Classes - Student Quotes

Zehara has taken belly dancing to a different level, and brings her own skill and imagination into every class she teaches. I have tried other classes on the odd times she has been away and they are slow and lack the Zehara factor. Her classes are so energetic that with the stresses of life you can go in feeling worn out and come out rejuvenated and this keeps you going until the next week StraitJacket Circus

Well after a stressful day, I can't wait to get to class tonight. Nothing like a bit of shimmying to shake those blues away! By going to the classes I've also lost half a stone in January, and still ate chocolate! I would urge anyone to come to the class and give it a go. I'll guarentee several things...you will lea...ve with a smile and your face, eager to come back for more, and finally become a hugh fan of Zehara.....like me xxx Louise

I used to be a member of a gym but found that I wasn’t reaching my goals as I was unmotivated (like many of us) and wanted to find a fun way to keep fit. Before my 1st session I had all the usual concerns of what should I wear, will I be able to keep up etc but upon arriving all my concerns disappeared because Zehara ...was friendly and approachable and made me feel very welcome, the music started and I just went with the flow.

Zeharas dance is unique and upbeat she is passionate about what she does and encourages everyone to join in and share her love of dancing. I’ve been hooked ever since and no longer require the gym as this keeps me fit whilst having fun with fantastic people, it also gives me a chance to let my hair down and feel liberated.

I have never attended any other classes before that leave me feeling so positive and full of energy. Kelly

Dear Nikki & Jan
Thanks for the workshop last weekend it was fab! The feed back has been really good, they were buzzing about the whole experience, the energy, the music and your outfit.
Angela

Dear Zehara Thanks for the DVD of the workshop held in Bethesda a couple of weeks a go. I really wanted to write and say how much I really enjoyed the afternoon and that your workshop was exactly what I have been looking for. It is so nice to meet a teacher who has such an infectious desire to dance and share with others. I loved the pace of your workshop and the fact that we all got on and had a go at the moves, it was all about fun and if I learnt one move that day I did well. Most of all it was the fun and the desire to carry on dancing. You really made me feel that if I practice I can dance. I really hope that I can attend more of your work shops as I feel I have so much to learn from you.

Many, many thanks for a fantastic day and the fantastic feel good factor. I hope that I will more of you in the future. Shazz

Hiya Zehara

Just a few words to express my gratitude.

I participated in the workshop in Bethesda and it was GREEEAATTT!!! I simply love it. It is a way to dance much more adapted to me than the belly dancing, to the way a feel the musica and I dance and I move.

I really like the fact that we were dancing all the time, without counting or remembering the movements (As soon as I have to think what I am doing I can't do it, the same apply if I have to count!). I was just feeling the music (which was also fantastic).

Yesterday I was all aching (I confess!!) but the 3 hours past like 3 minutes, and all what I could think the rest of the day is that I wanted to keep dancing!!

Thank you very much from my heart
Celia

I just wanted to drop you a line to say Thank You for the workshop you did for us last night. We all had a really good time and it is great that the girls have had fun and exercise at the same time.

Thanks again

Christine

i came to a workshop at topcliffe last year. it was like nothing i'd ever done before! i had a fantastic time. great to see your interpretation of the music. if you do another class in north yorkshire please let us know through basthabda. keep on dancing lou

I see you as extra special tallented people and you must continue with your wonderful dancing. You are bringing such a lot of joy and happiness to the dancers who are fortunate enough to experience your style. I look forward to my next workshop with you both.

Kindest Regards
Anne

Hi Zehara

Again, it was brilliant to dance at your class in Northumberland.

Best Wishes
Lucy

Dear Nikki & Yan

Thank you for the wonderful workshop experience at Wortely Hall. I love the energy and style of your classes. I would love to attend more workshops with you and hope I hear about any workshops you may hold in the future.

Sending you my very best wishes for the future
Kindest Regards
Anne

I am writing on behalf of the "hens" who attended your class in Didsbury on Saturday 19th. We had an absolutely brilliant time! The class was great fun and we were made to feel very welcome indeed. We especially liked the "I will survive" track at the end !!

The class put us in a party mood for the rest of the day, it certainly was a day to remember.

Thank you so much for your efforts.

You may well be seeing some of us again!!

With warmest regards,

Alison.

Feedback on SoPen Workshop with Zehara: 16 Forms completed. (All attendees completed forms)

Teaching: 13 said “Excellent”; 2 said “Very good” ; 1 said “Good”

*Venue: 2 said “Excellent” ; 6 said “very good”; 4 said “Good”; 3 said “OK”; 1 said “poor”

1 “Excellent”; 2 V.good and 1 “ Poor” mentioned “very dirty floor”; the “Poor” also noting the presence of broken glass.

“The energy, new ideas for fluidity of movement; clear instruction and demonstration”

“It seemed about right to me, enjoyed it all: music, moves and costumes. Very inspirational”

In a workshop, do you prefer to (a) concentrate on technique (b) Learn a choreography (c) Do both ?

