Marianna

619.261.0832                                    
Marianna@Marianna.cc
P.O.Box 2132, El Cajon Ca 92021               

"I feel blessed that I am able to do what I love and make a living out of it. There are not too many people who are able to do that. I feel lucky, but I also have worked hard for it, and continue to do so.

What is beauty? Everyone likes something different: different looks, different body types, different styles of dance. We all dance differently and we all have different looks. That's what makes us unique, it would be boring if we all looked the same and moved the same. There are so many beautiful, talented belly dancers in San Diego!

I can only hope that I get to show you and make you feel the joy I feel when I am dancing. I hope that the warmth, beauty and peace I feel inside will shine through. I really do dance from my heart. "

BELLYDANCER FOR PARTIES: Marianna presents belly dance as a respectable art form, family oriented and suitable for all ages. She does not dance for bachelor or
all male parties.

The choice of costuming, music, length of show and the props being used is carefully selected by considering the type of event and occasion. Marianna is very creative and experienced, she can help you create the best party or event ever !

You may hire Marianna for any of the following events:
- birthday parties
- weddings, anniversary and engagement parties
- retirement, graduation
- house warming parties
- corporate functions, grand openings, fund raisers
- children's parties
- bachelorette parties, henna parties
-  weddings and baby showers
... even parties without an occasion!
                              
Any of the above performances may include a mini-workshop for an additional fee. Marianna will teach the participants basic moves and a mini-choreography. This instruction may be 10, 20 or 30 minutes long. Hip scarves will be provided and available for purchase.

You may hire more than one dancers - Marianna can provide two or more Middle Eastern style dancers  (up to 10 dancers). You may also request  musicians or D.J.s (Persian, Arabic or Turkish).

BELLYDANCE CLASSES: SAN DIEGO, CALIFORNIA AREA

Although learning a choreography is always fun, and makes it easy to showcase the movements learned, traditionally belly dance is improvised and not rehearsed / choreographed. Improvisation is a unique skill, which is best learned early on. It consists of - the knowledge of basic belly dance movements and their combinations - the ability to hear the beat and instantly moving to it - learning which move(s) would fit best certain instruments, sections - the ability to think ahead which movement should continue, while not knowing how the music will change.

It sounds very complicated, but in fact it is not. Everyone goes out to dance from time to time and move to music they have never (or only a few times) heard. They certainly had no chance to create choreographies, yet they are dancing and having a good time - and look great! Belly dance is similar, except for proper execution of the moves, cultural background information etc is crucial, but the fact is that everyone has improvised at one point in their lives and weren't even aware of it. We all have improvisational skills in us. However, it can be challenging if the dancer always learns a choreography and relies on it to move and then tries to switch to improvisation.

With improvisation - you are able to express yourself through your dance. (Your dance shows how you feel and hear the music, not the way your teacher felt at the moment she created the choreography) - You are able to dance to any music. You are not limited to one song and one choreography - Because you are not forced to try to remember every single movement in order, and you are not stressed out about what happens if you forget a step, you are more relaxed, you are having much more fun and your face really, truly shows it! - you can always learn a choreography

Have you seen a dancer with a blank face, or looking like she's concentrating really hard? She was counting the beats and was trying to remember her steps! Compare that to a dancer who looks like she's having a lot of fun, she is able to make eye contact with you, smile at you and still dance beautifully!

Beginner Level - Anyone with or without prior knowledge may enroll in class. Class Objective - learning most of basic stationary and travelling moves -combinations of 2-3 moves (blocks of combos) - achieve proper posture and alignment - placement of arms and hands - learn to interpret and count the music; choose the moves accordingly - while improvising, connect one move to another so that it flows with the music - group improvisations, up to 2-3 minutes (never solo, always group) Structure: - warm up and stretching - basic technique instruction - combinations / variations of the above moves - improvisation - core strengthening - cool down and stretch

Advanced Beginner LevelPrerequisite: Knowledge of all basic moves (stationary and travelling) and experience with group improvisations. Class Objective: All of the above + - combinations of 3-4 moves - use of veil - solo improvisations 2-4 minutes - entrances / exits / expressions - some additional moves that were not taught in the previous class Structure: same as above This class is much smaller, there is more opportunity for one on one focus

Intermediate level Prerequisite: Knowledge and skill equivalent to Advanced Beginner, and enrolled in Advanced Beginner Objective: All of the above plus 1-2 layers (i.e. shimmies with chest isolations, shimmies with hip movements, + arms or travel, etc) - floorwork, taksim and balancing - drumsolo technique - focus on stage presence, image - cultural information, background of music - some costuming - solo improvisations 3-5 minutes including all of the above elements - some intermediate moves such as belly rolls, flutters, back bends, etc.

NEW CLASS! Cardio Belly Dance - Prerequisite: None - anyone with or without prior belly dance experience may enroll Taking Beginner belly dance is encouraged but not required Objective: - a fitness oriented class, with continuous movement for 60 minutes - low impact exercise, no stress on joints - basic belly dance movements are used (including lots of shimmies) - elevating heart rate, increase circulation, burn calories and have fun! - no stops for instruction, but safety is a primary goal Structure: warm up - low - high intensity with different intervals - ab workout - stretch and cool down.

"Your mind is like a diamond - the more you polish it the better it shines"

Private lessons available at Marianna's home studio.