Rock the Routine

Now that I have retired, my goal is to make sure that my work stays available to the next generation of dancers. So we are offering the entire Belly Dance Geek® catalog with "pay what you want" pricing here on Gumroad. Please note that all of our offerings are fully DIY, and do not include personal support.

- Nadira

Note: This course covers the 6-part routine as used in Vintage Orientale (aka old-school "American Cabaret") nightclub settings and party gigs. What you learn can also be applied to other styles, but this course focuses on that tradition.

Are You Intimidated by the Full-Length Belly Dance Routine?

“I did a small improv performance about halfway through, and I would not have had the courage to do so if I hadn’t been working with Rock the Routine.”

Atisheh, Berlin, Germany

Performing a full routine is an amazing experience.

A short show can be fun, but there’s just nothing like a full set.

A full routine gives you time.

Time to let go and relax.

Time to melt into the music.

Time to make a connection with the audience.

Time to just enjoy dancing.
 

But it’s a big job.

For one thing, that’s a long show. A 6-part routine typically lasts 20-30 minutes. (I hear 45 minutes was not unusual in the old days!) That’s a lot of time to kill.

And the format is very specific.

The full routine has been the standard for longer than many of us have been alive. So an educated audience has very specific expectations.

To rock the full routine, you need to know how it's structured, what’s appropriate, and how to keep it interesting. And you have to be able to use that knowledge in the moment.

That’s why I created Rock the Routine

Improvisation Strategy for Full-Routine Confidence

In this program, you’ll learn:

The Structure of the 6-Part Routine

If you want to perform a full routine, you must know how it’s organized. So you’ll learn exactly how the old-school 6-part routine is structured, and what to expect in each section. If you’re dancing with a live band, that structure will help you predict what they’re going to play for you next. If you’re choosing your own music, you’ll know what kind of music to choose for each section, how to order it.

Traditional Aesthetics of Each Section

The 6-part routine is a traditional format, with traditional aesthetics and expectations. You’ll learn exactly what the audience is expecting in each section, so you can dance appropriately.

(Or so you can break from tradition by choice, not because you don’t know any better.)

“I will take time to feel the music and the moves much more now, savor my dance experiences.” - Kelly Buynitzky

Psychology of Each Section

As performers, our job is to take the audience on an emotional journey. You’ll learn how to use the unique psychology of each section to keep the audience on the edge of their seats.

How to Improvise Each Section

And since you need to apply all that in the moment, you’ll learn several improvisation strategies for each section. This will keep you from drawing a blank, and make sure that your routine has enough variety to keep the audience interested.

In the process, you’ll discover:

• The routine roller coaster
• 18 must-know songs
• How to give the audience what they expect
• How to manipulate the audience (for their own enjoyment)
• 12 improvisation strategies

By the end of the course, you’ll know exactly what to expect in a full routine, what the audience expects of you, and how to deliver it in the moment.

“It has given me a conceptual understanding of bellydance improvisation that eleven years of lessons never did.” - Pamela R, Brisbane, Australia

How it Works

Rock the Routine is a 7 week “home study” course.

The course was designed to take 7 weeks, each with:

• 1 learning day
• 3 dancing days
• 1 reflection day
• 2 rest days (with optional extra credit exercises or tips)

Most of these are dancing exercises, but some will be reading or listening assignments. These should take 15-30 minutes to complete.

Feel free to work at your own pace if you have less time to practice, or if you want to savor some of the lessons.

You'll also get some bonus content to help you make the most of what you learned:

• Q&A call recordings from the live offerings of this course
• An interview with Yasmin Henkesh on the old-school Egyptian routine.
  (If you're familiar with our Belly Dance Geek Clubhouse® podcast, that's how it got started!)