BELLY DANCE PHOTOS

During our existence, La Bella Rosa School of Dance Arts has appeared at various expos and other events. Click on the link to view photos.

About Us

La Bella Rosa School of Dance Arts was established in June 2007 by principal, Rosemarie Layne, to teach a range of dance styles and, furthermore, to train a corps of dancers for entertainment services. Using the Louise Woodvine Dance Academy as our base, we currently offer classes in Belly Dance at this facility.

The school made its first public appearance October 28, 2007 when the principal and two students performed at the 21^st Anniversary Diwali Show held at the Ursuline Convent. Last year we

participated in the Healthy Lifestyles Extravaganza, the Seniors’ Expo’ , the Barbados Reiki Association’s Open Day and also performed at the Caribbean Development Bank's Christmas Party.

The principal is a dancer of over twelve years’ experience, most of which is in Ballroom and Latin dance. She has also taught a number of groups and individuals in Ballroom and Latin dance and has performed for various venues across Barbados. A former student of the Barbados Dance Theatre, she has also received instruction in Modern, Jazz, African, Caribbean Folk, as well as Choreography.

Over the past four years, she has further expanded her repertoire, studying the art of Middle Eastern/Egyptian Belly Dance.

For further information, please call (246) 435-7201 or e-mail labellarosa@sunbeach.net.

Contact Us

To register for belly dance classes, or book Mira or a group for a performance for your event, please contact:

Rosemarie Layne
Principal/ Instructor
e-mail: labellarosa@sunbeach.net

Tel:(246) 435-7201

Welcome message

Welcome to La Bella Rosa School of Dance Arts’ web site.

Rosemarie Layne

Principal/Instructor

Once you begin your odyssey of belly dance, I am confident you will enjoy the experience immensely.

Belly dance works on several levels and has multiple benefits. By choosing this unique dance and exercise form, you should see welcome improvements in things such as posture, your digestion and circulatory system, the elimination of toxins, your ability to relax, your confidence level and an opportunity to affirm you femininity, while experiencing sheer joy and exhilaration!

As part of your support service, this site will provide diet and health tips, as well as other interesting tidbits, and generally keep you abreast of all the developments relevant to your class. If you are interested in working towards performing, I would be happy to work with you.

Thank you for visiting our belly dance site. Happy browsing!

La Bella
Rosa School
of Dance Arts

Bringing out your feminine allure!

2009 Belly Dance Schedule

TERM II  - January 10 – March 28 (12-weeks)	BEGINNERS LEVEL  I   - SAT. 4.30 p.m. & Wed. 7.30 p.m.	“Nour El Ain”
	BEGINNERS LEVEL  II & III - Sat 3.30 p.m. (at least two six –week sessions/ two terms OR previous dance experience)	Cheftetelli/ Veil Dance – “Turbo Tabla 3”
Participation in Seniors Expo – Saturday, April 11
Participation in Combermere  School Pageant – Plantation Garden Theatre,  Sunday  April 19
TERM III – APRIL 18, (22) and 25 (10-weeks)	BEGINNERS LEVEL II (at least six sessions/ one term completed)	Habibi Alli - upbeat, fun-filled choreography
Saturday 4.30 OR 5.30 p.m.	INTERMEDIATE* (at least two terms OR previous dance experience)	Baladi ** - fast belly dance moves - more technique and flair (arm/ hand positions, spins, pivots, hip twists, Ms, hops etc.)
Participation in Barbados Reiki Open Day – Ursuline Convent Hall, Sunday, June 28
	BEGINNERS LEVEL I	Nour El Ain - Saturday 4.30 OR 5.30 p.m. OR Wednesday 7.30 p.m.
SUMMER SESSION (eight weeks – July - August)	BEGINNERS LEVEL II/INTERMEDIATE (8 sessions/ 1 term completed)	NEW Drum Solo - # 13, Around the World CD
	? SENIORS CLASS - Tues/ Thurs 11.30 a.m. – 12.30 p.m.
	BEGINNERS LEVEL I    - Noun El Ain  - Sat. 4.30 p.m. OR  Wed. 7.30 p.m.
? TRIBAL BELLY DANCE WORKSHOP – CALIFORNIAN DANCER, MANASHA FICE
SUMMER GET-TOGETHER?
TWO-HOUR WORKSHOP - BEGINNERS/ DRUM SOLO – Sat. from (3.00/ 3.30 p.m.)
SEPTEMBER (TERM I) 12 weeks – Sat. & Wed. p.m.	INTERMEDIATE (at least two six-week sessions/ two terms) –	Veil choreography - Zeina
	? BEGINNERS LEVEL II  - (if summer Beginners’ class) OR BEGINNERS LEVEL I  – “Noun El Ain”  (if workshop)	Habibi / Tabla Plus Dynamic Drum Solo
CHRISTMAS PARTY – date to be announced
JANUARY 2010
WORKSHOP – BEG. OR VEIL/ CHEFTETELLI – SAT. (from 3.00/ 3.30 p.m.)
TERM II	INTERMEDIATE (at least two six –week sessions/ two terms)	- Baladi** -   more technique and flair
	BEGINNERS LEVEL II  - (if numbers warrant it)	“Habibi” & Cheftetelli*/ Veil  - Tabla Turbo 3
	BEGINNERS LEVEL I  – “Noun El Ain”  (if workshop)	Cheftetelli                 slow, basic four-count rhythm Baladi                     lively, traditional 4-beat rhythm

History of Belly Dance

Boasting a long and colourful history, Belly Dance has been around for more than 25,000 years.

