Majickal Bellydance

I believe there's a metaphysical reason for everything. When I downsized to an apartment seven years ago, I knew my dance would be effected. But I'm a belly dancer, trained to sashay between tables and shimmy up a storm without taking a step. Moving into my mid-forties seemed like a good time to focus on jumping around less, and focussing on the introverted power of stationary movements—and spinning. After seven years of spinning, it's now a strength of mine. I even attended a two-day workshop with a Whirling Dervish, activating the spiritual power of spinning. I knew that spinning could raise energy, or diminish it; depending on the direction (which is different for different dancers). Another advantage of spinning, is that you have to find your centre to keep your balance. At this stage of my life, I realise that I can't avoid life's challenges. I can only learn to adapt to them, without losing my balance. Spinning is a moving meditation that initiates this wisdom...

Autumn classes have reminded me of some of the reasons I love belly dancing. One of them is that I'm currently sitting at my computer — free of back and neck pain; something that always seems to return if I stop dancing. I first started at the age of twenty-six, to find some 'me-time,' following the birth of my daughter (pictured above-right, dancing with me). What I found was so much more than a dance class. Over the years, this beautiful, soulful dance-form has moved me, circled me and shaken me through some incredibly creative and healing journeys.  Best of all, I've had the creative freedom to develop my own style: Majickal Bellydance. It allows me to take what I think are the very best aspects of belly dance, and focus on how to tailor the learning to each individual dancer. Everyone is different, and different teachers suit different dancers. The following list outlines some features of Majickal Bellydance. Some are common to most dance classes, and some are uniqu...

Majickal Bellydance can help you to: Exercise without leaving the house Strengthen core muscles Mobilise joints Relieve 'lockdown aches and pains' Improve mood Feel sexy Improve coordination and balance Improve brain function Increase mindfulness Balance your chakras Strengthen your energy field Help maintain good immune function ENROL HERE: 6 WEEK ZOOM CLASS PACK Or Phone: 1300 835 235 Last term our new Chirnside Park group suddenly faced the new challenge of adapting to online classes. I presented the classes in the usual style, squinting to see dimly lit, partially visible dancers while demonstrating and discussing dance techniques.  The outcome was average. The music chopped in and out as I spoke and neither were particularly audible. We all had an average time and were relieved when it was announced that by term three we would be allowed back in the studio together breathing the same air and dancing with the joy of reunion. But this wasn't to be as further lockdown res...

Have you ever been to a dance workshop and forgotten it all by the time you got home? Me too! Even after becoming a dance teacher myself, I would attend workshops for my own professional development, only to find myself feeling like I had two left feet as I struggled to learn a bunch of new combinations in a short amount of time. Most workshops focussed on my weakest attribute - memory! Christine, Cindy & Leanne at Seville House I don't know about you, but I can't learn a choreography in two hours and leave the workshop with a new routine installed in my repertoire. My brain just doesn't work that way. I imagine it's because I didn't go to any dance classes until I was twenty-six years old; a late start for a dancer. I had never worn a tutu, twirled a baton or stood on-stage caked in mum's make-up to perform a cute routine for calisthenics. I was an absolute beginner. The closest I had come to performance was my miraculous inclusion with the 'cool...

Autumn 2019 Bellydance Discover this fun dance/exercise style you can enjoy all through the year in your own home! Bellydance Yarra Valley, Eastern Suburbs, Yarra Ranges, for women of all ages. Autumn Majickal Bellydance Workshop 2 Hours 1 pm, Sunday 7th April, 2019 Seville Community House 8 Railway Road, Seville $30 Easy, no memorisation, no choreography, no mirrors, dance solo.  Learn Ancient Egyptian bellydance. Pure shapes and movements that come from somewhere deep, raw, natural. Your body already knows these shapes. I can help you remember them so you can dance in your own home.  Learn how to find your centre, your inner Goddess, your core and your balance.  ENROL VIA FACEBOOK EVENT LINK Read More About the Style Here. If you would like to know more about me, check out the 'Leanne Margaret' tab at the top. P.S. You can enrol online, or find out more by visiting the Seville House website. 

