Welcome to the
Belly Motions Instructor Training!
The Belly Motions Belly Dance Fitness format was pioneered and developed by Portia Lange, B.A., AFAA certified group fitness instructor and international Belly Dancer with over 20 years experience. The format fuses authentic Middle Eastern dance movements and music with fitness principles and guidelines to create a unique, safe and effective dance-fitness workout. It’s where Belly Dance meets Fitness!
Portia, and her team of trained instructors, have been applying this successful format for over 15 years. The Belly Dance Fitness method is reputable program based on science, fun and practical making the benefits of belly dancing available to anyone. In addition, it is the ONLY Belly Dance Program in the United States approved by the Athletics and Fitness Association of America (AFAA) offering 12 AFAA Continuing Education Credits!
Reach the masses and empower your participants through the Belly Motions Belly Dance Fitness Model!
Portia Lange has over 20 years experience teaching belly dance locally, online and abroad. Her classes are high-energy, invigorating and communal. Her up-beat and warm personality as well as her effective teaching methodology make her one of the best in the business!
Portia specializes in the following dance styles and formats:
- Belly Dance Technique: American Belly Dance, Egyptian Raks Sharqi, Egyptian Folkloric styles. Props Include: Veil, Isis Wings, Sword, Finger Cymbals (Zills), Shamadon (Candelabra), Cane, and Fan Veils.
- Belly Dance Fitness: Authentic Belly Dance movements and music lead by a certified instructor to deliver a low-impact workout.
- Dance-Cardio & Sculpt: Low-impact dance fitness and conditioning workout incorporating American, Latin, Belly Dance, Bollywood, Hip Hop and other other world beats. It’s out of this world!
- Belly Dance Fitness Instructor Training: The Belly Motions Belly Dance Fitness format fuses authentic Middle Eastern movements and music with fitness principles and guidelines to create a unique, safe and effective dance-fitness workout. It is the only Belly Dance Fitness program in the Unites States approved by the Athletics and Fitness Association of America (AFAA) and offers 12 continuing education credits for completion.
What is Belly Motions Belly Dance Fitness?
Belly Motions Belly Dance Fitness (we’ll call it Belly Motions BDFit for simplicity!) is the concept of taking authentic Middle Eastern dance movements and music into a group exercise setting for the purpose of delivering a physical workout. Everyday people can experience this ancient and exotic dance for fun and fitness. No previous dance training, extreme flexibility or any other prerequisites required! The goal of a Belly Motions BDFit class is to share the benefits of belly dancing in a dance-fitness format.
How does the Belly Motions format compare to others?
The Belly Motions BDFit format is similar to other dance-fitness formats, such as Zumba®, in that it uses dance movements, simple choreographies and motivating music to deliver a fun and physically beneficial workout. Classes are 55-60 minutes in length and include a warm up, body and cool-down with stretch.
The Belly Motions BDFit format differs from other dance-fitness formats in that it is low-impact, making it safe and accessible to many populations, features exotic movements derived from the Middle East, bringing a unique and attractive appeal, and is taught barefoot, giving it an earthy feel.
In general, most Belly Dance classes taught at dance schools and studios tend to have little fitness application and primarily center around teaching the art of Middle Eastern Dance. These classes focus on technique, musicality, culture and stylization which lead to performance troupes, dance companies and theater shows. They are often taught in weekly sessions, teach complex choreographies, spend time perfecting technique and preparing for the stage. These classes offer amazing opportunities for participants pursuing this type of training; however, they are not ideal for the average “drop-in”, non-dancer participant seeking to experience Belly Dance for exercise.
The Belly Motions BDFit format provides a structured experience in a group exercise setting with the intention of delivering a physical workout while introducing basic Belly Dance technique and easy-to-follow choreographies for fun and fitness.
What is the Belly Motions BDFit Instructor Training Program?
The Belly Motions Belly Dance Fitness Instructor Training Course is a nationally recognized dance-fitness course approved by the Athletics and Fitness Association of America (AFAA) the leading certifier of fitness professionals since 1983. The training course is designed to teach group exercise instructors, professional dancers and belly dance enthusiasts how to fuse authentic Belly Dance movements and music with fitness principles and guidelines to create a fun, safe and effective workout. Upon completion, this course offers 12 CEU’s to AFAA Certified Instructors.
Who should take this training?
Whether you are just starting your dance-fitness journey, or you are an experienced pro; this training will take you to the next level and is an excellent option for:
– Group Fitness Instructors vested in expanding their class format offerings.
– Current Belly Dance Instructors looking to teach in a fitness setting.
– Dance students and enthusiasts interested in teaching Belly Dance classes for fun and fitness.
– AFAA Certified Professionals seeking to earn CEU’s.
What form of certification does this training offer?
The Belly Motions BDFit Training Course will offer a Certificate of Completion which may be presented to dance studios and fitness centers for future employment and used to build instructor qualifications and resume. Group Fitness Instructors certified by AFAA will earn 12 AFAA Continuing Education Credits (CEUs) upon completion,
Purpose, Mission and Topics Covered
The purpose of this training course is to provide the foundation, education and skills necessary to become a safe, effective and successful Belly Dance Fitness Instructor in gyms, fitness centers and dance studios around the globe, with the mission of sharing the benefits of belly dancing through the structure of a dance-fitness format.
This self-study training course will examine the following chapters and concepts through the downloadable and printable Belly Motions Belly Dance Fitness Instructor Training Manual that coincides with pre-recorded video modules and supplemental print materials available on a user-friendly online platform.
Chapter 1 | Mission: Share the Benefits of Belly Dancing for Fitness
Chapter 2 | Middle Eastern Dance: The Foundation of Belly Dance Fitness
Chapter 3 | The Science Behind Movement: Nervous, Skeletal & Muscular Systems
Chapter 4 | Belly Dance Fundamentals: Posture, Positions & Movements
Chapter 5 | Music: Fundamentals, Genres Middle Eastern Rhythms & Choreography Creation
Chapter 6 | Teaching: The Belly Motions Method, Cueing, Communication & Safety
Chapter 7 | Class Components & Design: The Belly Motions Class Format
Chapter 8 | Instructor Guidelines: Professional & Legal Responsibilities
Chapter 9 | Business: Employment, Marketing & Service Rates
Cost, Materials & How to Receive a Certificate of Completion
The cost of the Belly Motions BDFit Online Self-Study Course is $399USD and provides access to the following content for 365 days from date of purchase:
– Downloadable and printable 38-page, 9 Chapter copyrighted manual.
– Downloadable and printable supplemental materials (i.e. Music Map, Class Format Template, etc.)
– Video Modules that correspond to each chapter. The videos are not downloadable but may be viewed as often as desired.
To receive an official Certificate of Completion a teaching video demonstrating the skills learned from the training course along with an open-book written exam must be submitted to Portia Lange, the program creator, within the 365 day purchase period.
AFAA Certified Instructors will need to submit their Certificate of Completion directly to AFAA to receive CEU credits.
All sales are final, there are no refunds.