Adriana Hayaam is a natural talented classical belly dance artist and teacher.
Hayaam Belly Dance School offers artistic classical belly dance classes in London Westfield, Holborn Circus, Paddington, Wembley, Harrow and Watford.
Past performances include at Raqs Britannia, International Belly Dance Congress, Arabian Dance Theatre Company and private events at Alexandra Palace and Baylis House.
Her main belly dance style is Egyptian, characterized by a great variety of strong shimmies, charming and graceful moves.
Adriana Hayaam has been trained and had many workshops with renowned teachers such as Khaled Mahmoud, Sadie Marquardt, Petite Jamila, Ansuya, Bozenka, Tamalyn Dalal, Moria, Carolena Nericcio, Suhaila Salimpour, Hossam and Serena Ramzy and many others.
Brazilian born, she was raised in a multicultural environment. She listened to and learned various types of rhythm and was influenced by various dance forms, including the vibrant and powerful samba, the secret weapon to her unique and versatile belly dance style. The natural rhythms of samba complement the exotic beats of bellydance.
Considered as an enthusiastic and committed instructor, her classes are held in a nurturing and encouraging environment, full of inspiration, energy and great fun! She deeply enjoys teaching belly dancing and she says that her greatest reward is to see her students building up their skills and confidence little by little, day by day.
Why Hayaam Belly Dance?
Hayaam Belly Dance School – Philosophy
1) We respect each woman’s uniqueness
No one is better than the other; every person is different. We all come from different walks of life, have different background, age, culture, religion, race, body shape, weight, etc. We might have similarities and affinities but each person is unique.
2) We believe that every woman can learn belly dance, if their uniqueness is respected
Because of our uniqueness, everyone has different learning curves. Due to our lives’ experiences, physical and personal factors, we all have different learning speeds which vary throughout our learning process.
3) We believe that the method of teaching used should be according to the student’s needs
Again, because everyone is unique, each person will learn better in different ways. During class you will find out that different approaches are used to explain the same move, until you get the right idea of what is being taught, so you can learn it in a proper way. Sometimes you will learn better by only observing a dance demonstration; sometimes a demonstration is not enough: you will need a well-structured, methodical and analytical approach where you are explained how, why, when and where things happen.
4) We believe that practice, commitment and dedication are paramount for learning
We currently live in a world of consumerism. Everything gets obsolete quickly and most things are disposable. You may see adverts saying “learn Italian in 30 days”, “lose 10 stones in a week”. The reality is: there is no such thing. You might learn Italian in 30 days but you will learn very basic word and expressions which are not enough to hold a conversation. You might lose 10 stones in a week but it will be in an unhealthy way which can even put your life at risk. And as I said before, people are unique and learn better in different ways and speeds.
So if you plan to take belly dance you should think about committing to it. Then, the degree of your dedication will depend on what you want to take from belly dance: leisure, fitness, performance, etc. However, no matter what your choice or purpose is, some level of commitment will be required. Belly dance is all about muscle control and, as any form of dance, it requires practice and repetition, until a connection is created between the brain and the muscles.
5) We believe in meritocracy
People are able to move up levels or join levels above beginners only if they have acquired and are able to demonstrate the skills required for moving to the next stage. Moving to the next level is something that you conquer with your own effort. That’s the only way forward. There is no favoritism, no nepotism, no special offers, no favour exchange. What you achieve in class is yours.
6) We believe that the environment where you learn is important
Hayaam is a very committed teacher as well as patient, dedicated and extremely passionate about belly dance and her students. Classes are held in a nurturing, motivating, encouraging, challenging environment, full of inspiration, energy and fun. The number of students in class are limited so that everyone has enough space to dance and learn comfortably. Also the position of the students in the studio is changed during the class so that each student has the opportunity to observe the same move from different points of view.
7) We believe that each student is unique and special
The teacher follows each student’s development. She aims to learn each student’s name as the 6 week course progresses and knows who they are.
8) We believe that feedback in class is a fundamental part of learning
In class feedback is given in a positive way so students can correct their posture and position and so they can take the best of the class and learn the movements properly.
Hayaam Belly Dance School – Mission Statement
1) “To place belly dance in the same genre as other dances such as Flamenco and Ballet by accentuating its artistry and classical roots, by raising awareness, appreciation and respect of the art of belly dancing.”
2) “To provide high standard of artistic classical belly dance tuition to women of any backgrounds, ages, cultures, races, religions, body shapes, weight, etc as an art form in a nurturing, inspiring, encouraging, motivating but challenging environment by applying different but well structured teaching methods according to the students needs.”
