Join Down Hips Dance studio as we support the summer session’s bellydance students! Performances from all levels of students!

** We’ve always sold out the show, so be sure to pick up your tickets in advance!!! **

ADULT: $12 in advance / $8 child under 10yrs

Tickets available at Down Hips, or online by visiting the website to reserve tickets or pay online.

SPECIAL GUEST DANCER: Khizmet will be joining us on stage, and as you can all imagine we are thrilled to have her here! As well as burlesque dancer Sassy Ray with dancers from Kitchener’s Revue Royale Burlesque troupe. We’re also happy to have Alecia from Luscious Belly in Hamilton with us!

ENTERTAINMENT: Im thrilled to announce two entertainment slots for the show for our Audience.

•From 5:30 -6:00pm: Enjoy the music of the “JOEL ROBERTS EXPERIENCE”.
http://www.wix.com/jrgow0/Joel-Roberts-Experience
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Joel-Roberts/55126810350?v=wall

•During Intermission: Enjoy the vintage sounds of “The Haret”
http://www.myspace.com/theharet

Join Down Hips Dance Studio for Free Mini Trial classes featuring Instructors at Down hips.
Come out and try out any or all of the classes free of charge, with no obligation to register. See if Bellydance, or any of our classes are for you! Everyone is welcomed, all ages, shapes and sizes!

• 10-10:30  Power Yoga w tracey
• 10:30-11am  Pilates w tracey
• 11:30 -12:15   Kid’s Bellydance w Lisa
• 12:30-1:15   Salsa for couples w dahlia
• 1:30-2:15  Introductory Bellydance w mandy
• 2:25 – 3:10  Veils w mandy
• 3:15 – 3:50  Tribal Fusion  w Katie
• 4:00 – 4:40  “Dance Fitness and Strength toning”  w katie
• 4:50 – 5:30  Introductory Bellydance w mandy
• 5: 40 – 6:20  Bollywood  w faith
• 6:30 – 7:00  Chair Dance  w faith

Email info@downhips.com to let us know you are coming!

DOWN HIP DANCERS!!!  WIN A FREE SESSION AT DOWN HIPS!

For current Dancers of Down Hips Dance Studio – Recommend a friend or family member to the  Down Hips Open House and your name goes into a draw to win a free Bellydance Session!*

For every person that comes to the Open House by your recommendation, your names gets entered into the draw!  Be sure to tell your friends to submit your name when they arrive. They can also win a FREE COIN-BELT!

** Applicable only to Down Hips regular dance classes. Non Transferable, No cash value.

Down Hips Dance Studio continues to offer FREE trial classes in all we have to offer!

Continuously check back to see when the next ones are coming up, and bring our your friends and family for a fun, free trial class!

Down Hips is a welcoming place for women of all ages, shapes & sizes! Classes are fun and accepting, with attention to proper technique to provide a strong foundation for ambitious students who want to challenge themselves, and for those who want to dance for pure recreation.

FREE TRIAL SCHEDULE

please email info@downhips.com to register so we can estimate the class size.

• Sunday August 29:
At Down Hips Dance Studio OPEN HOUSE . Free trial classes all afternoon! Check or Open House page for full schedule of all the classes that will be free!
Introductory Classes:  1:30pm AND at 4:50pm (also free classes in bollywood, chair, salsa, tribal)

• Tuesday August 31st 2010:  BURLESQUE with Sassy Ray!
Try out this fun and cheeky pin-up style dance and entertainment form, with Revue Royal’s Sassy Ray!  No experience in dance needed! Email info@downhips.com to let us know you are coming.

FAQ

Q:  Do I have to show my belly?
A: Not at all! Your instructor will expose her belly to help you better see the movements being discussed. Some students choose to expose their own to do the same, but many student choose to never expose their belly. It is not necessary for the dance to be exposed, and this comes only with your comfort level, and want to do so. You will never be asked to expose your skin at Down Hips!

