Belly Dance Class Curriculem / Checklist
I've made a list of what I believe every well rounded belly dancer should know. Take a moment to go through and check off those things that you feel confident with and allow yourself to examine what you have left to work on. It is my desire that all my students strive to be well rounded, highly educated belly dancers, wether hobbiests or professionals. I have not included on this outline a list of dance vocabulary.

Fundamentals
            - posture
            - warm up / cool down
            - movements
            - isolations
            - arms, feet, polish
            - feeling, expressiveness
            - safe strength and flexibility exercises
            - learning how to study
            - connecting to the belly dance community
            - general history of belly dance
           
Technical Mastery
            - diffficult movements
            - transitions
            - connected to music
            - feeling
            - choreographing
            - improvising
           
Musical Understanding
            - rhythms
            - maqams
            - moving to rhythms mechanically
            - relating to rhythms and music culturally
            - understanding maqams emotionally
            - understanding lyrics
            - basic Arabic for belly dancers
            - name and identify common instruments used

Cultural Understanding of Music and Dances  (to identify region, costume, music and commonly associated props at least, with * be able to perform)
            - Egyptian Dances
                        - Classical Egyptian Oriental Entrance*
                        - Modern vs. Vintage Oriental styling
                        - Classic belly dance pieces*
                        - Modern Pop*
                        - Om Koulthoum*
                        - Baladi Taksim*
                        - Taksim & Mawaal*
                        - Tabla Solo*
                        - Finger Cymbals*
                        - Saidi (assayya/tahtib)*
                        - Hagallah*
                        - Shaabi*
                        - Zaar*
                        - Alexandrian (Meleya)*
                        - Zeffa*
                        - Bambooti
                        - Awalim
                        - Tanoura
            - Other Arabic Dances
                        - Khaliji*
                        - Tunisia
                        - Morroccan
                                    - Shikatt
                                    - Guedra
                                    - Tea Tray
                        -Levant
                                    - Debke*
                                    - Lebanese Assaya
                                    - Lebanese Oriental
                        - Iraqi
                        - Andalusian
            - Other Middle Eastern Dances
                        - Turkish
                                    - Turkish Oriental
                                    - Chifitelli
                                    - floor work
                                    - Turkish Rom*
                                    - Turkish Folkloric/Line Dances
                                    - Wirling Dirvish
                        - Greek Chifitelli
                        - Greek Oriental
            - Vintage Oriental and the American Tradition
                        - Vintage Oriental Entrance*
                        - Belly Dance Classics (Turkish, Armenian, Greek, Arabic Popular Dance Songs)*
                        - Veil / Double Veil / Isis Wings *
                        - Sword / Balancing *
                        - Tabla Solo*
                        - American Tribal Style
                        - Tribal Fusion
            - Awareness of Famous Dance Artists and Musicians

                       
Performance Tools and Ethics
                        - Designing shows (with audience, occasion and venue in mind)
                        - Audience Participation / Management / Accepting tips
                        - professional presentation before, during and after performances
                                    -(wearing a cover, staying for drinks, dating customers or staff,  taking compliments/slights with grace, etc.)
                        - Working with Musicians
                        - Rates, Negotiating, dealing with clients
                        - Legal Issues  - music use, venue zoning, artist's rights w/ photographs, video, choreography, contracts
                        - Costuming, Make-up, Hair and Appearance (also relating to style and venue)
                        - Dance community ethics
                        - Teaching
                        - Emotional Performance Preparation
                        - Pursuing your own path
                        - The Dark Side of a working dancer's life