Farasha Dance School
Renee teaches weekly belly dance classes at The Beautiful Studio in St Paul, Hothouse Dance Studios in NE Minneapolis, and Tapestry Folkdance Center in South Minneapolis. Whether you're a beginner, intermediate, or advanced student, there is a class for you. If you are curious about joining our dance community, or would like to improve your skills and techniques, Contact Renee.
NEW! Tuesday Evenings at the Beautiful Studio in St. Paul! Special Oud Taqsim Workshop, Beginner Belly Dance Classes, Community Hafla, and the return of Drills, Zills, & Layering Skills! See details below.
Weekly Foundational Arabic Dance & Arabic Dance Combo Classes continue (nearly) every Saturday afternoon in NE Mpls! Join for one or both classes! See details below.
St. Paul:
The Beautiful Studio, 2242 University Ave W, St Paul, MN 55114
Beginner Belly Dance
Tuesdays June 9th-August 4th 6 pm-7:20 pm (no class 6/30)
Join Renee for 8 weeks of basics to get you started and keep you going on your dance journey! Overview core isolations, foundational footwork, classic arm positioning, popular rhythms, simple finger cymbals patterns, and more! $130/8 classes, $75/4 classes, $22/single class. Click Here to Register
Community Hafla
Tuesday June 25th 7:30 pm-9 pm (not a class!)
Have a dance you are working on and want to share? Looking to see and support our local dancers? Want to play some Arabic rhythms? Bring yourself, bring your recorded music (make sure it can be played offline), bring your drum!! This will be a relaxed and informal event offering a mix of performances, music, and open dancing with the intention of building community and supporting one another. Admission is FREE! Donations are welcome!
Drills, Zills, & Layering Skills (Int/Adv)
Tuesdays July 7th-August 4th 7:30-8:50
It's back for 5 weeks this summer! Join me for some old-school training! Classes will include traditional warm-up with strengthening and conditioning; isolations and moving drills; integrated finger cymbal practice; layering techniques; and a legit cooldown. $95/5-class pass, $22/single class. Click Here to Register
NOTE: Go to Hampden Ave entrance and look for the "Farasha Dance" doorbell. Free parking is available on Hampden Ave, behind the Dow Artists Building, and across University Avenue in the Wright Building lot.
NE Mpls:
Hothouse, 2303 Kennedy St NE, 2nd floor #201, Minneapolis, MN 55413
Foundational Arabic Dance (beginner/intermediate)
Saturdays 1:15pm - 2:15pm, ongoing
This class will overview all things Arabic dance: core movements, footwork patterns, coordination and strengthening, with a focus on technique and drills. Advanced students will be encouraged to add movement layers.
Arabic Dance Combo (intermediate/advanced)
Saturdays 2:30pm - 3:30pm, ongoing
Come for Foundational Arabic Dance, stay for Arabic Dance Combo! In this class, dancers will focus on particular movements, styling, or musicality, and learn sequences. We will complete a 32-ct sequence to a different piece of music each week!
These Saturday afternoon classes are designed to take singly OR together for 2 hours of class! $19/single drop-in or $24/both classes (great value!). Class packs available: $85/5-class pack; $150/10-class pack. hothousempls.com
Sign Up:
To sign up in advance, go to hothousempls.com/schedule and click on the Saturday you'd like to attend. Then scroll down to 1:15 pm or 2:30 pm and click "SIGN UP" under the class you want. You will be asked to log into MindBody (or create an account first if needed).
South Mpls:
Tapestry Folkdance Center, 3748 Minnehaha Ave, Minneapolis, MN 55406
Beginner Raqs Sharqi (beginner/returning students)
**Check Back in September for Fall Class Schedule!**
Learn the basics of Raqs Sharqi! In this 8-week course, we will breakdown core isolations, footwork, armwork, rhythms, and more to get you started! Commonly known as "Belly Dance" in the west, Raqs Sharqi is the Egyptian name for an art form developed by urban, professional dancers who have traditionally performed as soloists at wedding celebrations, in night clubs, and in early Egyptian movies. The movements are rooted in the folk dances of the region, incorporating elements of western dance traditions, and are characterized by skillful refinement and musicality. The dance is closely connected with classical Arabic music--indeed, many classical tunes have been composed for dance and, even, for individual dancers. Raqs Sharqi celebrates each dancer's unique style and interpretation of the music. $18/single class with discounted pricing for Tapestry members, young adults (18-30), and youth (10-17).