Q: what do I wear?
A: Generally you want to be comfortable – same dress for Yoga is the most common. Most students wear yoga pants, stretchy pants etc. that they can move in. We tend to do an aerobic warm up and a stetchy cool down as well, so it is good to feel comfortable and free in movement.   For the tops, tank tops, and more fitted T shirts are good as well. It is helpful to the instructor if your cloths are not too baggy so we can see if you are doing the moves correctly, and it will also better help you see how you are moving as well.  In bellydance we tend to dance in barefeet, however you are welcomed to keep your socks on, or wear slippers or dance shoes (indoor)

Q: I have two left feet, no rhythm, and I’ve never danced before, can I do this?
A: Of course! Bellydance is a great way to get moving. It is moderate impact, and great for learning about movement and muscles you never knew you had! At Down Hips we start of slow, and break down each movement into detailed technique to better help you understand what is happening. Since bellydance uses isolation and movement that is not “natural” at first to western women, everyone is in the same boat when you start. You are training to move your body in ways it doesn’t often move!  Bellydance requires no previous experience in dance or movement in order to try it out – it only requires the motivation to put yourself out there and give it a try!

Join Faith on Monday  nights for a mixed Level BOLLYWOOD FUSION class! See the schedule for details!

Bollywood dance is the dance-form used in the Indian films.  It is a mixture of numerous styles.  These styles include belly-dancing, kathak, Indian folk, Western popular, and “modern”, and jazz.  Faith’s classes are high energy, loads of fun and a great cardio work out!

BOLLYWOOD FUSION

Think Bombay Dreams. Think Devdas. Think Caitin and Jason’s performance to Jai Ho on So You Think You Can Dance! Bollywood Fusion combines the style of dance seen in films produced in Bombay with Indian folk dance (Bhangra, or ‘Indian hip-hop’), Middle Eastern dance, and all manner of Western dance styles. We’ll explore both the modernized and classical sides of Bollywood dance, creating a high-energy, exciting, and expressive atmosphere that’s open to all levels of dancers. We’ll learn steps, combinations, and a fun choreography with the option to perform at the student recital.

Bollywood dance is a difficult topic to discuss because it is hard to pin down.  Its exact definition, geographical distribution, and stylistic characteristics are amorphous.  However in spite of all of this, it is surprisingly recognizable.  In the strict sense the term “Bollywood” refers to the Hindi culture, art, and film industry from Bombay.  The other film centres of South Asia are often referred to by their own designations (e.g., Lollywood (Lahore), Tollywood (Andhra Pradesh)).  However since the Bombay Hindi film industry dwarfs the other productions centres, the term “Bollywood” is generally extended to mean the entire South Asian film culture.  For the purpose of this web-page, we will use the more general meaning.

The international appeal of Bollywood dancing is something that has been many decades in the making.  Originally it was found only in places that had a significant consumption of Indian films (i.e., Former Soviet Union, and the Middle East).  But a few years ago it started to become chic in Europe, and today it is rising in popularity in the US, and Canada.

** New 10 week session begins April 24th ***

Saturdays

• 9:45 – 10:45am….POWER YOGA: LEVEL 1 w/ Tracey Despres  (vinyasa flow yoga) * Great for those new to yoga who want a work out!*
• 11:00 – 12:00……PILATES w/ Tracey Despres
• 12:10 – 1:10……..POWER YOGA: LEVEL 2 (for those with yoga or power yoga experience)
  

Email info@downhips.com to reserve your spot for either class – space is limited!!

POWER YOGA

Also known as Vinyasa Flow Yoga, provides a   great workout  of stretching, strengthening and core recruitment.  Power Yoga is a dynamic and vigorous sequence of postures that aims to purify the body, steady the breath and focus the mind. A great way to build core strength, flexibility and get into shape!

PILATES

Famous for developing strength, flexibility and coordination, not to mention flat abs., Pilates is appreciated by everyone from elite athletes to seniors!

.

.

