Our monthly bellydance showcase is fast approaching!
Saturday June 10th Raqs Mahasti will perform with special guests
Shades of Araby
Wild Orchid Bellydance
The Serpentina North Ensemble
Angela Jospehine with members of Lavish
at The Casbah
306 King St W, Hamilton, Ontario
Doors 6:30PM
Show 7-8:30PM
Tickets are $15 at the door. Kids under 18 are free as part of our afforable art initiative.
You might have seen us in The Spec yesterday! We were the entire cover page of the Go Section. Scott Gardner called our show “spectacular.” Come & see for yourself this Saturday! You can check out the online version here
It’s almost that time! Our monthly showcase at The Casbah featuring Raqs Mahasti as well as guest artists.
Bellydance in The Casbah
2nd Saturday of every month
Harem vol 20
Sat. May 13th
Show 7-8:30PM
Tickets $15 at the door
Doors 6:30PM
All ages. Kids under 18 are free.
Raqs Mahasti (Eshe, Peggy Nuwayrah Bellydance & studio dancers) with special guests
Ishra & Invoketress Dance
Anuka Bellydance
Elysium Tribal – American Tribal Style Bellydance
& Athena McQueen (Drag Queen)
The Casbah
306 King W
Hamilton, ON
So excited to announce our workshops with Henna the Bellydancer for Hamilton International Bellydance Competition 2017! Sun Sept 10th at Mahasti – The Bellydance Emporium
10-NOON – Veil
12:30-2:30PM – Technique & Combinations
3-6PM Choreography
2 hour workshop $60CDN
https://mahasti.ecwid.com/#!/2-Hour-Workshop-HIBC/p/80583484/category=21437093
3 hour workshop $85CDN
https://mahasti.ecwid.com/#!/3-Hour-Workshop/p/80583494/category=21437093
4 hours (2 x 2 hour workshop) $110CDN
https://mahasti.ecwid.com/#!/2-x-2-Hour-Workshop-at-HIBC/p/80583505/category=21437093
All Day Pass (7 hours) $160CDN
https://mahasti.ecwid.com/#!/All-Day-Workshop-Pass/p/80583477/category=21437093
Etransfer to eshebellydancer@hotmail.com, cash or credit card at the studio is also available.
We’re at 1 West Ave S, Suite 300, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada. eshebellydancer@hotmail.com hamiltonbellydance.com
We are so excited to bring to you some of the brightest stars in the Canadian bellydance scene. Taking workshops with other instructors is a great way to expand your dance vocabulary, come at your practice from a new angle, learn new ways of creating & being creative as well as meeting other dancers.
Part of our mission at Mahasti is also to support those within our community.
Melissa Gamal is an award-winning dance artist based out of Toronto as well as 1/3 of the renowned dance company Ya Amar. She’ll be bringing us her signature flawless Egyptian Bellydance on Sat 3/11 and then staying in town to dance at Harem that night in The Casbah.
Sun 3/26 we are having a Fusion Intensive. Fusion as the name implies is dance mixology, infusing bellydance with other movement practices. Jackie Pullar from Wild Orchid Bellydance in Hamilton, Zahira from Dragonfly Bellydance in Toronto & Ishra of Invoketress in Guelph will be joining forces to bring you 3 different, playful offerings.
Sat 4/8 will have Audra of The Dark Side Studio & Lavish in Toronto visiting us. She is a bellydance pioneer. After her workshops she’ll be dancing that night at Harem in The Casbah.
More details coming soon.
Always the highlight of our month – Harem! This is our 11th installment of this decadent, varied & fun show at our home away from home The Casbah (306 King W, Hamilton, ON next door to La Luna).
The show starts at 7PM and is all-ages. Tickets are $15 at the door.
Each month we also raffle off bellydance classes & tickets to future Harems for local charities. This month’s charity is Essential Aid. They provide support to Hamilton mothers & babies.
This month’s show will be on Saturday, August 13th with special guests
Angela Josephine & The Dark Side Student Troupe – Toronto
Dragonfly Bellydance – Toronto
Wild Orchid Bellydance – Hamilton
as well as Mahasti instructors Abigail, Peggy & Eshe!
Save the date! By popular demand this visionary of modern bellydance will be back with us! One day only! Details coming soon!