3) “To provide high class of artistic classical belly dance performances suitable to any age group.”
Why Belly Dance?
The Benefits of Belly Dance
Belly dancing is good for your physical and mental health. Women are once again looking to belly dancing to discover the beauty and power of their bodies and to receive the physical and emotional benefits that arise from dance. Practicing the dance tones the muscles, gives a great work out, enhances the posture, strengthens the lower back, and mobilizes the abdominal and pelvic regions. Belly dancing also relieves menstrual problems, PMS and has been shown to be very useful during pregnancy and childbirth. Belly dancing has enabled women to overcome self-esteem issues and increased their libido. Belly Dance is good for you!
The benefits of belly dance are both mental and physical. Dancing provides a good cardiovascular workout and helps increase both flexibility and strength, focusing on the torso or “core muscles”, although it also builds leg strength. Many belly dance styles emphasize muscular “isolations”, teaching the ability to move various muscles or muscle groups independently. Veil work can also build arm, shoulder, and general upper-body strength, and playing the zills can build strength and independence of the fingers. Belly dance is suitable for all ages and body types, and can be as physical as the participant chooses. The art form tones the arms, strengthens and tightens the abs and obliques, and improves flexibility. As a form of exercise, it can burn as many calories as light jogging, swimming or riding a bike.
Belly dance is considered a non-impact, weight-bearing exercise, which is especially good for women, since it can reduce the risk of osteoporosis. There is minimal stress on knees and feet. Depending on the rhythms of the music and the repetitive body movements, participants can increase breathing and raise their heartbeat, which can assist in building cardiovascular strength.
Belly dance is a unique way to get in shape. According to Ali, the instructor in the studio, ”a single belly dance session works hundreds of muscles, burns calories and helps students to de-stress”.
An hour of belly dancing can burn as much as four hundred calories. According to the American Council on Exercise “belly dancing has emerged as one of the hot new workout trends in recent years”.
The advantage of belly dance is that it is suitable for all ages and body types. Also the dance can be as physically challenging as the dancer or student chooses. Many belly dance styles teach the ability to move various muscles or muscle groups independently. Dancing with the veil can help to build strength of the upper-body, arm and shoulder. Playing the cymbals can get fingers trained to work independently and build strength. Hip kicks, circles, rolls and body twists strengthen abdomen muscles. The long muscles of the back are strengthen by hip kicks, hip circles and making figure 8s. Belly dancing at low intensities increases metabolism. The dance is not only strengthens, tones and tightens the body, but also improves flexibility. It is also a good calorie burn exercise. In the Eastern medicine as well as in physical therapy, the center of the body plays an important role. In Eastern and Indian philosophy pelvic area is the source of strength and storage of energy. Exciting the pelvic area with belly dance movements allows for the vital area at the base of the spine to open, freeing the flow of energy in this important area.
The movements associated with belly dance strengthen the abdominal and pelvic region, preparing a woman for labor and birth with less pain and more celebration. Thus belly dancing could be used as a good pre-labor therapy. Traditionally belly dance often was taught by wise women and includes a school course about pregnancy and birth. The pre- and postnatal research as well as the works of Frederic Le Boyer about gentle birth and Indian infant massage in the 1970s contributed to the decision to begin to place childbirth back into the hands of women.
Belly dance can reduce the risk of osteoporosis and offers just minimal stress on knees and feet. Research suggests that belly dance as a dance of the whole body is good and low stress training for women to prevent osteoporosis. Also the dance can assist in building cardiovascular strength. Professor Fobröse at the athletic academy in Köln, Germany, set out to “belly dance” research using electromyography, which had shown that regular belly dancing of about sixty minutes not only strengthens trapezius and abdominal muscles but also strengthens the heart and increases circulation.
The research of Anette Paffrath at the University of Hamburg involved experiences with belly dance by women with menstruation problems. The statements of the women showed a more positive approach toward their menstruation, sexuality, and bodies during the course of the class. The movements of belly dance are ideal for the mature body. All the organs affected by the hormonal changes of menopause are strengthened by increased blood circulation.
Women are once again looking to belly dancing to discover the beauty and power of their bodies and to receive the physical and emotional benefits that arise from dance. Practicing the dance tones the muscles, gives a great work out, enhances the posture, strengthens the lower back, and mobilizes the abdominal and pelvic regions. Belly dancing also relieves menstrual problems and has been shown to be very useful during pregnancy and childbirth. Belly dancing has enabled women to overcome self-esteem issues and increased their libido.
Text extracted from: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Belly_dance
