Welcome new students--

You are about to embark on a whole new adventure
delving into the wondrous world of Middle Eastern Dance.
This dance form is rich and deep and it is like an onion - you keep peeling back the layers and discover even more.

As you dance, you will become more and more relaxed with the movements.
Some will come easier than others and some may even take six months or more to master. We advise that if you really want to learn to belly dance, you give yourself at least three to six months to stick at it. Then you will find the movements come
naturally. It's very normal to feel stiff and un-coordinated in the beginning.
This gradually fades as you relax into the movements.

In our Western Society, we do not learn the same way of moving and we are often restricted in the way we move and express ourselves.. .In Middle Eastern Dance there is the opportunity to embrace your individuality within the dance form and connect with the Goddess/God that lies within us all.

These movements we will learn are meant to be done in a comfortable, relaxed way with an element of control over your body. These are gentle, low impact movements suitable for all, regardless of gender, age, size, height or weight.
They are beneficial for health and wellbeing. You may find you have more flexibility, more energy when you finish class and generally feel more positive.
We ask you to leave all your troubles at the door when you come into class and just dance and have fun.


Profile on Helene:-

The Havena Belly dance School was founded in 1999 by Helene Coulter.
She has pioneered belly dance in Maryborough. Helene is a trained teacher with 27 years experience. She is also trained in Safe Dance Practice and is currently half way through her post grad diploma in dance teaching through Q.U.T.

Helene attends approximately seven dance training sessions a year and brings this new information back to her students. She holds an annual weekend workshop
series with a guest teacher every March and included a show or Hafla with all the participants.

Helene also offers to her students free classes in costume making.  She is competent in pattern cutting and fashion design and the costumes worn by the Havena Dancers are the envy of many others. Nearly all the costumes have been made by the girls themselves and they have a lot of fun doing it. They are authentic and stunning.
We help those who cannot sew.
At all times we are a team. We all shine. There are no stars.

Bellydance classes:-

Our classes are Thursday nights at 6 p.m. till 7:15 p.m. We mostly study technique and focus on a special style each term. We learn about one new dance a term in these classes with lots of Egyptian dance technique and drills to practise. At this stage this class is open to all levels of ability. The classes are tailored to suit individual needs with lots of levels of ability catered for.

Monday nights are our chance to rehearse and practise our dances. This is for anyone interested in performance or just wanting to learn the dances we have created. There are many styles we dance:- Saiidi, Veil, Taquism, Khaleegy, Modern
Cabaret, Fusion, Drum Solo, Tribal, Ghawazee, Nubian to name but a few.

Our choreographies are sourced from everywhere. Helene comes up with her own choreographies and some are from other teachers, Master teachers, and group input. We encourage everyone to be involved in the creation of our performances.
Terms coincide with school terms.

Introductory classes are run regularly and any student of the dance school is able to attend these for free to refresh the basics and meet the new recruits!

No one can come into classes with initially doing the Introduction to Belly dance course and this is to protect the interests of those who are enrolled.
New students can hold up the others if they do not have some knowledge, so this is how we overcome that problem. Helene also offers private classes.

We welcome you to our dance school. It is here you will make friends,  have fun
and unleash the Goddess within you.
Happy shimmies!!