WHERE
1 West Ave S, Suite 300 (3rd floor) Hamilton, Ontario, Canada.
We are near the Canadian Tire downtown, directly adjacent to First Place.
PARKING
There is parking at the building. You may use any spot except 3 or 10.
RESERVATION
It’s unnecessary to make a reservation but we always welcome a heads-up if you’re new to the studio & coming for the first time. We can let the instructor know to expect you & show you around. Let us know at eshebellydancer@hotmail.com
REGISTRATION
If you have purchased a class card from Groupon please print out & bring the purchase form with you. Groupon does not collect the taxes, please bring them with you. $39 class cards = $5. $55 class card = $7.
There is no registration process but we invite you to arrive 5 minutes early to class.
EXPIRATION
Your class card is good for 3 months. So if you buy it Jan 5th it expires April 5th. You may use your class card as quickly as you like.
If you finish all of your classes within the 3 months & would like to buy additional classes to use within the same period you may “top up” your class card.
WHAT TO WEAR
We dance barefoot. Please wear comfortable clothes you can move freely in. Most women wear yoga or workout gear. If you have a hipscarf feel free to bring it with you.
You may wish to dress in layers according to the weather.
WHAT TO BRING
You may wish to bring water & a face towel with you.
FACILITIES
We have 2 bathrooms, a kitchen (with a microwave, fridge, sofa, oven, sink) as well as a sink in the studio.
CLASS STRUCTURE
We have a 5-10 minute warm-up, 40-50 minutes of class and a 5-10 minute cool down. If you require additional stretching feel free to start before class or continue after the teacher has finished (until the next class starts).
YOUR FIRST DANCE CLASS?
If this is your first time ever dancing or bellydancing we recommend the basics class. All other classes are beginner or beyond beginner level.
WHEN WILL IT START TO FEEL MORE NATURAL?
Generally, at the end of 8 classes or 2 months. There is still much growth to be done but at that time you may start to feel the moves flowing a bit easier.
WHAT TO FOCUS ON?
In Bellydance we build from the floor up. First we get the feet moving, then add hips & bodywork, then arms and the last piece of the puzzle is usually expression.
If you’re finding class challenging focus on just getting the feet right. If that feels good, add the body & hip work. If all of that is flowing you can throw in the arms. Still grooving? Work on the expression & feeling.
CLASS ETIQUETTE
Please arrive on time & put your phone on mute. Listen to your body 1st and the instructor 2nd. You will at times feel effort you should never feel pain. Ask questions to the instructor (each class has only 1). Avoid giving instructions, advice or corrections if you’re not the instructor. Be kind to yourself.
WHO IS THE BOSS?
You are.
Please ask if you’d like to see a move one more time, go a bit slower or a bit faster. We are here to help you on your journey in dance.
We are always interested in your feedback after the lesson or through email eshebellydancer@hotmail.com
WHEN CAN I START?
Basics classes are not cumulative so you can begin them at any point in time. We also have on-going drop-in classes that are friendly to those with unpredictable schedules or whom don’t wish to learn choreography.
Our sessions follow the moon calendar. Generally they are 4-6 weeks long. If you miss the first few weeks you are still welcome to join a choreography class. Please recognize if you are new to dance or the studio, it may be more challenging for you than for someone who has attended since the beginning of the session. Being gentle with yourself & your expectations is key.
CAN I PERFORM?
We have a monthly event called “Harem” on the 2nd Saturday of every month where all studio dancers are invited to share their dance.
Our monthly show is Saturday, July 9th at The Casbah located at 306 King W, Hamilton.
It will feature Invoketress, Julie of BellyFlow, Wild Orchid Bellydance, Valizan & Shades of Araby as well as Raqs Mahasti (Eshe & Peggy). Our show always features a diverse range of styles & this one is no different -American Tribal Style, Egyptian, Fusion, Theatrical & more are all on the menu!
Doors open at 6PM. The show starts at 6:30 and lasts til 8PM.
Tickets are $15 at the door. The event is all ages. Kids under 12 are free.
Every show we also do a charity raffle & give away tickets to a future Harem or bellydance classes. This month’s charity will be SACHA (Sexual Assault Centre Hamilton).
Any questions? Contact eshebellydancer@hotmail.com
Mahasti - The Bellydance Emporium - Dance on Concession Street in Hamilton, Ontario, Canada 