Central Coast’s Premier School of Belly Dance in Toukley – Desert Flame.

“ALEXANDRA”

offers fun classes & unique entertainment  !

 2022  CLASSES 

BEGINNERS  *  ADVANCED  *  TRIBAL

*** UPDATE AS OF MAY 2022 Yes !!! – I will be back in 2022 !!!   

TERM 1 – 2022     March 30th – 25th May    9 week term @ $150

Wednesday  –  Beginners 6 – 7 pm   //  Advanced    7.15 – 8.15 pm 

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TERM 2 – 2022     June 8th – July 13th    6 week term @ $100

Wednesday  –  Beginners 6 – 7 pm   //  Advanced    7.15 – 8.15 pm

*** PLEASE EMAIL or CALL ME as  STRICT NUMBER LIMITS

Toukley Library Community Hall.    Cnr Main Rd & Victoria Ave,  Toukley

**As my classes are not full, you may come on a casual basis @$20 per class (pls bring the correct money)  I will still send you our music and the dance notes…

                                                 Sandra:   0404 462 284  or   E: alexandraflame@gmail.com  

 Pls bring water, and adhere to all the usual covid rules. Wear something loose and comfy for dancing in, nothing that trails on the floor that you can trip on, and so that I can see your ankles. I have hip scarves available in class for you to wear. Its an hour of fun – moving your body and adding flexibility, with this self empowering and ancient art/dance form !

 I’m looking forward to meeting you and sharing the shimmy ! Give me a call or E if you have any questions ?

Belly Blessings,
Sandra – aka Alexandra

                                    

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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 25^TH 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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