Islamorada Bellydance Class Review
with Barefoot Daisy
Class Review Sheet
Song: Balady Ala Accordion
Next Class: Saturday, July 5th
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🌸 Class Kickoff Reflection
“The more clearly we understand why we’re doing something, the more likely we are to do it in a way that feels true and meaningful.”
— Rick Rubin, The Creative Act: A Way of Being
We kicked off this class by introducing ourselves and I asked a very important question:
“Why are you taking this class?”
I believe it’s important to ask ourselves this question in all areas of life. Your personal answer can help anchor you when things get challenging — when life gets busy, when doubts creep in, or when other commitments compete for your time.
Remember your “why”:
✨ Passion
✨ Creative expression
✨ Community and social connection
✨ Health and fitness journey
✨ Personal growth
Hold onto it! It will help you stay committed to the promise you made to yourself in choosing to be here. 💖
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🎵 About the Song
Balady Ala Accordion is a beloved Egyptian classic in the bellydance world. The title means “Balady (folk style) on the Accordion.”
It rose in popularity during the golden era of Egyptian dance, when accordion players used their instruments to mimic the soulful quality of the human voice in balady taqsim (improvised sections).
The song follows a balady progression, with shifting tempos and rhythms, inviting dancers to express both earthy, grounded movement and playful or emotional accents.
There are countless interpretations of this piece — no two dancers express it the same way! That’s part of the magic.
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🥁 Rhythms Covered
• Masmoudi Saghir (Balady Rhythm)
Dum Dum – Tak Dum – Tak
→ Primary rhythm; earthy and grounded.
• Maqsoum
Dum – Tak – Tak – Dum – Tak
→ Used in transitions; adds lightness and drive.
• Wahda
Dum – Tak – (rest) – Tak
→ Slower, expressive phrases.
• (Optional/Folkloric) Saiidi
Dum – Dum – Tak – Dum – Tak
→ Occasionally used in folkloric interpretations.
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💃 Moves Covered
Shimmies:
• Basic shimmy
• Layered shimmy with hip accents
Undulations:
• Upper body undulation
• Reverse undulation
Pops & Locks:
• Sharp hip pops
• Chest pops
New Moves Introduced:
• Camel
• Reverse Camel
• Hagala (Traveling 3-count hip)
• Hip Twist
• Figure Eight Hips (Horizontal 8’s)
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📝 Practice Suggestions
• I will be posting videos of the moves we worked on along with Balady Ala Accordion on Facebook at @FloridaKeysBellyDance.
→ This way you can practice with consistent references and explore ideas at home — no need to search!
• Once you’ve reviewed the videos, I encourage you to play with the music and moves:
→ See how you can combine the shimmies, undulations, camels, hagala, hip twists, and figure eights in your own way.
→ Try dancing through an entire section of the song using the tools you’ve learned.
✨ Play is a great way to create! ✨
Let’s have fun with this dance — explore, experiment, and let your personal style emerge. I would love to see your interpretations in class next time! 🎶💃
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🌟 Looking Ahead (Next Class: Saturday, July 26th)
Next class, we will:
✅ Add level changes (play with floor and height)
✅ Explore speed variations (slow + sharp)
✅ Start traveling with these moves across the dance space
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Remember: This is your dance. Let the music move you — express your unique story and style. 💫
See you on the dance floor!
💃 — Barefoot Daisy
Islamorada Bellydance Classes
Also check out other Workshops in Tavernier, Dance events in Tavernier, Entertainment events in Tavernier.
