start right where you are - I took my first class through the continuing ed dept of my university

search the university website to see if there are any groups on campus or classes offered

I know that a number of the groups locally around here teach out of rec centers and arts cooperatives as well.

my first class was a little more than I had first expected, but I got SO much more out of it than a few lessons, it was well worth it!

good luck!

Hi Sarah,
I don't know where you live, but if you can find a teacher near you and take lessons, that's the BEST way to learn belly dance. Probably not all that cheap, but shop around and see if you can find a good teacher that offers a class card or package of classes for a bit of a discount off the regular class price.

One other alternative is to get a DVD on basic belly dance and start with that. Not the best way to learn, because you don't get individualized attention, but you could probably learn the basics, but more affordable. Then you could go to a class when you can better afford it.

Hope this helps.
Z

I know how you feel about not being able to afford classes- I only know of two teachers here (I have been bellydancing longer than one of them) but I can't afford either of their classes =(
Wish I just knew some girls who'd like to dance together for fun.
Self-taught through books and dvds is how I have had to go and I have got a little collection going now.

The Twins are the idiot's guide to bellydance (almost too easy)
great, though, if you know nothing but you won't get more than like 2 minutes of actual choreography and I think that's important so you can learn to weave together the moves you've learned and make clean transitions that flow

Rania's is more like a Step Class- just a lot of back and forth- focuses mostly just on working out, not actually dancing

Dolphina's is fun because she actually involves the zills and it is a good workout with quick results if you want to shape up your tummy although be warned- she is tough to keep up with at first
but I like that her routines go through an entire song- so you could actually show off what you learned with the cd that accompanies each.

Jillina's are the best for learning a choreography and really getting comfortable with it- she teaches the way a dance teacher would, lots of repetition (you learn a move, then do the last one and the new, learn the next, repeat all three- like that)
Fun routines that look difficult when she pperforms them at first, very traditional-looking

I am looking forward to trying Rachel Brice's tribal fusion because she incorporates yoga stretches with her dancing and that is something I have been doing before practicing anyhow- I'm stoked that someone is including it on a dvd.

Don't bother with a book- they are practically useless, except Tamalyn Dallal has some good break downs in hers for working up to doing complicated moves like a back bend on the floor and making that separation between your ribs and hips- little excercises that are helpful.

Hope that helps somewhat- let me know if you find any good ones that I haven't reviewed

Just a thought: you might try seeking the Austin TX branch of the Society for Creative Anachronism ( The Barony of Bryn Gwlad
bryn-gwlad.ansteorra.org/). They may be able to direct you to SCA members in the area that study middle eastern dance.

In Ontario (Canada) , SCA members interested in middle eastern culture meet for haflas on a regular basis.

i have jillina's dvd, level 1&2 i believe. as a total beginner last year i was lost with that one. now i can kinda keep up with her. she's a pro choreographer!

i have dolphina's "goddess workout". it's a good one. you learn some moves and work up a sweat.

and i have rachel's "yoga & tribal" dvd. it is great! since i teach yoga i can do her sequence more specifically to warm up for dance. she just kicks ass!!

i have khajira's american tribal style dvd. that's pretty advanced. i learn a lot just watching.

what's weird for beginners is that you are trying to move your body in ways it's probably never moved before. (i looked like a washing machine when i first did isolations of various parts. embarrassing!!!)

like yoga, you are better getting human interaction while learning some basics so you get the proper technique down. even if it's hanging out with a bunch of girls who are interested and maybe one knows some basics. then it's easier to refer to the dvds.

I actually did fine with the Suhaila Salimpour Archive Series 1 -4. I must say this series of video (wow am I datine myself) is the basis of my dance.

Can you afford to go to workshops occasionally? If funds are limited try a few class supplemented by videos (beginner of course).

I think "good" videos/dvds are a great way to learn if you live in an area that does not have teachers.