ABOUT TRACEY

My passion for yoga began 10 years ago when I moved to Kitchener-Waterloo. I took my love of health and fitness to a new level and completed a program with Canadian School of Natural Nutrition becoming a Registered Nutritionist. After a few years employed at a health food store, I attended my first yoga class.
The moment I stepped “on the mat”, I knew that yoga would be a big part of my life. A friend suggested I take Yoga Teacher Training and help her teach the classes while she was away. Teaching brought about a new desire and passion to learn and practice at a deeper level.
It is my personal goal to inspire, educate and teach participants the positive value and amazing benefits of a Yoga and Pilates practice. I create fun and empowering classes that everyone will enjoy and feel successful. I will teach you how to manage your stress through physical exercise, mindful meditation and relaxation techniques.
Although a teacher, I am constantly upgrading and continuing my education — forever a student, with an open mind and heart, ready to learn from other students, wonderful teachers, and always through my own practice and commitment.

Instructor credentials

registered yoga
teacher, RYT200

east to west yoga
teacher certification

wilfrid laurier university
yoga teacher certification

yoga alliance organization
RYT200 designation

ontario yoga teachers
association, member

certified pilates
mat instructor

east to west pilates
teacher certification

can-fit-pro
resist-a-ball instructor

mind-body fitness specialist
cpr certification

Salsa Classes at Down Hips are limited to 10 couples, and move at easy pace so both of the couple can learn the moves without feeling overwhelmed – Perfect for those with 2 left feet!

Technique and detail is given, and moves are recapped to ensure that the couple understands and feels at ease with each move before proceeding forward. This is a great way to learn salsa and merengue with your partner in a fun and supportive environment. Unlike other salsa lessons, at Down Hips your dance partner remains the partner you came with. We do not switch off partners throughout the class. You come to class together, and you learn together.  A great way to spend quality time with the person you care about!

FALL SESSION: We are happy to now announce 2 levels of Salsa instruction!

• Salsa for Couples Level 1: for those new, or with little experience to Salsa, or latin dance. The Salsa steps are taught from the ground up from teh very basic steps to fun spins and turns.
• Salsa for Couples Level 2: A continuing class from level 1 where couples build on technique, solidify the basics learned in Level 1, as well as learning and practicing different combination, turns and styling. In Level 2 more concentration will be given on having fun with the moves, feeling the music and stylizing your dance.

“I have taken Salsa from other locations with my partner, but found that everything moved so fast and we could not retain the moves. The session we had with Dahlia at Down Hips was unlike the others! My wife and I learned at a pace comfortable for us, with personal attention to ensure we had the movements down. By the end we were grooving to the music and able to dance an entire song on our own. It was very enjoyable – thank you Dahlia!”
~ From a student in the winter session

Email info@downhips.com to reserve your spot.

WHAT IS SALSA
Salsa dancing is a dance style associated with the salsa style of music now popular worldwide. Salsa music has its origins sometime in the 1950s to 1970s, with the truly distinct salsa style coming out of New York in the 1970s. The music fuses a number of Cuban styles, but also draws from a number of other Latin American musical styles.

Salsa dancing is mostly a stationary dance, with little movement around the dance floor. Instead, dancers rely on the subtle movement of their legs and upper bodies to convey the energy of the dance.

Salsa dancing is incredibly popular throughout Latin America and Canada and the United States, and is gaining popularity in Europe and elsewhere. Many clubs specialize in salsa music and most towns offer classes in salsa dancing. While not the easiest dance form, because of its high tempo, is it not particularly difficult, and dancers of all skill levels should be able to gain proficiency within a matter of months!

]]> http://www.downhips.com/2010/03/salsa-merengue-for-couples/feed/ 0 http://www.downhips.com/2010/03/burlesque-with-sassy-ray/ http://www.downhips.com/2010/03/burlesque-with-sassy-ray/#comments Thu, 25 Mar 2010 05:13:32 +0000 admin http://www.downhips.com/?p=362

Learn the Art of Tease from a real burlesque performer – gloves, boas, fan work, stockings and sassy moves!

BIOGRAPHY

A principle performer with Revue Royale Burlesque and the founder of Oh, You Tease!  School of Burlesque, Miss Sassy Ray has been bringing Burlesque Revival to the masses since 2006.  With a lifelong passion for theatrical performance and strong 15+ year dance background under her belt, Miss Sassy now focuses her creative energies on teaching and performing Classic Burlesque - recreating the lost Art of Tease so popular in the 1930s-1950s. Class in an Hour Glass!