Eryri / Snowdonia Bellydance Weekend Retreat
Friday 8th to Sunday 10th August 2025
Here are all the workshop details for our wonderful Bellydance weekend.
For full event / accommodation and show details see the main events page.
Weekend Retreat Workshop Details.
Ramona's Workshops:
Beautiful Bellydance Basics​
Kick off your dance weekend with this energizing beginner bellydance workshop! Whether you're brand new to bellydance or just looking to refresh your foundation, this session is the perfect place to start.
Ramona will guide you through essential movements including posture, hip drops, shimmies, figure eights, and undulations—all designed to get you moving with confidence and grace. Welcoming, clear and supportive instruction will be found in this workshop.
Plus, you'll receive access to follow-up videos to keep practicing at home. Come ready to move, laugh, and begin your bellydance weekend with joy!
Arabic Modern Pop Beginner’s Choreography
Ready to put your bellydance basics into motion? This beginner-friendly choreography workshop is designed to help you connect movements into a beautiful, flowing routine.
We’ll start with a short warm-up and a quick review of foundational techniques—then dive into learning a fun, accessible choreography to modern Arabic music. You'll explore how to transition between moves and build confidence in performing a full piece from start to finish. Be introduced to timings, musicality and expressive techniques.
Whether you're brand new or have just a few classes under your belt, this workshop is the perfect next step in your bellydance journey.
Bellydance Hot Combinations to Chiffateli & Maqsoum Rhythms
Spice up your dance with powerful and dynamic combos rooted in two of the most iconic rhythms: Chiftetelli and Maqsoum. This workshop is designed for dancers with bellydance experience who want to deepen their musicality and expand their movement vocabulary.​
We’ll break down combinations that emphasize rhythmic interpretation, layering, and transitions. You’ll learn how to embody the soulful feel of Chiftetelli and the upbeat fiery energy of Maqsoum through well-crafted sequences that you can plug into your own performances or practice.
Combinations tailored to Chiftelli and Maqsoum rhythmic patterns
Technique drills to sharpen isolations and accents
Tips on musical interpretation and dynamic expression
This workshop is for dancers with prior bellydance experience who are ready to explore and play with rhythm and choreography.
The Art of Taksim: Slow & Sensual Improvisation to Arabic Nay
Step into the soulful heart of bellydance with this immersive workshop exploring improvisation to Arabic Taksim, focusing on the haunting, expressive melodies of the Nay (Arabic flute).
This session is all about space between movements, subtlety and emotional connection. You'll learn techniques for slow, fluid and deeply felt movement—from undulations and controlled isolations to breath-driven transitions and lyrical arm work. We’ll explore how to listen and respond intuitively to the music, creating a dance that feels as it unfolds in real time.
Understand the structure and feeling of Taksim music
Improvisation techniques for slow and expressive dancing
Connecting breath and emotion with movement for authentic storytelling
An open level workshop focusing on emotive musical connection.
Andromeda's Workshops:
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Inventive Veil
Andromeda is known for her fluid and lyrical dance style. Learn how to use a veil to give your dance variety, suspense and surprise. This is a technique workshop, not a choreography, to give you a toolbox of ideas suited to Egyptian or fusion dance styles for making more of this quintessential bellydance prop. Veil work - it's not just waving a bit of cloth around!
Bring a veil or two, silk preferred if possible. Semi-circular and rectangular would be best so you can see which techniques work better with the different shapes, but some veils will be available to borrow. Previous experience with Egyptian or fusion dance will be beneficial for this workshop.
Space/Time
In this workshop, Andromeda will teach a versatile and dynamic combo (a set of moves which flow naturally one into the next and repeat) drawing from the vocabulary of fusion dance, and show how this can be sloooowwwwwed down or sped up to create precision of movement and the quintessential gooey fusion flow. You’ll leave the workshop with a combo you can use and adapt for your own solo or group dances, and having spent time really working into which muscles are essential to drive slow movement. Previous dance experience will be beneficial for this workshop.
Purpose in Dance – drama and character theory
Dance is something we create, uniquely a visual blending of the music and of ourselves. Great dances are infused with meaning and emotions, going beyond technique to give truly memorable performances. So what’s your purpose when you dance? What are you trying to say?
Spend time on the theory of expressive dance in this hour-long workshop, including handouts. You will learn how adding stories and emotion to your dance can create a whole new layer of interest for your audience, considering the dual approaches of starting from the music and starting from the character.
This is a theory workshop, so come prepared to sit, talk and take notes, share experiences and try out different approaches to performance prep. While the workshop will be most useful to those who perform, or are considering starting on their own performance path, it is an open level workshop.
