Alay'nya (Alaynya) Studio and the Troupe Seraband; Women's Dance, Multicultural Women's Dance, Belly Dance (Bellydance; Mid-Easterm Dance) Beginners, Classes and Workshops in Greater Metro Washington DC and Northern Virginia NoVA McLean, Alexandria, and Woodbridge, including Fairfax County and Prince William County

This page is for you if you've taken your first few classes, and are fairly certain that you'd really like to learn this dance form. The purpose of this page is to help you get started - and especially in making your first few "real" decisions; things involving music, instructional videos, costumes, how fast you can expect to learn, when you can expect to perform, and even whether or not you "want to" perform. All of these are options.

By now, you've probably had a chance to cruise the web thoroughly. There's a lot of information out there! And sometimes it can get simply overwhelming. So after you've had a chance to experience "information overload," we hope you use this page as a place to stop, rest, get your bearings, and figure out what to expect in your first three months of multicultural women's dance classes.

What sorts of benefits can I expect, and how soon will I see them?

Important question. Let me think about it. Will fill this in real soon.

Let's face it - girls will be girls, and one of the most important things we love about dance is the chance to dress up and play. (And really, this IS important - we need to reconnect with our girlhood when playing "dress up" was the most wonderful fun we could have.

So give me a little time - I'll try to fill this in. And "good stuff" only - I promise!

What sort of techniques and such will I learn as a beginner?

As you progress, you should learn a good range of techniques, vocabulary, presentation, and basic dance movements. This will include:

Zills (metal finger cymbals),
Veils,
Floorwork,
Combinations,
Choreography,
Structured improvisations,
HOMEWORK ASSIGNMENTS (not kidding, I take you seriously, and expect you to take this seriously),
Discovering and developing your personal dance style, and
The "energy" aspects of this art form. (Think of this as "Jedi for Women."

Practicing At Home

*Alay'nya's Preferred Warm-Up Music*
	I often use *Beyond the Sky* by Brian Keene and Omar Farouk Tekbilek for warm-ups and opening technique development. By using the first seven cuts of this CD consistently, you get a chance to learn the warm-up and movement patterns, and can then start to focus on building vocabulary and technique. If you want to buy a music CD, this is the first one that I recommend. Click on Beyond the Sky to go to the Barnes and Noble website to order this CD

*Alay'nya's Most-Recommended Instructional Video for Beginners*
	The video that I recommend the most to beginning students is Kathryn Ferguson's *MidEastern Dance: Introduction to BellyDance* which she has self-produced through AnubisBastat Productions Click on MidEastern Dance: Introduction to Bellydance to go to Kathryn Ferguson's website, learn more about this vid (and watch an excerpt), and to order this video

Email Alay'nya (alaynya at alaynya.com) with questions you'd like to ask. She will try to get back to you. Over time, she'll put the ones that are asked most often on this page - and you'll be helping others find the answers without having to ask!

How will I know when I'm ready to move on to "intermediate" level?

Simple. You'll be bored with being a "beginner." Don't worry about this one; you'll know when it's time.

More Questions - and their Answers - will get posted as you suggest them, and as Alay'nya's schedule permits.