Teaching
Information about Desna's regular weekly classes is on the home page.
Desna also teaches private lessons, workshops for schools and community groups, and bellydance groups and events.
Although Desna is based in Lancaster, in the North of England, she would be delighted to travel to teach. She requires a minimum of two week's notice for all bookings. She is prepared to take bookings at shorter notice, but these will attract a late booking surcharge.
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Private Tuition
Private tuition is recommended for students who want to work on a particular aspect of their bellydance, e.g., a particular movement, or dancing to a particular piece of music. Desna will agree with you before the lessons what you want to look at, so that you get the most out of the time.
Desna doesn't recommend private tuition for complete beginners - from her experience beginners learn more, and learn faster, in the supportive social environment of regular weekly classes.
If you're looking for a gift for a bellydancer, why not give them a gift voucher for private lessons? Contact Desna for more information.
Booking private tuition with Desna: For more information, please visit the Bookings page.
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Schools and Community Groups
Desna is experienced in teaching a wide range of ages, and welcomes the participation of men and boys in workshops and classes. She will tailor teaching sessions to the needs of you and your group - whether you're a school teacher looking for something different for PE or a community group wanting to learn a new skill. Below are descriptions of Desna's 'ready-to-go' workshops:
Journey up the Nile
This workshop uses creative dance movement, simple bellydance steps and Egyptian stick dance to take participants on an imaginary journey up the Nile from Alexandria, on the Mediterranean coast of Egypt, to Luxor in its South. It can be adapted for a timeslot between 1.5-2 hours, and is suitable for age groups from 7 and upwards, mixed age and intergenerational groups.
Introduction to Bellydance
This workshop involves learning and playing with some some basic bellydance moves and learning a fun bellydance routine. The workshop can be anywhere between 1-2 hrs in length and can be adapted for different age groups.
Introduction to Saidi stick dance
This workshop introduces participants to the music of the Said (a region of Southern Egypt) and some of the folkloric dance steps of the area. One characteristic of Saidi dance is the use of a stick or staff to complement dance movements and to wield in its own right. Due to the use of sticks, this workshop will require a large space and will only run with a limited number of participants. It can be adapted for a timeslot between 1.5-2 hours, and is suitable for age groups from 7 and upwards. This workshop builds on content from the Introduction to Bellydance workshop and so isn't entirely suitable for complete beginners.
Booking Desna to teach: For more information, please visit the Bookings page.
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Bellydance groups and events
If you are a member of a bellydance group or an organiser of a bellydance event, Desna would be delighted to teach more specialised workshops for you. She can tailor workshops to your needs, or you can choose from one of the following 'ready-to-go' workshops. All of them require a sound knowledge of basic bellydance movements and concepts.
Technique Tweak
This workshop is a technique 'surgery' for those who want their questions about basic and improver bellydance technique answered. It can be adapted for a timeslot between 1 - 3 hours, depending on the number of participants and their level of experience.
Shimmy Toolbox
This workshop is aimed at dancers who want to learn how to begin layering shimmies over other movements. This will include exploring several different kinds of shimmy and exercise drills to get you on the road to layering shimmies. It really requires a minimum of 2 hours to cover the content adequately.
Booking Desna to teach: For more information, please visit the Bookings page.