Maybe you are a woman who is looking for something different, an empowering experience that may just happen to change your life. You might be keen to express yourself through dance, to the hypnotic, rhythmic sounds of Middle Eastern music in a friendly, no-pressure environment. If this sounds like you then maybe “Shimmy with Massarah” classes will light your fire.
“Massarah” – Arabic for joy and delight – is the given professional name of an Australian-born, qualified secondary school teacher and bellydancer currently offering classes in the heart of Ellerslie. Joy and delight, too, is what most women can expect to experience when learning this dance form. As for “shimmy”, this is what most women ask Massarah to teach them first, before any other move.
Having bellydanced for ten years, including performing professionally in a number of Australian cities before coming to Auckland three years ago, Massarah believes the time is right for her to inspire other women in this expressive dance through both private and group tuition.
Massarah is a passionate enthusiast of both traditional and modern Egyptian bellydance, feeling inspired to follow her heart in her dancing. “I have gained great confidence and self esteem through the tuition and guidance of my Auckland teacher and this has put me in the right frame of mind to start my business.”
Along with fun and fitness, these classes promise to help women of all ages, shapes and sizes develop confidence, a sense of well-being and a chance to discover their inner beauty. According to Massarah, “you will learn to express yourself through movement to the music by feeling the dance from your heart.”
Massarah has always been fascinated by Arabic rhythms and her experience includes recent workshops from the experts in Cairo. In addition, she has to her credit 23 years teaching science and mathematics, nine years lecturing, three years tutoring, four years as an aerobics instructor and two years as a bellydance teacher. She is a registered member of MEDANZ – Middle East Dance Association of New Zealand. Her fun, lively and engaging personality is guaranteed to inspire you as she makes you feel at ease.
Bellydancing, which originated in ancient Egypt, is seen as a dance exclusively for women – a communal dance passed on through families and said to help with problems like period pain, birth and menopause. Women join classes to experience that sense of community; a sense of belonging and feeling feminine in a non-competitive, accepting environment. It is a celebration of being a woman.
Students will learn modern and traditional Egyptian bellydance moves, starting with a warm up, followed by demonstration and instruction of movements, freestyle dancing (improvisation) and cool down. Some lessons will involve putting combinations of moves together, use of a prop like the veil, visualisation and relaxation.
“Massarah” – Arabic for joy and delight – is the given professional name of an Australian-born, qualified secondary school teacher and bellydancer currently offering classes in the heart of Ellerslie. Joy and delight, too, is what most women can expect to experience when learning this dance form. As for “shimmy”, this is what most women ask Massarah to teach them first, before any other move.
Having bellydanced for ten years, including performing professionally in a number of Australian cities before coming to Auckland three years ago, Massarah believes the time is right for her to inspire other women in this expressive dance through both private and group tuition.
Massarah is a passionate enthusiast of both traditional and modern Egyptian bellydance, feeling inspired to follow her heart in her dancing. “I have gained great confidence and self esteem through the tuition and guidance of my Auckland teacher and this has put me in the right frame of mind to start my business.”
Along with fun and fitness, these classes promise to help women of all ages, shapes and sizes develop confidence, a sense of well-being and a chance to discover their inner beauty. According to Massarah, “you will learn to express yourself through movement to the music by feeling the dance from your heart.”
Massarah has always been fascinated by Arabic rhythms and her experience includes recent workshops from the experts in Cairo. In addition, she has to her credit 23 years teaching science and mathematics, nine years lecturing, three years tutoring, four years as an aerobics instructor and two years as a bellydance teacher. She is a registered member of MEDANZ – Middle East Dance Association of New Zealand. Her fun, lively and engaging personality is guaranteed to inspire you as she makes you feel at ease.
Bellydancing, which originated in ancient Egypt, is seen as a dance exclusively for women – a communal dance passed on through families and said to help with problems like period pain, birth and menopause. Women join classes to experience that sense of community; a sense of belonging and feeling feminine in a non-competitive, accepting environment. It is a celebration of being a woman.
Students will learn modern and traditional Egyptian bellydance moves, starting with a warm up, followed by demonstration and instruction of movements, freestyle dancing (improvisation) and cool down. Some lessons will involve putting combinations of moves together, use of a prop like the veil, visualisation and relaxation.
