Belly Dance Classes
Transform yourself!
Learn the ancient magical art of Belly Dancing in Sarasota with Tahja.
How to be successful in dance (or anything for that matter!):
1. faith or conviction or belief (saddha)
2. energy or persistence or perseverance (viriya)
3. mindfulness or memory (sati)
4. concentration or focus (samādhi)
5. wisdom or understanding or comprehension (panna).
These are some of the qualities lauded by the Buddha as conducive to Enlightenment.”
Belly dancing in Sarasota
How lucky we are to have Belly dance lessons near the top rated beach in the USA!
Tahja’s belly dance classes are taught in a very supportive environment where everyday women discover how very extraordinary they really are!
Why belly dance?
Belly Dance is…
- For everyone!
- A sure way to tone and firm muscles so your body looks and feels trimmer
- The best way to sculpt the body, as these ancient moves are designed to create a shapely, strong, curvaceous and sensual body
- Great for helping you to achieve and maintain your ideal weight in a way that dieting alone can’t
- A great complexion enhancer, as it improves circulation.
- A good way to develop quicker reflexes
- A wonderful way to decrease your appetite by secreting endorphins to the brain
- Great for combating fatigue by increasing your energy
- A super way to get rid of stress
- A stimulator in the digestion system
- Counters the feeling of being stiff or rigid, as this is a wonderful way to get into the “flow” and improve flexibility.
- A wonderful way to meet new friends
- Good for the heart! Get fit and tone while having fun!
- A confidence booster. It will show you that you can improve yourself no matter what your age or physical condition.
- Unleash the feminine, become subtly sexy
PLUS
- Your posture will improve
- You’ll become more graceful and coordinated
- Concentration and balance is greatly improved
- It’s loads of fun!
- Renew your mid-section. Have a new relationship with your belly!
- It’s a wonderful outlet for creativity and expression
- A good way to unwind and relax
- Excellent for self awareness (learn to move parts you never thought would even move!)
- Feel more sensuous and alive
- Learn about other cultures and better understand their music and traditions
- You’ll meet many warm and friendly people
- It’s good for the mind to learn something new! Challenge yourself!
- It is endorsed by many doctors as a healing modality
- Your overall appearance will improve as you radiate more energy
- You’ll learn to gain control and awareness of your body movement.
- You learn to use your body in a natural fluid way as opposed to repetitive or jumping motions that are less natural and can be hard on the joints.
- It is one of the healthiest forms of exercise for all ages (Tahja has had students with ages from 5 to 95 in her classes!)
- It combines the use of the mind, body, & spirit.
- You might even want to perform!
- There is no good reason not to dance
So do it for YOU. You deserve it!
Belly dancing creates self acceptance and celebration for the gift of life and movement. It is a wonderful way to make new friends, build confidence, to relax, feel more sensual and alive, and have a lot of fun!
There are also many physical benefits such as sculpting the body, better muscle tone, improving the posture, better circulation, becoming more fluid, graceful and flexible while at the same time learning about other parts of the world, and an art that can be shared with friends!
Tahja’s belly dancing classes are sure to transform your body and mind.
Fall Schedule:
Wednesday Evenings, Oct 19th-Dec 21st
Beginners Belly Dance Class Sarasota 5:30-6:30
Advanced Belly Dance Class Sarasota 6:45-7:45
You might also want to try some of these exciting classes available on Monday nights:
- Polynesian dance classes held Mondays at 5:30 really improves hand expression and gracefulness, as well as fast hip dexterity.
- Rumba Flamenca class held Mondays at 6:45 wonderful for rhythm, body posturing, and general coordination.
CLASS LOCATION:
Sarasota Dance Center, 5000 Fruitville Road. Sarasota, Florida
Located 1/2 way between McIntosh & Honore (about a mile west of I-75).
Landmarks: Studio is on the south side of the street, before KFC
It is a nice well lit parking lot.
If coming from Honore heading west, stay in left lane, when you see KFC, pass it, & make a U turn. The entrance is before you get to KFC.
HOW TO SIGN UP:
Call Tahja at 941-349-3494 or email tahja@tahja.com to let me know you plan to attend.
WHAT TO WEAR:
Check out my Bazaar on this web site if you need some fun new dance wear!
For the top: wear anything comfortable that allows you to move easily.
For the bottom, skirts worn on the hips or leggings are perfect.
For your hips, tie on a coin belt or shawl and you’re ready to dance!
We normally dance barefoot so no special footwear is needed.
RATES:
$20 each class or $150 for 10 weeks
Additional classes during the 10 week Fall series are $10
Super Saver: Take all 40 classes Monday and Wednesday for $300
Looking forward to lots of HAPPY DANCING!
Best regards, Tahja
Private lessons also available.
ABOUT TAHJA:
Tahja has over 30 years experience in coaching and performing Middle Eastern dance. She is a professional producer and entertainer who has performed and taught dance internationally.
As a teacher, she is known for her amazing ability to turn an “average” or even a “non” dancer into an exquisite performer in a very short space of time.
