Belly Dance Classes & Workshops for Louisville, Kentucky and Southern Indiana

Belly dance is dance art AND exercise AND exhilarating entertainment!

Ruric's mastery of Egyptian, Turkish and American Tribal belly dance, her untraditional sword and veil dancing, and her innovative yet disciplined approach to one of the world's most compelling dance arts has given her a regional reputation as a mesmerizing performer and teacher.

Ruric applies her studies in massage therapy, yoga and pilates to her curriculum so that her students learn to dance safely and strongly as well as with emotion and precision. This makes it a dance for everyone.

• Adolescents who are reaching for an understanding of themselves in the world;
• Young women who treasure the chance to express themselves with dance;
• Older women who have decided to reverse the wear and tear of the years on their bodies and spirits.

The Samovar Dance Studio is the ONLY studio in Louisville dedicated to belly dance. Our location is convenient for students in both Louisville and Southern Indiana. We have floors that are easy to dance on; a full wall of mirrors; loaner hip scarves and veils; and a comfortable lobby with tables and chairs. If making new friends is on your agenda, then a class at our studio is definitely for you. Almost everyone you'll meet here is a belly dancer, too! Come early to class, enjoy hot tea from our tea cart, and meet your classmates. If your friend or spouse drives with you they can sit and wait comfortably in our lobby or visit the shops and eateries in the rest of the Arts Center.

Ruric's students are all ages, from 14 to 84. They include beginners looking for a fun way to exercise, students who want to dance with Samovar, and professionals who are working on their own performance goals. Her dance company includes dancers from 16 to 50+. Let yourself be surprised by what you can accomplish here!

• The rumors are true! Belly dance IS a low-impact aerobic workout for people of all ages, burning more calories than a brisk walk while stimulating circulation and raising metabolism.
• Like yoga, it increases flexibility and body awareness, induces a state of mental relaxation, relieves back and joint pains and promotes hormone rebalancing.
• The core moves build lean muscles in your torso, hips, thighs, glutes and stomach.
• Best, it makes you into a DANCER as well as physically fit and firm!

Paypal buttons for technique classes are in the Schedule by Week section, below. You will find Workshop descriptions and payment options on the Workshops page. -~-

$40/4 wk session. Please note that this is NOT a drop-in class.

We offer THREE Beginner Basic classes in January.

The class format is the same, so students may alternate days as needed.

$48/4 wk session. Please note that these are NOT drop-in classes.

We offer SEVEN Advanced Beginner classes this month. Three of them (Egyptian, American Tribal and Turkish) have corresponding drill classes scheduled just before them to give maximum returns to students who intend to take both classes.

Egyptian Tribal Layering Advanced Zills Walk, Chew Gum and Play Zills

American Tribal Turkish Delight Fri AM Adv Beginners

$60/4 wk session. Please note that these are NOT drop-in classes.
We offer FOUR Intermediate classes this month.

Tribal for the Soloist
Egyptian Focus with Raks Assaya
Tribal Focus
Turkish Focus

In January: Bollywood Dance with Ruric-Amari. Roll over Zumba! If you're looking for real dance, serious exercise and a lot of light-hearted fun, try Bollywood, where Indian dance meets Broadway and MTV! A lot easier on the joints than Bharatanatyam but still with that intriguing Indian flavor and flair.

$40/4 wk session. Please note that this is NOT a drop-in class.

The Bollywood Dance class is NOT belly dance, and therefore it is NOT included in the all-you-can-belly-dance card.

$40/4 wk session. Please note that this is NOT a drop-in class.

The Hip Hop class is NOT belly dance, and therefore it is NOT included in the all-you-can-belly-dance card.

Private lessons:  $25/30 minutes, $40/hr for current students, $50/hr all others.
Semi-private lessons:   $50/hr for current students, $60/hr all others.

Class Schedule by Week

What do I need for class? Simple! Bring Your Own Body.

• The classes are suitable for women of all ages who are in reasonably good health.
• I have hip scarves and veils for you to borrow until you want to buy your own.
• Protect your feet with socks or dance slippers and wear clothing that allows a full range of movement.
• Come on time because each class starts with a warm-up that will help you learn faster and protect yourself from injury.

