Central Coast’s Premier School of Belly Dance in Toukley – Desert Flame.
“ALEXANDRA”
offers fun classes & unique entertainment !
2020 CLASSES with ALEXANDRA
BEGINNERS * ADVANCED * TRIBAL
TERM 1 – 2020 5th Feb to 8th April
10 week term @ $165
Student discounts and casual classes available
BEGINNERS EGYPTIAN : WEDS 5.45 – 6.45 pm
ADVANCED EGYPTIAN : WEDS 7.00 – 8.00 pm
TRIBAL STYLE : WEDS 8.00 – 9.00 pm
TOUKLEY : Toukley Library Community Hall. Cnr Main & Victoria Rds, Toukleycall Sandra for details 0404 462 284 / 4396 6929 or
E: alexandraflame@gmail.com
The dance of the belly. The dance of life.
Dance to the heart beat of creation – remember your maidenhood, the passion of your courtships, the birth of children, and dance for the simple joy of being a woman !
Belly dancers celebrate themselves.
So honour your body and soul – recreate the ancient dance of the Egyptian goddesses of abundance and fertility. And on the fun side – learn to dance with a cheeky and vibrant attitude, raise your confidence and sense of joy within your body, your mind and your spirit !
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What is Belly Dance?
The dance form we call “Belly Dance” is derived from traditional women’s dances of the Middle East and North Africa. The Ancient Art of Belly Dancing is as timeless as the beatings of the drums. In these areas, women have always belly danced, at parties, at family gatherings and during rites of passage.
This woman’s social dancing eventually evolved into belly dancing as entertainment (”Dans Oryantal” in Turkish and “Raqs Sharqi” in Arabic). Although the history of belly dancing is murky prior to the late 1800s, many experts believe its roots go back to the temple rites of India and Egypt.
Probably the greatest misconception about belly dance is that it is intended to entertain men. Because segregation of the sexes was common in the part of the world that produced belly dancing, men often were not allowed to be present.
Why Belly Dance?
Alexandra says that belly dance has many effects on women, not only giving fitness with fun and hauntingly beautiful music but camaraderie, as women bond and make new friends. The health and fitness side of it increases strength in the abdominals, lower hack, arms and legs and increases the flexibility in the entire hack and all the joints.
On the spiritual side, women celebrate themselves, honouring their body and their soul, recreating the ancient dance of the Egyptian Goddess of Abundance and Fertility. And on the fun side – learning to dance with a cheeky and vibrant attitude raises your confidence and comfortability with yourself and your body.
Who can Belly Dance?
Many women of all ages nationalities, shapes and sizes dance to celebrate their life.
Picture this: Colourful Bedouin men drum around the campfires of a Persian oasis while their exotic women tell their stories of life.
Dancing to the heartbeat of creation, remembering their maidenhood, their courtship, the seduction of their marriage, the birth of their children and the simple joy of being a woman. Even the elders are revered dancers, as their grace, confidence and inner beauty tells of their peace and happiness to grow old.
The dance of the belly. The dance of life.
“Alexandra”
joyful and diverse, sensual and artistic – capture the spirit of Egyptian Cabaret, Classical or Traditional Folkloric, Ghawazi Gypsy or the earthy American Tribal Style of this ancient, exotic dance.
With accompanying props such as swords, veils, canes or the majestic Isis Wings to enhance her performance.
Dance – to be entertained or to enrich and free you spirit!
Be transported to another place and time!
Belly Dance is elegant and graceful, celebrating in the female spirit, and the strength and beauty of the female form, regardless of age or size.
The term “Belly dancing” arose after the French called the art “dance du ventre,” or “dance of the stomach.” But throughout history, this art has gone by several names. The Greek called it “Ciftetelli.” In Turkey, it was known as “Rakkasa.” Egyptians called it “Raks Sharqi” or “Dance of the East.” Other Middle Easterners called it “Danse Orientale” which identifies belly dancing as a type of art that came from outside their own culture.
Belly dancing is one of the oldest forms of dance in recorded history. Artifacts show that belly dancing began its 6000-year (or longer) history in Mesopotamia, the area between the Tigris and Euphrates rivers, or modern-day Iraq. Historians have found early evidence of belly dancing in art from Egyptian, Turkish and Phoenician cultures which flourished in the general Middle Eastern area.
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2018 Desert Flame’s Annual Concert – Celebrating 20 years !!!!
Sunday 25TH November 1.30 – 3.30 pm
Halekulani Bowling Club Auditorium – 50 Natuna Ave, Budgewoi
Adults $20 Pens $12 Child (6 – 16 yrs) $8 Tickets at door – Doors open 1.00 pm
Celebrate 20 years of Egyptian & Tribal dance,
culture, fun & friendship – with Alexandra, Vashti & their students !
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“1001 NIGHTS” – 14th ANNUAL CONCERT – Sunday Nov 11th 2012
” A FANTASTIC SUCCESS !”
What an amazing and emotional concert. I truly enjoyed myself. The costumes were great and the dances and dancers were lovely. Great choreographies. I thought I had a favourite but then then would be another and another.
Oooohhhhhhhh your sword dance. Wow. Loved the music and you looked fantastic then into your drum solo.
Congratulations on a wonderful concert and the inspiration and encouragement you have given so many others to make them shine and feel wonderful.
It was great….. I was laughing, I was crying, I was gasping, I was clapping, I was amazed, I was in awe….
thanks – Kim
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