“Technique” 1 response, qualified by comment: “I like to make my own choreography”

“Do both” - 13 responses. 1 of which qualified by comment: “In this workshop, because the “group” element is important. In ordinary Arabic workshops I like to do technique, not choreography” and another “50% technique; 50% choreography”.

“Thank you for organising this workshop & for providing refreshments. So pleased Zehara came over here for us”

“”Great workshop – loved it. The floor unfortunately was very dirty! Perhaps a smart a—e could remember to bring some wet-wipes!!”

What can I say?

Belly Dancing - I had long been drawn to making the attempt. I had felt I would enjoy and even do quite well at this type of dancing. There was only one problem: I am an exercise-phobe!

This condition is not rare - I have personally met a number of others suffering from the same disease. On the surface it is not life threatening. However, it is not life enhancing, either. But now - NOW - I can offer to my friends that which is! Yes - Belly Dancing. Specifically - Zehara's classes.

I was right to think I would love this, and finding that I pretty much took to it like a duck to water, as the saying goes, was very satisfying. I also know exactly why - these classes are full of fun and no little excitement. Sometimes, just when I feel "A-ha! I've got it!" we're on to something new - and I have to start again, with a jolly good laugh at myself and all the others there in exactly the same boat. Then there are the times when a move just flows so naturally and - dare I say it, even of myself? - beautifully, that the laughter is from sheer exhilaration.

This is it - the essence of Zehara's classes. Even as the mirror merrily faces me with my blotchy face and heaving shoulders, as I gasp for water and try to believe that really, I look gorgeous, I can't help but grin away. Sheer enjoyment!

The icing on the cake, of course, was being asked if I would be interested in joining the Urban Gypsies - would I ever! And, as a trained actor, I brought with me into the troupe this singular essence which I have noticed brings every performance alive. It doesn't matter how red or puffed you are, what articles of clothing fall off (ahem - mostly just accessories, I assure you!), the heart of any performance is this essence of Zehara's classes - pure enjoyment. It is there for all of us - in performance or class, as exercise-philes or phobes. These moves are so much a part of us when we are feeling alive and engaging with others around us that, yes, I do dare say it - they make us all beautiful.

So: whoever you are, whatever you do, keep dancing and - ENJOY!

DANIELLE FARROW

Dressed in gypsy tribal gear
Watch gypsy dancer, she is near

Her exotic golden gypsy skin
Beautiful jewels that she's dressed in.

Her swaying hips, they do gyrate
Round and round in a figure of eight

Watch how her body moves to the sound
Up in the air, then down to the ground

She swoops and soars like an eagle in flight
As she dances on this exotic night

Moroccan nights were made for this
Desert fire, the smoke, the hiss

She dances round the gypsy fire
Lifting arms and skirts much higher

Her feet are flying with Arabian groove
Watch her make her body move

Tassels fly and coined belt chinks
She catches your eye and then she winks

A change of tempo on the drum
A different tune, now watch her come

Watch her shoulders, shimmy and shake
She's dancing like an uncoiled snake

The music is changing once again
She dances across hot coals, no pain

Gypsy dancer, pray, have no fear
Dance all night, your friends are here

The sun comes up, she can dance no more
She falls exhausted to the floor.

She sleeps by day and dances by night
This beautiful Moroccan gypsy light

The Goddess Within

When Nikki said she was looking for articles for her newsletter, I wondered what I could write about and then I thought of the obvious belly dancing of course! To be a little more specific, belly dancing and me because this dance is one of the most liberating things I have come across.

Like any woman in our modern society, I have grown up with the ideas of woman and woman shape which are thrust upon us by our forms of media. And again like most women, I developed from a young age all kinds of hang ups about bodies, a distortion I see as endemic in our society, is my bum too big? my breasts too small? my belly too round?

These are ideas by which women are influenced in varying degrees and to which women try to conform, when in reality they are not particularly "ideal" and what they do is take us away from simply being and celebrating who we really are. And for me, this is where belly dancing came in, a celebration of who I am. Belly Dancing has got to be one of the most feminine dances around, a dance where it doesn't matter what size or shape we are: where if you're got it, shake it, seems to be an appropriate maxim, a dance that simply electorates "Woman" and that can be an important step to celebrating womanhood for me, I found belly dancing a liberating first step to making friends with my body and to embracing myself as an embodiment of divine woman: in my terms the Goddess within. Going even further than that, for me, belly dancing specifically Nikki's electric tribal Belly Dance where we all have our own "variations" also incorporates a strong sense of power: a sense of I am Strong, I am powerful, I am here and I am now. It's fantastic! Combined with the anatomy of the dance where the belly is central and so for women, in which the womb, our creative centre is stimulated, it encourages our sense of creativity, not only in the outward creation of rhythm and dance but also the trimmings of tassel and costume and even a sense of self empowerment and self identity.

What a powerful combination! Who would have thought the hip drop so profound!

So this is a thanks: to Nikki for creating a space in which to celebrate woman and for
all of us who get on and do it.

In love, laughter and light.

EMMA

Student Quotes about the belly dance classes and workshopsHome

What can I say?