Rachel, meet your new bellydance teacher

Bellydance, Yoga & Tango

Hi Rachel, we're announcing an awesome Autumn term for you!

You said....we want more dedicated beginner bellydance courses in Maidenhead, Windsor and Wokingham.

We said....Yes!

Last month we were thrilled to introduce Sandy, our new Maidenhead and Wokingham bellydance teacher to you. We are just as excited to present your new bellydance beginner teacher for Windsor......Ellen! To many RBSB students, Ellen is a familiar face; she enrolled as a beginner herself with Rachel's Windsor beginner classes in 2011, progressing with us over the years to enjoy dancing as a Maidenhead Princess of the Orient (Intermediate-Advanced class). With a love of tango, a background in competitive gymnastics and professional qualifications and experience teaching dance movement and yoga, Ellen is the perfect person to nurture our Windsor Treasures of the Orient (Beginners). So without further ado, let's meet Ellen!

So Ellen, what's your bellydance story?
I was lucky enough to live in Libya when I was in primary school and my first bellydance lessons were from my Arabic teacher for a school play. I loved learning and performing the dance - I remember I even had a solo part of the routine. So many years later when I found out there were lessons locally I jumped at the chance.

Do you have any special areas of interest?
I love the variety found in bellydance and all the fusions out there but I do have a soft spot for classical Egyptian.

What training and qualifications do you have?
I teach some other movement classes, mainly yoga and something unusual called Feldenkrais that works with organic movement. So as well as being qualified by the Rachel Bennet school of Bellydance to teach bellydance I’m also able to do remedial work for injuries.

What's your top bellydance learning tip?
Practice any tricky movements really slowly for longer than you think you need to.

Which Bellydancers inspire you?
Some of the ordinary women I remember seeing in Libya who competely transformed into goddesses when they danced.

What's your favourite costume?
Anything sparkly! Currently a lovely red one with a great mix of colours in the beadwork.

What's your secret skill?
I never get bored of repeating things when learning.

My favourite part of my body is.....
My legs.

In my bellydance bag, I'm never without....
Water and safety pins.

How do you boost your confidence?
Remembering that I’m performing for the audience’s fun and enjoyment, not my evaluation of how well I’ve danced.

What's your happiest memory?
Living in Libya.

What's your greatest ambition?
I’m not an ambitious person; I like the surprises of life evolving.

What's the last bellydance song you listened to?
My ipod says it’s Hossam Ramzy’s Aziza.

My favourite food is....
Anything Italian, especially pasta.

You can find out more about Ellen at:
www.patternsofmovement.co.uk
www.facebook.com/ofarrell.ellen
www.facebook.com/patternsofmovement

Feeling inspired?
Join our Windsor beginner class now or enrol for a trial lesson.

Your can check out our Maidenhead and Wokingham beginner classes too - just click the links :)

PS - we're in a dedicated mirrored dance studio too with free on-site parking in Windsor! Just click here for details.

PPS don't forget your early bird discount runs to end Aug!