Bellydance Classes in the Yarra Valley ATTENTION: WOMEN OF THE YARRA VALLEY, YARRA RANGES AND EASTERN SUBURBS! Did you know bellydance can be great for your back? Have you tried bellydance and found yourself with a sore back? Do you ever get a sore back from walking? Do you need a remedy for 'the sitting disease? Majickal Bellydance can help... Learn How To... Improve posture. Increase confidence. Gently mobilise joints. Strengthen mind/body connection. Dance a style you can take home with you. Feel the 'energy' of bellydance to increase mindfulness. Follow an improvised work-out style dance every week. Explore choreography without ever stepping onto a stage. Use the movements of bellydance to stretch out your back. Walk properly so that you exercise your glutes and thighs at the same time.  The Details: WHEN:   Thursdays, 7pm - 8pm, 1st November to 13th December. COST:  Only $91 (Costs are kept to a minimum to better serve the ...

Our class at Seville has been pretty lively as each dancer in this mixed level class finds their place. We are fitting 3 choreographies into our hour. One of the developing choreographies is a spiritual dance to invoke the alchemical power of the elements of nature. When harmonised, these energies promote balance and healing. Majickal Bellydance is a therapeutic style of bellydance. Each dancer's own unique abilities and strengths are considered. Choreographies are written with each dancer in mind, just enough to expand without overwhelming. It is based on Classical Egyptian Bellydance, infused with ancient wisdom. My interest in healing includes human consciousness; Specifically, how to effectively manage its dynamic and complex dance. Being able to manage our own energy state helps us to manage our lives more harmoniously, leading to increased self-mastery. I'm often hyper after dance class. Even when we finish with relaxation techniques, by the time I have packed up a...

Hi Dancers Term 2 flyer - Autumn 2018 The final class for term one is happening tonight. It has been a majickal term of spiritual bellydance. All dancers grew stronger, more controlled and more confident. By week six all dancers were perceiving themselves as the dancers they always were. Book your place by phoning  03 5964 3987. See us on facebook . If you would like to learn more about the model of multi-dimensional human consciousness on which this style is created, visit www.theloveoftheuniverse.com Dance for Joy Leanne Margaret X

I know yoga isn't really supposed to be performed in bed, but bed yoga is better than no yoga. Not that I don't pull the yoga mat out once a week or so for a good hour long sesh, but as my 40 something year old body begins to experience some aches and pains, I find it necessary to supplement my dance with some daily maintenance movements. Many of these are performed as soon as I wake up and before I have time to talk myself out of it. They are not strenuous, just mobilising. Save the strenuous stuff for the yoga mat. Arm Circles Begin while laying on your side. Move your arm in large circles 3 - 10 times in each direction. Keep the arm long and feel how the shoulder joint is moving and gently warming up. Repeat on the other side. Leg Raises Laying on your back with arms by your side, gently raise a leg as high as is comfortable. Keep the leg straight for the whole exercise. Repeat 3 - 10 times. Swap legs and repeat. Knee Bends These are for those strange knee pains...

We are suffering the coldest depths of a Melbourne winter and other than directly to my car, I've barely stepped outside in weeks. My muscles and joints are slowing, stiffening from the lack of physical activity. I am accustomed to walking several times a week and the occasional run. At this time of year my bellydance practise is more important than ever. But how do I motivate myself from my blanket wrapped position on the couch? The Music Music moves us. The right music will elicit an emotional response in our body. This can be a good starting point as we begin to move. It can be helpful to have a playlist organised containing your favourite dance tracks. I have a playlist that I use for each term of dance classes including warm up tracks with 90 minutes of music for drills, improvisations and a couple of cool down tracks at the end. You don't have to dance for 90 minutes for it to be worthwhile. Even five minutes of spirited dance can be an effective full-body, mini-wo...

There's a reason I named my style of bellydance 'Majickal Bellydance.' Aside from the ceremonial and ritual aspects of Majickal Bellydance, it is also designed to be therapeutic, in ways both physical and energetic. Balance: Basic bellydance posture aligns the feet, hip width apart, with the knees soft or slightly bent. Keeping the knees soft allows us to more easily re-balance ourselves as we move in space. Stiff or rigid knees can increase the likelihood of stumbling or even toppling over. Keeping the knees fluid allows fluidity of the lower body, promoting a lower centre of gravity. As dancers begin taking steps into various directions of space, their bodies are more balanced and connected to the ground. Majickal Bellydancers practise dance drills involving stepping first into four directions of space and then expanding into eight directions. Being conscious of the direction and shape of each step we take increases our security in physical space.  Co-ordination:...