Solstice Dance & Yoga Studio

Beginning Bellydance Class 6:30-7:45pm 

Beginning Belly Dance with Ellen Cruz: During this class students will be introduced to the exciting world of belly dance.  Many use belly dance to enhance their fitness program or to begin a journey of physical movement.  Learn new skills, increase flexibility, and coordination.  Enhance your sense of grace and confidence.  Students will learn to understand music and rhythm, and how to move in time to music.  The beginning curriculum covers basic dance steps, body isolations, hip movements and shimmies, and basic finger cymbal (zyls) patterns.  Simple dance combinations are presented every week with steps learned in class.  If you are craving to try something different, or your exercise program needs spicing up with some variety, try belly dance. This is a great class for teens, and Mothers & Daughters to take together. Belly dance brings people together and has been known to form lifelong bonds of friendship and camaraderie.  Enhance your sense of well being while moving to music, and Catch the Spirit of this ancient art form.

Dance Classes are $13/Drop In- OR

4 Class Card $48 ($12 per class)- OR

8 Class Card $90 ($11.25 per class)

For more information contact Ellen: (707)480-8791 or email her at: ellencruz@aol.com

Ellen Cruz has taught Middle Eastern music and dance for over twenty years.  She founded The Sebastopol School for Middle Eastern Music & Dance in 1994 and it is still going strong now under the directorship of Kathy Wolff, a former student and principal dancer under Ellen’s directorship.  Ellen taught workshops in drumming and dance throughout the Northwest and performed at hundreds of venues over the course of her career.  Ellen’s company, Rose Productions, is known for the production of numerous concerts, workshops, and events, and the successful ten year run of the much loved October-Fest, Festival Fantasia.  Ellen co-founded Tribal Fest with Kajira and that festival is also continuing.   

Ellen is known as a dancer, musician, vendor, producer, and competition judge at Wiggles of the West Competition.  Many of her students have gone on to successful professional dance careers including local dancers Elana Quihuis, Eva Willenhag, Kathy Wolff, Rebecca Carroll, Kendra Katz, and many more.  She was awarded an Artist in Residence Grant from the California Arts Council and the National Endowment for the Arts, for her work in music and dance with teens and youth.  Ellen’s philosophy is multi faceted.  To build and develop the spirit of community for local dancers, to quote the late great Mimi Spencer, “to wage peace through the arts,” and to enrich people’s lives through the study of dance and music.  2010 has brought a resurgence in Ellen’s career.