African fusion Dance Classes with Rumbi & helena

Happening at Superfly Dance Fitness, this class is designed to make you have fun while you sweat. Rumbi and Helena say, "This class will encompass a whole bunch of African styles and influence. This isn't just traditional dancing, this is modern African dancing too - amazing music, great movements with lots of hips and accents. It's a great workout for the body and soul and we love teaching this class!"

Dates: Mondays except for holidays
Time: 7:30 - 8:30 PM
Venue: 585 Yonge St, Toronto, Ontario
Info: www.superflydancefitness.com, 416.537.8790, sophie@superflydancefitness.com

belly dance classes and workshops @ Arabesque

Arabesque Academy attracts serious students from around the globe to study at its warm and bustling downtown Toronto studios. Arabesque is world renowned for its in-depth, standardized curriculum featuring authentic and traditional Middle Eastern dance and music. It is the home of Arabesque Dance Company & Orchestra and the host of the International Bellydance Conference of Canada and as such has a global reputation for elevating Bellydance to the status of High Art and receivng numerous awards from all levels of arts councils. Enjoy the oldest rites of womanhood; work, tone, and isolate muscles; express innate femininity and sensuality with Yasmina Ramzy, Denise Mireau, Mary Petsoulas, Emese Dosa, Saba Alemayehu Asfaw, Melissa Reber, Sumayah, Laura Selenzi, Maryfer Cardenas, Samara, Irina Petrenuic, Marilou Calce, Valizan, Sarah Brawley, and guest artists.

Dates: Sunday - Thursday
Venue: Arabesque Academy, 1 Gloucester St, 2 Blocks North of Wellesley at Yonge
Info & Registration: 416.920.5593, info@arabesquedance.ca, www.arabesquedance.ca

belly dance fusion classes with saba @ Arabesque

This fun class is based on Belly Dance but will have inspirations from Hip Hop, African, and Reggae. These various dance styles come together to make some exciting movement from contrasting the sensual and the strong, the soft and the sharp. Class will be based on technique as well as small combinations / choreographies that will work your body memory. Bring dance or running shoes whenever possible. The Arabesque Foundation class is a prerequisite but at least Beginner I is recommended.

Dates: Every Tuesday starting January 8, 2008
Time: 5:45 PM
Place: Arabesque Academy, 1 Gloucester St, 2 Blocks North of Wellesley at Yonge
Info & Registration: 416.920.5593, info@arabesquedance.ca, www.arabesquedance.ca

Dance WORKSHOPS

Though we're not running regular classes at the moment, we provide dance workshops for any of your private, educational or cultural events. Contact us at nouvelexpose@hotmail.com for bookings and info. Dance styles can include Ethiopian, Congolese, Belly Dance and Fusion.

Ethiopian Dance: Being one of the oldest civilizations of Africa, Ethiopia is a land of many cultures which give its music and dances much richness. Whether depicting every day life, telling the people's story, or celebrating major events, the dances of Ethiopia are sheer expressions of joy in intense isolations and rhytms. In these classes, you will learn movements from Amharic Eskesta, Oromo, Gurage, Tigrigna, Wolayta and other styles.

Congolese Dance: Soukous music and dance is originally from Congo region of Africa. It was born as an interplay between Congolese, West African and Latin rhythms. Having had African source, Latin rhythms were familiar to the Congolese. The word Soukous often refers to the many genres within. Soukous dance is an intoxicating mix of Congolese traditional dances as well as urban creations. Focusing on isolations, this dance is playful in layering hip movement with movement in the rest of the body. Soukous has had influences on most music in Africa.

Kwaito: Hailing from South Africa, Kwaito is a way of enjoying House music with African flavor. Learn to dance to Kwaito .... and basically any House music... the African way.

Belly Dance: Currently gaining popularity because of appearances in mainstream entertainment including the likes of Shakira, Belly Dance is an art that's been performed for women amont woment in North Africa and the Middle East for centuries. Also called Raqs Sharqi or Oriental Dance, Belly Dance allows you express your grace, sensuality and feminity and become the music through your body.

Fusion: Fusion is basically open to imagination. Taking from African, Belly Dance and Hip Hop dance styles, this is a style open to inspiration and interpretation while being fun and expressive. Some background in one, two or all three styles would help.