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Belly Dancers entertaining onlookers at Kensington Market, Toronto.

Saturday May 11, 2013 brings us World Belly Dance Day in celebration of one of the most hypnotic dance styles there is!

What is Belly Dancing?

There are some forms of dance that were once confined to a single culture, but which have now gained acceptance in a mainstream global audience. One of these is belly dancing.

Despite the fact that belly dancing has spread across the world from its Middle Eastern roots, there is still not much known about the techniques used in the dance. Part of the problem perhaps comes from the name itself, as it leads to the perception that all of the movements take place around the belly.

Nothing could be further from the truth, as every part of the body is brought into play when the music begins. The hips actually do most of the heavy work in belly dance, but every part of the body plays a part, although that often goes somewhat unnoticed as the eyes are generally drawn to the fluid hip movements.

There are actually three different movements used in belly dancing, with each having a very distinctive look. Percussive movements are confined primarily to the hips as they follow the beat, whereas fluid movements are where the body seems to be in a continuous loop of movement. These are joined by shimmies, which are a series of fast movements that almost make the body look as though it is trembling.

Watch Superstar Shakir demo belly dance below:

Join people from all over the world as they take the day to celebrate the wonderful world of belly dancing.  There are many belly dancing opportunities in Toronto. Celebrate World Belly Dance Day by considering in a Belly Dance Class or Workshop!

Links

• World Belly Dance Day website

• Toronto Belly Dance Classes and Workshops

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Above: Raymond and Jenalyn with their coach Vanesa Stay of Latin Energy.

Brother and sister team Raymond and Jenalyn Saraza-Pacheco won the amateur division of the Six Degrees Salsa competition last Tuesday. Training with Latin Energy since 2006, they have won first place in 19 salsa competitions so far including the World Latin Dance Cup in Miami in 2011. They also just returned from New York where they were the only Canadian couple invited to perform at the biggest NYC ballroom event called “DANCE LEGENDS”.

Watch their winning routine below:

This Tuesday April 23 features the Professional division of the Six Degrees Salsa Competition. Here are the list of PRO couples competing for the $2000 prize tomorrow on Tuesday April 23rd:

• Tania Wong and Renaud Ayotte
• Victor Contreras and Katia Morales
• Sean Quinlan and Jennifer Ayala-Guerra
• Ole Olavide and Sharaf Malik
• Wayne Barbaza and Kristal Wei
• Salimeh Taeb and Souleymane Sacko

The judges will be:

• Katie Marlowe (Miami),
• Tina Nicolaidis,
• Giovanni Torres,
• Paula Videla-Rodriguez
• Karen Trujillo
• Juan Alberto

Angus Dirnbeck will be the MC for the evening. Tickets are $15 at the door.

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Above: Renata Peçanha & Jorge Peres with Brazilian Beat Producer Goreti Cardoso. Photo: David Krizan

Zouk instructors Renata Peçanha & Jorge Peres have arrived from Brazil and are ready fire up Toronto with Brazilian Beats this weekend!

Renata and Jorge are highly sought after instructors at Zouk congresses throughout Brazil and Europe, such as the International Congress of Zouk Lambada in Porto Seguro and Zouk Lovers in Holland. As well as organising zouk lambada events such as Zouk’n Rio and the International Congress of Zouk Lambada in Rio de Janeiro, Renata has choreographed and danced for many reputable television shows and soap operas in Brazil.

Watch Renata and Jorge demo Zouk at the Prague Zouk Congress below:

Ever wonder where those zouk dance moves came from? It was actually Renata and her partner who originally adapted Lambada dancing to Zouk music nearly 20 years ago.  Zouk has now matured into its own unique dance form practiced all over the world.

Attend the Brazilian Beat this weekend to experience workshops and performances by Renata and Jorge and other world-class instructors!

Links

• Brazilian Beat Festival 2013
• Zouk Classes and Events in Toronto
• Brazilian Dance Classes and Events in Toronto

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