BELLYDANCE: Pathway to Fitness Instruction

BELLYDANCE: Pathway to Fitness Instruction
(Including the BELLYDANCE AS A PERFORMING ART: Deep dive workshop)
This is a BLENDED (online + in-person) program that will introduce personal trainers and other movement professionals to the ancient and traditional dance of North Africa and the Middle East, BELLYDANCE.
This program is dedicated only for women.
This Bellydance Pathway to Fitness is the first of the several fitness exercise or movement formats rooted in India, Asian and African cultures that GĀYO plans to introduce. There are several reasons for these initiatives:
- Local cultures across the region offer several exciting exercise and movement formats that ought to be introduced and supported.
- Bellydance is an exciting, new fitness medium that offers several aerobic, mobility and strength endurance benefits – both in personal 1-on-1 and group exercise settings.
- It offers a variety in aerobic exercise hitherto not widely attempted.
Belly dance, also known as Raqs Sharqi or Oriental Dance, has a rich and complex history that spans thousands of years. Its origins and evolution are influenced by various cultures and civilizations.
DATE & VENUE
- Dates:
- ONLINE: August 5 to October 16
- August 5 and 12: Rania Bossonis presents “live” sessions in English with Arabic interpretation (only if there are sufficient number of Arabic speaking students)
- August 26, September 2, 9, 26, 23, 30, October 7, 14, 16: Rania’s “pre-recorded” sessions in English explanations by Amara Al Ahmad with Arabic translation (if required)
- OFFLINE / “physical”:
- October 25 and 26 (10 hours): BELLYDANCE PATHWAY TO FITNESS INSTRUCTION
- October 26 (2 hours): Bellydance As A Performing Art
- Venue: FAT TO FIT GYM – Sama Building – First floor – Al Barsha 1 – Dubai
- ONLINE: August 5 to October 16
LEARNING OUTCOMES
The program will lead to the following outcomes for the participants.
- Appreciation of the relationship between dance and culture on the one hand and Fitness and Exercise.
- Development of skills to teach the basic Bellydance movements as adapted to Exercise for the clients’ benefits –
- Physical
- Mental
- Social
- Opening opportunities to personal trainers to train clients in group exercise settings
- Women fitness professionals will also be introduced to the dance aspects of Bellydance.
Participants will be able to apply dance concepts in warm-up, isolation movements, traveling steps, shimmies, layering steps, history, music, dance combinations, and bellydance-specific cool down & stretches for –
- Warm-up
- Aerobic / cardio-vascular exercise
- Mobility exercises
- Stretching
- Cool-down
FEE
BELLYDANCE: Pathway to Fitness Instruction
- General: AED1,950
- Pay in one amount at time of enrolment: AED1,800
- GAYO Student: AED1,750
- Pay in one amount at time of enrolment: AED1600
- Students can pay in monthly instalments:
- Before August 1: 40% of fee payable
- Before September 1: 30% of fee payable
- Before October 1: 30% of fee payable
Default or delay in payment of instalments will lead to termination of the enrolment and no refund request will be entertained.
NOTE:
- Fee does not include meals / refreshments and / or accommodation.
- Fee includes the Demo-Lecture session on BELLYDANCE AS PERFORMING ART: A deep dive workshop – see below.
- Complimentary Bellydance Hip Scarf will be provided to each enrolled student at the start of the “live” / physical training on October 25.
- Fee includes training and learning resources, etc., as described below.
BELLYDANCE AS A PERFORMING ART: A deep dive workshop
This 3-hours program is “live” demonstration – cum – lecture session on October 26.
- General: AED250
- GAYO Student: AED200
NOTE:
- Student may purchase the Bellydance Hip Scarf @AED150
- Fee does not include meals / refreshments and / or accommodation.
Fee includes training and learning resources, etc., as described below.
COURSE CREDENTIALS
- REPS UAE
- CPDs – pending approval
- ISSA
- CEUs pending approval
- GĀYO
- This program leads to 15 CEUs for the renewal of the following certificates –
- Certificate Course for Personal Fitness Trainers – CCPFT
- Certificate Course for Pilates on Mat and / or Apparatus Teachers – CCPMA
- Certificate Course in Strength & Sports Conditioning – CCSSC
- Certificate Course for Bodybuilding Coaches – CCBBC
- Certificate Course for Special Population Trainers – CCSPT
- This program leads to 15 CEUs for the renewal of the following certificates –
MINIMUM ELIGIBILITY
The program is designed ONLY FOR WOMEN who are –
- Personal Trainers
- Pilates Teachers
- Dance Teachers
- Other fitness professionals
- Physical Education teacher
- Movement Specialists
It is essential that the attendees have a thorough grounding in exercise physiology, kinesiology and exercise sciences. They are expected to hold a Level 3 or 4 personal training certification and / or a graduate or post-graduate degree as applicable.
CONTENT & RESOURCES
BELLYDANCE: Pathway to Fitness Instruction
SYLLABUS
Part 1
ONLINE Bellydance
- Bellydance History
- Bellydance & Fitness Theoretical Knowledge
- Isolation Movements & Posture Part 1
- Isolation Movements & Posture Part 2
- Constructing the Warm Up, Abdominal Workout Section, and Cool Down
- Shimmies and Layering Movements with Shimmies
- Traveling Steps Part 1
- Traveling Steps Part 2
- Turns
- Rhythms & Combinations 1
- Rhythms & Combinations 2
- Putting Combinations Together – Transitions and Dance Routine
Part 2:
OFFLINE / In-Person Training
10 hours across two days
- Review of Online Topics
- Review Combinations
- Using Transitions to Build Routines
- Queuing, Counting, and Giving Direction
- Choosing Music for Routines
- Constructing a Balanced Routine
- Checking Students’ Form and Correcting Common Mistakes
- Assessment
- Written Exam – 50 MCQs to be attempted in 60 mins
- Practical Exam – Each student will demonstrate
- Warm-Up and
- Four to five sequential combinations for a fitness routine
BELLYDANCE AS A PERFORMING ART: A deep dive workshop
- Elements of Choreography & Improvisation
- Basic Moves & Props
- Musical Interpretation & Expression
- Choosing music for classes and routines
LEARNING RESOURCES
- Soft copies (PDF files) will be shared with students prior to each online session.
FACULTY
RANIA BOSSONIS
GAYO is honored to have Androniki aka Rania Bossonis as our Visiting Faculty for Middle Eastern and Ethnic Dance Techniques and Choreography.
One of the most famous bellydancers in the world with multiple prestigious awards to her crefit, she has been dancing most of her life. She is also a fitness instructor and personal trainer (AFAA and NESTA certified), which gives her dancing and teaching a strong focus on body dynamics and correct form.
Rania teaches and performs multi-ethnic dance all over the world. She specializes in Egyptian and Greek/Turkish styles of Bellydance, as well as Persian Dance. She is internationally considered a master teacher. She was one of the original lineup of Bellydance Superstars, and toured Lollapalooza with the Bellydance Superstars in 2003.

