music. More wind instruments are used, such as the clarinet.

The general format of a Turkish style belly dance routine is five parts: an exciting opening that is quick and usually accompanied by the dancer playing zils, the Turkish term for finger cymbals. (By the way, the Egyptian word for finger cymbals is sagat.) The second part is often a chiftetelli followed by a third song that is also upbeat and lively. The fourth part is usually a fast drum solo, and the conclusion of the set is a happy piece of music, once again incorporating the use of the zils.

Speaking of playing the zils, Turkish style differs from Arabic style. For example, the most basic cymbal pattern is counted: 1-2-3. In the Arabic style, if you are right-handed, you would repeatedly play this pattern: Right-Left-Right. In Turkish style you would repeatedly play this pattern: Right-Right-Left. Maybe in this simple pattern the difference is minor, but there is a definite impact when you play the more complicated cymbal patterns.


If you are interested in specializing in Turkish belly dance, you need to become familiar with classical musical favorites as well as spirited contemporary songs. There are some very well-produced recordings of contemporary Turkish dance music available today.

History and style of Turkish belly dancing

Some mistakenly believe that Turkish oriental dancing is known as Çiftetelli due to the fact that this style of music has been incorporated into oriental dancing by Greeks and Roma, illustrated by the fact that the Greek belly dance is called Tsifteteli. However, Turkish Çiftetelli is more correctly a form of wedding folk music, the part that makes up the lively part of the dance at the wedding and is not connected with oriental dancing.

Turkish belly dance today may have been influenced by Roma people as much as by the Egyptian and Syrian/Lebanese forms, having developed from the Ottoman rakkas to the oriental dance known worldwide today. As Turkish law does not impose restrictions on Turkish dancers' movements and costuming as in Egypt, where dancers are prevented from performing floor work and certain pelvic movements, Turkish dancers are often more outwardly expressive than their Egyptian sisters. Many professional dancers and musicians in Turkey continue to be of Romani heritage as well. (However, it should be noted that people of Turkish Romani heritage also have a distinct dance style which is uniquely different from the Turkish Oriental style.) Turkish dancers are known for their energetic, athletic (even gymnastic) style, and particularly, until the past few years, their adept use of finger cymbals, also known as zils. Connoisseurs of Turkish dance often say that a dancer who cannot play the zils is not an accomplished dancer. Another distinguishing element of the Turkish style is the use of the Karsilama rhythm in a 9/8 time signature, counted as 12-34-56-789. Turkish belly dance costumes can be very revealing, with the belt sometimes worn high up on the waist and split skirts which expose the entire leg, although dancers today are costuming themselves more like Egyptian dancers and wearing more modest "mermaid"-style skirts. The Turkish style is emphasized further by the dancer wearing high heels and often platform shoes. Famous Turkish belly dancers include Tulay Karaca,Nesrin Topkapi and Birgul Berai.

Introduction to West

When immigrants from Turkey, Iran, and the Arab states began to immigrate to New York in the 1930s and 1940s, dancers started to perform a mixture of these styles in the nightclubs and restaurants. Often called "Classic Cabaret" or "American Cabaret" belly dance, these dancers are the grandmothers and great-grandmothers of some of today's most accomplished performers, such as Anahid Sofian and Artemis Mourat.

Health and belly dancing

The benefits of belly dance are both mental and physical. Dancing provides a good cardio-vascular workout and helps increase both flexibility and strength, focusing on the torso or "core muscles", although it also builds leg strength. Many belly dance styles emphasize muscular "isolations", teaching the ability to move various muscles or muscle groups independently. Veil work can also build arm, shoulder, and general upper-body strength, and playing the zils can build strength and independence of the fingers. Belly dance is suitable for all ages and body types, and can be as physical as the participant chooses. As with starting any new exercise routine, people would be wise to consult their doctor before starting a belly dance regimen. It's also important to talk with the belly dance instructor to find out the level of difficulty in the classes. The practice offers mental health benefits including an improved sense of well-being, better body image and self-esteem, and the generally positive outlook that comes with regular, enjoyable exercise.

As you study the many facets of oriental dance, bear in mind that no one style of belly dance is the "correct" style. All of the various styles are beautiful and inspirational. It is up to you to develop the style that best suits you and expresses your true self. The only way to know this is to expose yourself to as many styles as you can. Be very selective in your choices of resources and the instructors which you look to for this information. In other words, make sure you study with the best teachers and use the best tools. Happy dancing!


For more information about workshops please click here