Having worked with professional athletes & competitive dancers, as well as women and men who have never danced in their lives, she makes everyone feel comfortable and capable, one step at a time. Whether your goal is a fun form of weight loss, to feel more sensual & alive, the joy of learning something new, to build self confidence through body language, or even to perform, you will find ALL of that in belly dance classes with Tahja
Quotes from some of Tahja’s students:
“I have always exercised, but my figure has become so much more shapely and I move much more gracefully since I have studied with Tahja”
“Tahja has the unique ability to bring out the BEST in her students. I never thought of myself as a dancer, but now, after just a couple of classes, have discovered the dancer in me!”
“What amazes me about classes with Tahja, is the way she is able to get a klutz like me to dance like a swan!”
“Tahja is truly a citizen of the world. I learned so much about not only the dance, but the cultures to which the dance belongs.”
Women all over the world have discovered that this is not only a wonderful form of dance and exercise; it is a way to love yourself, your body, and grow in confidence of your capabilities.
Belly dancing is for all ages.
Tahja is a very knowledgeable and experienced teacher with more than 3o years of teaching dance. She is more than happy to give you plenty of individual attention to help you reach your full potential.
Instruction is approachable and supportive, and you will most certainly feel at ease asking for assistance in the belly dance classes. Tahja is very helpful in modifying moves for your comfort level if you have a health issue.
Belly dance classes by Tahja will introduce you to the basics for those who have not danced before. They are fun-filled informative classes with plenty of individual help on how to do the basic moves from rib-cage isolations to hip techniques and developing the perfect shimmy!
Instructional DVDs, finger cymbals & dance accessories are also available in Tahja’s Dance Bazaar.
Tahja also is available for workshops globally.
Please explore the site for information on other dance and ethnic arts being offered including Flamenco, Polynesian and Hawaiian Dance, Latin Dance, Ballroom Dancing , and music instruction.
Find Sarasota belly dance classes and other information about ethnic arts in Sarasota online at sarasota-entertainment-ethnic-dance-and-music-tahja.com/. Visit Tahja Belly Dance Sarasota onlinePictures of some of Tahja’s Students:
Tahja’s dedication to the preservation & dissemination of authentic dance led to the creation of a technique which embodies an understanding of not only dance movement, but also the music and culture from Arab & Turkish speaking countries, as a total cultural experience.
Tahja has the reputation of turning novice dancers very quickly into exquisite and authentic performers who embody the rich cultures from which the dance comes through this cultural and musical understanding.
Known for her innovative style, clear communication, enthusiasm, experience, creative and inspiring technique, Tahja is a gifted instructor who is able to share with her students the passion that she has for dance and music, and is able to impart to her students those secrets of the dance that make her personal performances so unique and magical.
Having worked with professional athletes & competitive dancers, as well as women and men who have never danced in their lives, she makes everyone feel comfortable and capable, one step at a time.
Her students learn not only specific dance movements and techniques, but moreover, how to perform & choreograph this rich genre of artistic expression.
Tahja is referred to as a “master teacher for teachers” of Middle Eastern dance, as many of Tahja’s students have become world-class performers and teachers of the dance.
The Tahja Technique is designed to discover and unleash the dancer who resides in each of us, to empower one to come into their full joyful potential of expression through dance.”
Tahja believes that learning dance is a joyful and natural process that can greatly benefit anyone, at any age and of any gender.
She views each student as already well accomplished and beautiful, using affirmations and creative visualization to encourage the natural dancer within.
Tahja’s teaching is based on ancient knowledge that dance is about the mind and spirit as much as the body. With this understanding, dramatic changes occur in the lives of her students as they “dance their way” through their grand celebration of life.
Tahja teaches “focused intention”, which is about the dancer’s energetic affect on those who are present when the dance is performed. “As my students discover their own personal dance, they realize more the impact they have on the lives of others, and how very healing and transformative this dance can be not only to the dancer, but also to the observers, through the dancer’s focused intention”.
There is a deep joy unleashed in this dance. By expressing and sharing one’s most profound and emotional feelings through these ancient and sacred physical movements or music (referred to as “taxim”), one’s personal discovery is powerful and contagious, as the dancer or musician is able to share a story of the common bond we all share as humans.
There is a deep philosophical side to the dance, such as a flexible body leads to a flexible mind; as well as a deep spiritual side, such as is felt when an alert and relaxed body that is aware of and responsive to beautiful music brings one to a deep state of moving meditation.
The new found expression of movement allows Tahja’s students to become more expressive not only in their dance but also in their lives, sharing with other’s in a powerful ancient force of renewal and healing.
The “Tahja Technique” is a source for the truly serious artist who wants to unveil her own authentic self through Middle Eastern dance. It is movement, combined with cultural & musical understanding, integrated with the ancient spiritual essence of the dance.
Tahja is one of the few teachers who also works with men in dancing a folkloric style of Middle Eastern dance. As soft and feminine as the dance is for women, it is also strong and masculine when danced by a man when understanding the stylization differences between the two styles.
To study with Tahja, call (941) 349-3494 or email tahja@tahja.com
6-7:30pm Wednesdays