Some exponents dislike the term, deeming it degrading, while others embrace it, seeing it in tune with the symbolism of the belly. Also known as "Raks Sharki " (translated as "the dance of the people"), it was created to celebrate Mother Earth. In its early days it was a fertility ritual dance and also reflected basic life experiences.

Why belly dance?

Belly dancing taps into the hidden Goddess inside us and all we need to do is believe in ourselves and let the dancing begin.

It is excellent all-round exercise form for women of all ages as it is low-impact. It terms of the lower body, it slims the waist and tones the upper and lower abdominals, the hips, thighs and buttocks, and also strengthens the back and improves flexibility. Upper body-wise, belly dance firms and shapes the bust, the arms and the shoulders and generally improves posture. It is also cardiovascular in the various travelling steps and invigorating shimmies!

It can also be helpful in pregnancy because it engages in movements that can ease lower-back pain and build up abdominal and pelvic muscles needed during labour.

But beyond the physical benefits, Belly Dance offers more – the various twists and circular movements around the spine gently massage the internal organs (liver, kidneys - organs of elimination) bringing about more efficient functioning of the body as a whole.

Benefits of Belly Dancing

Why belly dance?

Out of all the exercise forms available, why belly dance?

The answer is multi-faceted, as it may surprise you to know that this ancient Eastern art form has numerous benefits – physical, mental, emotional, sensual and even spiritual.

PHYSICAL

Belly dance tones, stretches and strengthens:

1) the abdominals

2) the arms and wrists

3) the thighs, calves and ankles

4) the hips and buttocks

5) the back and neck

The great thing is that is does all the above without physical wear and stress on the body, so it is good for all ages and fitness levels. It also:

v burns calories and keeps with weight control

v promotes good posture

v Increases blood flow and circulation

v improves cardiovascular functioning and endurance

v lubricates and loosens the joints and the spine, making you more flexible – extremely effective with longevity

v releases stress and tension from the body

v massages and stimulates the internal organs

v improves the digestive system

v promotes vitality and energy

v teaches you how to isolate and control various muscles.

MENTAL/EMOTIONAL

v facilitates mental connection with every part of your body

v increase mind-body coordination

v teaches and promotes body sensitivity and physical awareness

v develops the right side function of the brain

v relaxes the mind and relieves mental stress

v encourages mental and emotional release.

SENSUAL

v teaches you to be more rhythmic

v develops grace and confidence

v promotes appreciation of different aspects of music

v teaches how to physically interpret music

v facilitates a natural sense of rhythm

v can energetically and spiritually put your essence in rhythm.

v encourages you to express your beauty

v allows you to naturally express your sexuality

v promotes happiness and joy!

What to expect

Once you embark on your belly dance odyssey with La Bella Rosa School of Dance Arts, I am confident you will enjoy the experience immensely.

Belly dance works on several levels and has multiple benefits. By choosing this unique dance and exercise form, you should see welcome improvements in areas such as posture, your digestion and circulatory system, the elimination of toxins, your ability to relax, your confidence level and an opportunity to affirm you femininity, while experiencing sheer joy and exhilaration!

As part of your support service, this site will provide intermittent diet and health tips, as well as other interesting tidbits, and generally keeps you abreast of all the developments relevant to your class. In addition, If you are interested in performing, I would be happy to work with you.

Once you are registered, you will receive various documents outlining the basic movements of belly dance by e-mail. We may not cover all of them in the initial course, but, nonetheless, you can get a feel of the movements. They may seem like quite a bit but, don’t worry, gradually you'll get comfortable with them, especially if you have the accompanying music.

MUSIC CDs/ BELLY DANCE DVDs

If you are interested, I have compilation CDs with different styles belly dance music for sale. I am also pleased to offer you my short début performance DVD with featuring Veil dance, Taxsim/ Cheftetelli, Drum Solo and Cane Dance at $10.

Finally, to add some excitement and create an exotic aura, there are bindi face and body stickers. (See list of belly dance apparel and jewellery being offered by an associate.)

Thank you for your interest and look forward to seeing you.

Rosemarie Layne

Principal/Instructor

La Bella Rosa School of Dance Arts

Tel: 435-7201

labellarosa@sunbeach.net

Bringing out your feminine allure!

What to wear to class

For this class you can dress in regular exercise or dance gear (tights/yoga pants and leotards/tank tops.) Alternatively, you can wear a long full skirt or a loose-fitting pants and a comfortable top. Coin scarves in chiffon/ georgette or velvet, worn around the hips and a signature feature of this dance genre, can be ordered via the internet, with moondancebellydance.com and missbellydance.com being but two options. La Bella Rosa School of Dance Arts also offers for sale various styles from time to time.

For those of you who may be tentative, please rest assured that you do NOT need to have your stomach exposed for this dance style. It should, however, please you to know that the exercises involved in this dance form are such that they will significantly tone your core (waistline, abdominals, back, buttocks), as well as the arms and legs. Belly dancing is an excellent fitness régime and therefore not only for dancers/performers, with women of all ages greatly benefitting from it.

I look forward to guiding you on an exciting journey of mystique into the exotic realm of belly dancing.

Get ready to shake those hips, ladies!