Where are we? Our studio is at the Mellwood Arts Center!  Easy to get to from I-65, I-64, and I-71.  For directions, click [ HERE ].

How to pay? You may pay via PayPal (below) or at the door.

Special pricing:

• Try a technique class for $10.   If you continue, the $10 is applied to your session tuition.
• All-You-Can-Belly-Dance cards: $85 per month. This includes all belly dance classes and drills. It does NOT include Bollywood dance, hip hop, workshops or studio parties.

6 - 7 PM  Advanced Beginner: Tribal Layering
4-week class session with Anna Beth. $48 / 4-week session.

7-8 PM  Advanced Beginner: Advanced Zills
4-week class session with Anna Beth. $48 / 4-week session.
PreRequisites: Count, play gallop and singles over movements.
Take your Zills to the next level. Students will improve counting, coordination of playing while dancing, dynamics, and playing in a group. NOT FOR BEGINNERS.

6 - 6:30 PM  Drill Drills: for Egyptian Technique
With AnnaBeth. This IS a drop-in class.

6:30 - 7:30 PM  Advanced Beginner: Applied Egyptian Technique
With AnnaBeth. $48 / 4-week session.

7:30 - 8:30 PM  Beginner Basics
With Madlen. For those looking to explore the fundamentals of belly dance. Learn percussive hip movements, shimmies, undulations, traveling steps, and effective transitions which we will weave together to create beautiful combinations! $40/ 4 week session.

6 - 6:30 PM   Core Dance Conditioning
With Ruric-Amari. Learn the dance, yoga, and pilates techniques Ruric uses in her personal practice to meet the demands of her strenuous performance and teaching schedule. This month the emphasis is on yoga movements that complement the American Tribal class that follows. This IS a drop-in class.

6:30 -7:30 PM  Advanced Beginner: Tribal Style
With Ruric-Amari in Classroom B. Learn the basics of tribal-style belly dance. We will cover the basic hand flourishes, camels, hip bumps, and cues. Learn to work with group improvisation and to interpret music simply. $48/ 4-week session.

6:30 -7:30 PM  Beginner: Hip Hop
With David Royer of Art in Motion. Please note that this class is NOT included in the All-You-Can-Dance offer.

7:30 -8:30 PM  Intermediate: American Tribal style for Soloists.
With Ruric. By permission of Ruric only. $60/ 4-week session.

6 - 7 PM  Beginner Basics
With Jak. For those looking to explore the fundamentals of belly dance. Learn percussive hip movements, shimmies, undulations, traveling steps, and effective transitions which we will weave together to create beautiful combinations! $40/ 4 week session.

7 - 7:30 PM  Drill Drills: for Turkish Technique
With Ruric-Amari. This IS a drop-in class.

7:30 - 8:30 PM  Advanced Beginner:Turkish Delight
With Ruric-Amari. Loosen your feet from the ground and evoke a joyous Roma attitude. Explore cross steps, side steps, and back steps which let you make the most of your space and smoothly transition from one combination to another. Add delightfully Roma hand gestures and soft pelvic motions to your normal repertoire of shimmies and hip isolations to produce a joyful expression of dance. $48 / 4-week session.

10 - 11 AM  Advanced Beginner: Fri AM with Anna Beth
With Anna Beth. $48 / 4-week session.

11 AM - noon  Beginner: Beginner Basics
With Anna Beth. $40 / 4-week session.

Noon - 1 pm  Bollywood Dance: for Beginners
With Ruric-Amari. Roll over Zumba! If you're looking for real dance, serious exercise and a lot of light-hearted fun, try Bollywood, where Indian dance meets Broadway and MTV! A lot easier on the joints than Bharatanatyam but still with that intriguing Indian flavor and flair. $40 / 4-week session.

Noon - 1 PM  Intermediate: Egyptian Focus with Raks Assaya.
With permission of Ruric only. $60 / 4-week session.

Noon - 1PM  Samovar: Gig Prep.
The dancers scheduled for this will change weekly. See Ruric.

2 - 3 PM  Intermediate: Tribal Focus for the Intermediate Dancer.
With permission of Ruric only. $60 / 4-week session.

3 - 4 PM  Intermediate: Turkish Focus for the Intermediate dancer.
With permission of Ruric only. $60 / 4-week session.