Helen's Workshops:
Beginners Workshop 'Modern Egyptian Pop Fusion - Modern Beats, Timeless Moves'​
Join Helen for a modern take on the timeless art of belly dance! This beginner-friendly workshop is your perfect introduction to the art of Egyptian-style belly dance, set to the infectious pop anthem Ya Habibi by Mohamed Ramadan and GIMS. Blending traditional movement vocabulary with the upbeat, energetic vibes of contemporary Egyptian pop, this class is designed to be both accessible and exciting for newcomers. You’ll learn essential belly dance techniques like hip drops, figure eights, shimmies, undulations, and more, while building your confidence and body awareness. Together, we’ll weave these moves into a fun, easy-to-follow choreography set to Ya Habibi, allowing you to experience the joy of dancing to music right from the start.
Whether you're stepping into belly dance for the first time or simply curious to explore something creative and uplifting, this workshop offers a warm, welcoming space to move, connect, and express yourself. No prior experience is needed—just bring your hips, your curiosity, and a sense of fun!
Turkish Delight – Mastering the Flow of Oriental Rhythms
Step into the bold and exhilarating world of Turkish-style belly dance in this high-energy, improver-level workshop with Helen! Set to the vibrant and theatrical track Sendur by Turkish pop sensation Asena, this class will guide you through a choreography that captures the essence of Oryantal belly dance—known for its expressive flair, playful spirit, and dramatic movement quality.
In this workshop, we’ll focus on the hallmarks of the style: exaggerated hip isolations, vibrant arm and hand movements, fluid spins, elegant floorwork, and deep backbends—all woven together to match the lively pulse of the music. You'll refine your transitions, boost your stamina, and build confidence as you learn how to interpret and embody the rhythm with both grace and intensity. This class is perfect for dancers who have a basic foundation and are ready to explore a more theatrical, expressive, and physically dynamic side of belly dance in a supportive and energising environment.
Marianne's Workshops:
Bellydance Asaya Technique to Saidi Rhythm
Open to all levels, this energetic workshop explores the vibrant Saidi rhythm and the art of Asaya (cane) technique. You'll build confidence with rhythm recognition, develop control and flair with the cane, and learn fun, accessible combinations that bring cultural context and stage presence to your dance. Whether you're new to cane or looking to refine your skills, this workshop offers something for everyone.
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Shimmy Focus – Technique, Layering & Movement
Designed for dancers with a basic understanding of shimmies, this workshop takes your technique to the next level. Explore a variety of shimmy styles—both stationary and travelling—while building control through isolations and layering. Marianne will apply each technique in context with short combinations to help you integrate shimmies seamlessly into your dance. Get ready to take your shimmies to a next level and add that dynamic texture to your performance!
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Latin Fire – Big Skirt Choreography
Bring the heat with this fiery, fun Latin-flavoured choreography designed to celebrate flair, rhythm, and attitude! Open to all levels, this workshop focuses on bold movements, dramatic swishes, flicks, and turns using a full circle skirt. You'll learn a simple yet powerful dance routine packed with energy and personality. Just bring your skirt—and your sass!
Kath's Workshops:
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Improvising Together Black Sheep Style
It’s possible to dance in synch with anyone to anything, anywhere and at any time… all you need are the cues!
Group Improvisational Bellydance allows this in a folkloric-inspired style, and Black Sheep Bellydance is a vocabulary of moves that let this happen. Together with Kath you’ll be introduced to a range of moves and cues and by the end of the workshop we’ll be flocking together. Hopefully you’ll leave feeling able to join in wherever you meet a black sheep on the dancefloor… Baaa.
Suitable for those with some experience of any style of belly dance.
The Viking Hoard!
This workshop will use a fusion of bellydance styles and moves to Viking inspired music to release your inner warrior. We will learn a simple choreography and explore how we can add passion and strength into our moves in a way that will spread fear and awe in our enemies. There will be an opportunity to share what you have learned on Saturday night and join Kath in a Viking hoard. If you want to perform, Viking inspired costumes are welcome but not mandatory! Open to any level of dancer.
Slow and Striking Spins and Shapes
The beauty of folkloric-inspired bellydance is its flowing turns and slow and dramatic moves, which are instantly recognisable in the fusion and group improvisational bellydance styles. In this workshops Kath will share the slower side of fusion and Black Sheep Bellydance with our slow turns, as well as stylised flowing arms and postures. These can be taken away and added to your own bellydance giving the feeling of effortless drama to any performance. Open level - be ready for turning, but it can be done without.
Helen's Yoga Workshops:
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Awakening The Feminine Energy
Yoga for grace and strength. An early morning workshop to prepare body and mind for a full days dance workshops.
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Sacred Stillness
Meditative slow flow Yoga. The perfect "day after the party" yoga workshop. Re-centre, balance and bring stillness to the body and mind, in this regenerate workshop under Helen's expert guidance.​​
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Rose's Creative Workshops:
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Creating fabric flowers
All materials are supplied in this creative workshop with Rose. beautiful fabric flowers for hair or costumes.
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Art of Costuming
Bring a costume project you are working on and get expert help from Rose for inspiration and guidance to turn your project into something very special.
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