Fall 2020 Virtual Classes

Hello Dancers,

Well, we’re still sheltering in place here in California, so let’s keep belly dancing from our homes.

My Fall teaching schedule is up now on my Classes page. Registration for the classes through the SSF Parks and Rec starts on 9/4 for SSF Residents and 9/8 for everyone else. And the one bright side of virtual classes is that you can take them from anywhere, so please feel free to join us.

You can register for the Parks and Rec classes directly on their website. I hope to see you in class.

In addition to teaching, have also been using this shelter in place time to go through years of performance footage. I have always lacked the confidence to share my dancing on social media and so I neglected this part of being a dancer. It’s been nice to go through them all now and I will start sharing some here. I am working on my YouTube channel and I hope you will consider subscribing.

Here is one of the performances I posted there. It’s a lovely American Cabaret style performance from 2014 featuring live music by local belly dance favorites Meridian Band. I hope you enjoy it.

Thank you all for reading and I will look forward to seeing you in class.

Free Virtual Belly Dance Classes!

In celebration of National Parks & Recreation Month, the South San Francisco Parks and Rec is offering three of my Intro to Belly Dance classes for free!

Free Virtual Belly Dance Classes from Alisa Greer Belly Dance through the SSF Parks and Rec!

These are live classes via Zoom, and they’re perfect if you are new to belly dance or returning after not dancing for a while. I’m teaching each class as an individual capsule, so you can take one, two or all three.

There is no charge for the classes but you do need to register via the SSF Parks & Rec online catalog. Once there, click on the green ‘Free in July’ tab and then click ‘Belly Dancing- Beginners’ and follow the instructions to register.

Please feel free to contact me with any questions!

Happy Dancing xo

Autumn 2019 Bay Area Belly Dance Festivals!

This week I wanted to highlight three upcoming Bay Area Belly Dance Festivals for Autumn 2019. I am still so happy and inspired from my memories of Carnival of Stars the weekend before last, and I can’t help looking forward to more ways to immerse myself in belly dance for a day or two! I hope this helps students plan ahead if you’d like to go.

BABDAMA’s Fabulous Fall Belly Dance Festival on Nov. 9, 2019

First up, the 2019 Fabulous Fall Belly Dance Festival put on by the Bay Area Belly Dance and Music Association (BABDAMA). This happens annually in Los Altos and it is always a wonderful afternoon of dance, music and of course belly dance related shopping.

This festival takes place on November 9, 2019 this year. But it’s the closest on to us on the Peninsula so that’s why I am putting it first.

BABDAMA’s Fabulous Fall Belly Dance Festival 2019 in Los Altos

Coastal Belly Fest on Sep 21, 2019

Just a little under 2 months away is Coastal Belly Fest in Santa Cruz on September 21, 2019. I have never been to this one because it always falls on the birthday weekend of one of my children, but I wish I could go!! I have known the dancer who produces it, Setareh, for many years and she is a beautiful dancer, amazing artist and a nice person too and I am sure this will be a great day celebrating belly dance!

Coastal Belly Fest in Santa Cruz on Sep 21, 2019

Sirens Fest Oct 3 -6, 2019 in Sebastopol, CA

Sirens Fest is a bit further away for us to drive to, but I felt it was SO WORTH IT when I went! If there is any way that you can make a day or a weekend of it, you will not regret it. This festival is produced by TerryAnne Guitierez who is am amazing dancer, choreographer and percussionist, and she also really knows how to throw a belly dance party!

It looks like Oct 3rd and 4th are workshops and one of the teachers is Leila Farid, whose Saidi clip we looked at last week. I’ve been lucky enough to take a class with her and she is an amazing, fun teacher, and really kind and down-to-earth despite her star status. My teacher Amina is teaching as well and she is also an incredible instructor with such a wealth of information to share. So I recommend that if you’re interested and can get up there during the week!

SirensFest Belly Dance Festival in Sebastopol, CA October 3 - 6, 2019

I hope that’s helpful for any of my students interested in attending a belly dance festival. I will share information about upcoming live music belly dance events in a future posts, because that is another great way to experience belly dance!

Happy Dancing,

Alisa

SSF Classes Start Wednesday!

Hello Dancers,

One last reminder that our short Spring Session at the South San Francisco Parks & Rec starts this Wednesday, April 25th!

Beginning goes from 7-8PM and Intermediate goes from 8-9PM.  This is a quick 4 week session, so even if you've been busy, please consider joining us!!

You can register easily through the SSF online system - use class code 167428 for Beginning and Class Code 167429 for Intermediate. 

Complete class info is as always on my Classes Page.  See you Wednesday!

ps - until then, how about a little Monday Glamour:

Beautiful Egyptian belly dancer Samia Gamal

Rakkasah!

Just the word Rakkasah makes the pulse of any belly dancer race!  Imagine immersing yourself in a world of belly dance for a full day or even the entire weekend!!  I look forward to it every year and this past weekend did not disappoint.

There are always many highlights - seeing old friends and greatly admired dancers, listening to beautiful music all day, being inspired by everyone's costumes and cover-ups, shopping and browsing for belly dance essentials and of course performing too!

This year my most favorite moment was getting to be a small part of a tribute to Elaine Arneson (Zelina), a dear friend and beloved Bay Area belly dancer who passed away earlier this year.  Truth be told, it was very difficult to know I would be going to my first Rakkasah without her radiant smile and matchless sense of humor to greet me.  But getting to be a part of her tribute meant the world to me.  I have danced with the troupe El Ashab once before, with Elaine, and it was so much fun.  Here is a photo with Elaine on the left.

El Ashab - Photo by Carl Sermon

I will look forward to sharing pictures and video from her tribute as soon as I have them.  In the meantime, it was wonderful to share memories of her with the other dancers yesterday.  She inspired us all and the best way to honor her is to never stop dancing, because she danced all the way through her life and it was such a privilege to know her.

That's all for this time.  I am working on updated the Classes page and I will post again when I have the new information ready.  SSF classes start on 4/25.