Welcome to Deep Roots Dance

Bellydance is great for your health!
Like other low-impact activities, dancing can help strengthen bones and muscles, improve your posture and balance, increase your stamina and flexibility, reduce stress and tension, build confidence, and ward off illnesses like diabetes, high blood pressure, heart disease, osteoporosis, and depression. Not to mention provide opportunities to meet awesome people! So if you're tired of the treadmill and looking for a fun way to stay fit and healthy, it's time to join a class and see for yourself all the amazing benefits you can enjoy with bellydancing!
Locations:Tuesdays & Wednesdays: m'illumino6921 Roosevelt Way NE - Seattle, WA Thursdays: Phinney Neighborhood Center 6532 Phinney Ave. N, Room 7 - Seattle, WA |
Cost:$75 per 6-week session$135 for two classes a week drop-ins available to continuing students, $15 per class |
Bring a Friend Save Some $$Current students, do you have a friend who you think would have a blast in class with you? This winter, bring them along and get a discount for both of you. E-mail for more details! |
Summer Session on NowWe have a lot of exciting events this summer which you can be a part of. But ya' gotta be a current student to participate! Visit the Classes Page to review the schedule, then contact us to register. |
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Student Spotlight - Carmen Bellotti
Wednesday, June 5, 2013
Name: Carmen Bellotti
Age: 23
Profession: Playing with puppies at Mud Bay
Hobbies: Dance really is my main hobby, but I also enjoy reading, sewing, and yoga in my spare time.
How long have you been studying bellydance: It will be six and a half years in July.
When did you first see bellydance? What were your first impressions?
What motivated you to finally take your first bellydance class?
I look back at my first class often thinking of all the different types of women that were present. I
remember being a little intimidated, only because the class was nothing
I was expecting. I was one of the youngest in the class, and I remember
there being a lot of black worn. What I found so beautiful and amazing
was the diversity of the age, size, shape, etc of the women there. I
have always struggled with my weight and felt at ease to see that these
women didn't care and looked beautiful when doing the movements. I, like
so many others, was unaware that there were different styles of belly
dance and that I had signed up for Tribal. I also learned very quickly
in that first class why you repeat Level 1 at least three times. The
concepts are not what was difficult but to train your body to move in a
different way is something that takes time. I am grateful that there was
no pressure to move on to the next level, or even adding a layer to a
new movement until YOU were ready.
In what ways do you think you have changed or benefited as a result of taking bellydance classes?
Age: 23
Profession: Playing with puppies at Mud Bay
Hobbies: Dance really is my main hobby, but I also enjoy reading, sewing, and yoga in my spare time.
How long have you been studying bellydance: It will be six and a half years in July.
When did you first see bellydance? What were your first impressions?
I
always admired belly dancing and felt it was a beautiful and ancient
dance. I loved how the women seemed to have such control over their body
and carried themselves so gracefully. Confidence is something I lacked,
so I think their poise and grace was very alluring to me. I
don't really think I was ever "exposed" to belly dance. The only time I
recall seeing a belly dancer was at my grade school's auction where the
theme was Arabian Nights and a belly dancer was performing around the
event. At the time I was too young to really understand what I saw, and
it didn't leave a huge impression on me.
What motivated you to finally take your first bellydance class?
I
was having a hard time in high school dealing with weight issues and
other typical high school drama and felt I needed a change. Several
months prior to me actually finding dance I had tried to start classes
but for whatever reason I never followed through. Something inspired me
to finally follow through and I went to trusty ol' Google to see what
type of teachers were around Seattle. After sifting through the results,
I found Shay's website and saw her studio at the time was right over in
Greenwood and her next session started on my birthday. I felt that it
was perfect timing to begin belly dancing.
What was your first class like?
What was your first class like?
I look back at my first class often thinking of all the different types of women that were present. I
remember being a little intimidated, only because the class was nothing
I was expecting. I was one of the youngest in the class, and I remember
there being a lot of black worn. What I found so beautiful and amazing
was the diversity of the age, size, shape, etc of the women there. I
have always struggled with my weight and felt at ease to see that these
women didn't care and looked beautiful when doing the movements. I, like
so many others, was unaware that there were different styles of belly
dance and that I had signed up for Tribal. I also learned very quickly
in that first class why you repeat Level 1 at least three times. The
concepts are not what was difficult but to train your body to move in a
different way is something that takes time. I am grateful that there was
no pressure to move on to the next level, or even adding a layer to a
new movement until YOU were ready.In what ways do you think you have changed or benefited as a result of taking bellydance classes?
This
dance has given me so much. From my head down to my toes I carry myself
much more confidently. This dance has given me a new found love for my
body and accepting it just the way it is. I was teased early on for my
weight by everyone in my school, and hated who I was and what I looked
like. I have learned to find beauty in my body, and love myself. My
confidence has also spread into my interactions with people. I am much
more comfortable taking the reins, and am speak up more in groups to
voice my opinion. Not to mention you make some pretty awesome friends in
classes.
What is your favorite move or concept you have learned so far and why?
What is your favorite move or concept you have learned so far and why?
I
love slow moves/concepts. I like the ease of transitioning between
movements and being able to dance on top of the music. With slow music I
feel like there are so many layers and so many options for a leader to
find a melody or rhythm that speaks
to them. Also I tend to find it much more powerful to see a well done
slow piece than a fast piece. Fast is fun because of the quickness of
the movement and the energy that is there naturally. With slow, you have
to really focus on being strong and centered in your posture to be able
to glide between the movements.
Don't
be afraid! It's hard to be in a room full of strangers and feel awkward
with new movements but everyone in that classroom has been there. We
are all there to support one another on our journey, so don't be afraid
to feel awkward or worry about how well you are doing a move. Speaking
of, I also think it's important to remember to focus on yourself when in
class. Everyone is at a different place in their learning, and even
those who seem to have a move down "perfectly" are still working on
finessing the movements. There is always room for growth, no matter how
long you have been taking classes.
Mm Mm Monday - Rachel Brice Interview BDC
Monday, June 3, 2013
There is no denying it: Rachel Brice is a compelling artist. An aesthete to the core, she brings visual elements together in her dance and costuming that are exquisite and exquisitely inspiring. She is also incredibly thoughtful and articulate, as is demonstrated in this fantastic interview/vignette created by Bellydance China for their 2013 conference. Enjoy walking down memory lane with RB, and hear some thoughts on how she creates her unique costuming looks.
Creativity Takes Time
Thursday, May 30, 2013
This is something I constantly feel I need to remind myself. I get frustrated when "good ideas" don't come forth quickly, or when a project or endeavor takes longer to complete to my satisfaction. My inner dialogue tries to tell me it is because I am not good at this, or lack the requisite skill or creative well to draw from. So it's nice to be reminded that really good creative work takes time, and putting pressure on myself to perform faster undermines my ability to play and experiment as I create.
Mm Mm Monday - Gypsy Moor Dancers
Monday, May 27, 2013
The Gypsy Moor Dancers were the precursor, if you will, to Hahbi 'Ru. Created by Mish Mish (the original Bay Area Mish Mish), one of the notable members was future Hahbi'Ru director John Compton. There's a story there, which I am not the one to tell, but later John left to create his own group, as we well know, and many of the same songs and dances were to be part of their iconic repertoire. Case and point, this video with their traditional procession followed by an old beloved song and dance, Jamilo.
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