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How To Find A Belly Dancing Class In Your Community - Page 2

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Local Community Programs

Depending on your locale, adult education programs may be offered by community colleges, the local school districts, or the city government. Such programs cater to adults who would like to take evening classes to develop a new hobby, learn a new skill, etc. Try phoning your local community colleges, school districts, and city offices and ask if they have an adult education program that includes a belly dancing class.

Some cities have "Parks & Recreation" programs that offer hobby-oriented classes for adults. Contact yours to investigate whether they offer a belly dancing class.

Some universities offer not-for-academic-credit classes that are open to the general public, even if you're not a student in a degree program. Contact your local university to ask whether they have "adult education", "continuing education", or "community education" programs. If they do, ask whether they offer belly dancing.

Communities with a college, a university, or a large local ethnic population may have a cultural center or ethnic club dedicated to making ethnic people feel at home. Investigate whether there is one in your community that serves Middle Eastern populations, whether Jewish, Egyptian, Turkish, or another ethnic group.

Alternatively, check whether there is a church, synagogue, or mosque in your community that serves an ethnic population: Armenian, Greek Orthodox, etc. Such churches often host cultural events related to the interests of their ethnic population, and may be able to steer you to belly dance classes.

Local Businesses

Certain types of local businesses may be able to help you find a class.

Look under "Entertainment" in the yellow pages. Some of the entertainment agencies, particularly those who offer singing telegrams, may book belly dancers. Tell the agency you are looking for instruction in belly dancing, and ask if they can put you in contact with one of their messengers so you can inquire about class opportunities. They may be reluctant to give you a dancer's actual phone number, but if you're willing to give them your phone number, you may be able to persuade them to pass along a message for you. Even if a dancer you contact this way doesn't offer classes herself, she may be able to direct you to someone who does.

Often, New Age bookstores will have a bulletin board where local psychics or other people with relevant services can post their flyers or business cards. If you have such a bookstore, check whether any belly dancers are advertising class schedules. Note that if you find a belly dance teacher this way, she probably subscribes to a New Age belief system and might incorporate that into her teaching style. If you would dislike that, ask questions before you decide to hand over your money for classes.

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