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Big Apple Belly
Dance Class Schedule Belly Dance Technique and Movement –
Level I: Class opens with a head-to-toe
stretch. Students learn basic belly
dance steps, isolations of head, shoulders, arms, hands, rib cage, abdomen
and hips as well as beginner choreography. Class was designed to make a good belly dancer great,
while allowing anyone with no dance background to develop excellent posture, body
awareness and a strong dance foundation. Place:
440 Lafayette Street, Studio 3F, NYC Day, Time & Price:
Mondays, 6:30-7:30 pm,
$15.00 Advanced Belly Dance:
Class opens with an intensive warm-up along with functional weight
bearing exercises. Learn
showmanship, advanced movements (layering, Arabic hip walk, flutters,
isolations with steps, floorwork) and dance with veil and finger
cymbals. Innovative choreography
is taught to the latest music from Egypt and Lebanon. Every Tuesday a specialized 2-hour
workshop is taught. Tuesday’s
specific instruction is designed to train professional dancers to perform on
stages in theaters and nightclubs. Place:
219 W. 19th Street, NYC Day, Time & Price:
Tuesdays, 7:00-9:00 pm, $25.00 Classes are fun and taught in a safe
environment. Sandra’s students
are given opportunities to perform in dance shows in NYC theaters and
nightclubs. “Nothing sums up Sandra Catena better than
the alarming verve in her voice as she announces “we’re going to do 20
crunches, 20 criss-cross crunches and 20 boxer’s crunches!” She exudes both New York attitude and
bighearted friendliness.
Spinning whatever moves her in the moment – Mohammed El Bakkar’s 1957
hard-driving “Port Said” or maybe a Natacha Atlas song – she soaks up the
music’s dynamic energy and turns it into feisty thrusts and breathtaking
spins. Never one to half step
her way through life, Catena teaches students the importance of aligning and
proudly lengthening their bodies, breathing joy into their stride and making
an indelible mark upon the world.” Eva YaaAsantewaa, Dance Critic WHAT
SANDRA CATENA’S STUDENTS ARE SAYING: Sandra
encourages each student to be her best and makes me feel like it’s possible
to be a real belly dancer. I
started belly dancing because I wanted to get fit in a fun, exciting
way. When Sandra teaches class
she lets us all know what movements are excellent, what needs work and she
always gives us positive feedback.
Her love and support is what keeps me coming back. Judy T. In
the beginning, I took Sandra’s class for fitness. Soon I realized the deeper level of this form of classical
dance. I love to feel the joy
and thrill while I move. Besides
the dance itself, Sandra is a wonderful teacher. She makes each one of us feel important. Keepa M. I
love moving to the music in ways I’ve never moved my body before. Belly dancing enables me to enjoy
myself while getting a good work-out.
Lynne R. Belly
dancing is good exercise, great fun and a tremendous confidence builder. You feel powerful. There’s something elemental about
belly dancing, like returning to the womb, but all grown up and sexy. I’ve been to Sandra’s shows and they
made me understand why some men are driven insane by women. When you watch Sandra perform you see
someone with a tremendous gift to not only transport herself but her whole
audience to a world of rhythm, seduction and art. Rina P. Belly
dance is a great source of exercise without feeling like exercising. It’s also a stress releaser! Since I’ve been belly dancing with
Sandra I’ve gotten to know my body better and feel more comfortable with and
within my body. Erato S. The
free spirited, female energy of belly dancing awakens a part of me that I
never want to go to sleep again!
I most like Sandra’s ease, grace and command of the dance as she
teaches class. Her classes are
great exercise and they fill me with a dream that beauty is everywhere and
within everything. Belly dancing
allows me to express myself fully.
It never judges me or lets me down. It’s always there to warm me when things get a little
cold. Belly dance is who I am
now. Leilainia P. My
love for belly dance runs so deep within me that it’s difficult to sort out
the components, but I’ll try.
There are no limits regarding learning and improving. With every step or leap you feel
great accomplishment and are constantly reaching forward. There are no age barriers and the
glamorous make-up, jewelry and costumes are every little girl’s dream and any
woman can have it! I have
performed in Sandra’s shows and the experiences have given me the opportunity
to show what I have studied and worked hard to achieve. Sandra Catena is an exciting and
dynamic performer – her amazing technique and rapport with her audience is a
must see experience. Robin W. I
love the music I’m exposed to in Sandra’s classes and learning powerful, sexy
moves and practicing the technique.
Belly dance is a “leveler” – bringing out the beauty in women of all
shapes, colors and abilities.
Out of all of the above, the exercise component was an unintentional
gain out of the experience.
Belly dance inspires me when I’m shaking it out on the dance floor in
a club and that’s fun. Belly
dance was a constant factor in my life – jobs changed, men came and went,
moods went up and down…but there was always belly dance! Gale S.
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