Rania has starred in over 22 Dance Instructional, Performance and Fitness DVDs, which are sold all over the world. Rania is author of the book, “Belly dancing for Fitness”. Her “Pure Sweat” DVD was named in the Top Ten Fitness DVDs of 2003 in the USA.
She is an MBA in finance and has senior corporate experience too.
Rania has taught all over the North America, South America, Asia, Europe and Africa. She is now looking forward to her visit to India.

TIMELINE
[In UAE timings]
TIME | Day 1 | Equipment |
BELLYDANCE: Pathway to Fitness Instruction | ||
0830 – 0900 | REGISTRATION |
|
0900 – 1000 | Review of Online Topics | Classroom / Studio |
1000 – 1100 | Review Movement Combinations 1 to 8 | Classroom / Studio |
1100 – 1115 | Tea Break |
|
1115 – 1215 | Review Movement Combinations 1 to 8 |
|
1215 – 1315 | Queuing, Counting, and Giving Direction | Classroom / Studio |
1315 – 1345 | Lunch |
|
1345 – 1415 | Choosing Music for Routines | Classroom / Studio |
1415 – 1500 | Constructing a Balanced Routine | Classroom / Studio |
1500 – 1515 | Tea Break | Classroom / Studio |
1515 – 1615 | Using Transitions and Building Routines | Classroom / Studio |
1615 – 1700 | Checking Students’ Form, and Correcting Common Mistakes | Classroom / Studio |
TIME | Day 2 |
|
0900 – 0930 | Q&As | Classroom / Studio |
0930 – 1030 | Written Examination | Classroom / Studio |
1030 – 1045 | Tea Break |
|
1045-1300 | Practical Exam – Each student demonstrates a Warm-Up, 5 sequential combinations, and Cool Down | Classroom / Studio |
1300 – 1330 | Lunch |
|
BELLYDANCE AS A PERFORMING ART: A deep dive workshop | ||
1330 – 1415 | Elements of Choreography & Improvisation | Classroom / Studio |
1415 – 1515 | Advanced Moves, Layering Moves, & Props | Classroom / Studio |
1515 – 1615 | Musical Interpretation & Expression | Classroom / Studio |
1615 – 1645 | Choosing music for dance routines | Classroom / Studio |
1645 – 1730 | Dance Demonstration by Rania, Q&A, Group Photos | Classroom / Studio |
EXAMS & CERTIFICATES
Assessment as described in above Timeline
- Theory Question Paper of 50 multiple-choice questions
- Practical assessment
Certifications
The following joint certification by Rania Bossonis and GAYO FITNESS ACADEMY’s will be awarded subject to successful completion of the program and completion of fee payment to evidence:
- Successful completion of the BELLYDANCE Pathway to Fitness Instruction Program
- Attendance in the BELLYDANCE As Performing Art; Deep Dive Workshop
Note:
- The certificate is non-renewable
- CEUs certificates issued by other education providers will be issued as per their respective rules and policies upon additional fee payable.
CONTACT
- Smrithi R +971 58 249 9750
- Amara Al Ahmad (Arabic) + 971 55 551 4839
- Sameera Inamdar: +971 54 579 6166
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