Happy New Year! Hello 2015!

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In the spirit of the end of the Year’s celebration, we want to send our warmest wishes for this upcoming 2015, hoping it receives you with health, love, companionship and prosperity! Being a world dance studio, we’re always interested in world cultures and different traditions all around. Today we share with you some of New Year’s traditional customs celebrated around the globe that intend to seek good fortune.

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  1. In Colombia, people will carry their empty suitcases and luggage bags around the block to ensure a travel-filled year.
  2. A Spanish tradition says that you should eat 12 grapes at the strike of midnight, one for each strike and each one corresponding to the months of the upcoming year.
  3. in Denmark, people stand on a chair and jump off it at midnight to help banish bad spirits and bring good luck.
  4. One of the most common traditions in North America is to eat black-eyed peas and greens, like kale and chard to appeal for prosperity.
  5. In some South American countries, people wear special underwear in different colors depending on what they wish for. Red would be for love and yellow for money.

Make sure to practice your favorite tradition this New Year’s eve and enjoy the festivities with the company of your loved ones. See you in 2015!

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JOIN US FOR WORLD DANCE CLASSES IN DENVER

Bella Diva Dance’s  new studio is located in the Glendale Center on E. Mississippi Ave and Birch St, near Colorado Blvd.  We offer you: Belly Dance, Samba, Yoga, Bollywood, Hot Hula Fitness, Afro-Caribe and Kids’ World Dance. Contact Caitlin for more information about classes: 303.359.9414 or email us at [email protected].

 

World Dances: Origins of Samba

samba instructors

The cradle of samba can be found in Brazil, no doubt about it.

Modern samba is said to be born in Rio de Janeiro, more specifically. But the origins of this dance go further back in time and across the Atlantic Ocean to the place where much of South Americans and the Caribbeans owe their roots to: Africa. The slave trading era, during 1600-1888, not only brought new inhabitants to America but their traditions and customs, as well. The word “samba” is thought to be derived from the Kimbundu (Angolan) term semba, which referred to an invitation to dance. West African slaves were forced to leave their home countries in Africa to come live in a new continent, with foreign and unknown traditions to them. Even though they were also forced to become Christians, they kept practicing their religious traditions. The worship of their gods was done through dance and song. So, they managed to have parties where they camouflaged their ceremonies, as these, of course, were prohibited. Slavery was abolished in Brazil in 1888, and after decades of struggle to keep their traditions, the original dances and music were now combined with other rhythms and instruments. Many samba rhythms can be found in Candomble, an African religion, which is also practised in Brazil.

samba squad

Samba as a Popular World Dance

Some of the earliest records of samba trace it back to before 1914, when it was originally called “maxixe”. There are French records from the 1920s, that include instructions on how to dance it. It is said that samba, as we know it, was formed around that time. Samba was first introduced to US in movies, such as Flying Down to Rio, with Fred Astaire. The World’s Fair in 1939, in New York, was the stage for samba as it made a memorable impression on Americans. Samba is well-know as the the Carnaval of Rio in Rio de Janeiro’s official dance and it continues to impress and amaze spectators all around the world.

Samba at Bella Diva Dance

We offer Samba lessons for Beginners, Intermediate and Advanced students. We have our Samba No Pe class and an Intermediate/Advanced Samba Technique and Choreography class.  Our classes are thoroughly planned series in which we cover all basic samba foot patterns and sequences, body movements and different styles. Our prices:

4 week month series = $52
5 week month series = $65
$15 Drop-in rate (if spots are available)

samba squad

JOIN US FOR WORLD DANCE CLASSES IN DENVER

Bella Diva Dance’s  new studio is located in the Glendale Center on E. Mississippi Ave and Birch St, near Colorado Blvd.  We offer you: Belly Dance, Samba, Yoga, Bollywood, Hot Hula Fitness, Afro-Caribe and Kids’ World Dance. Contact Caitlin for more information about classes: 303.359.9414 or email us at [email protected].

 

Happy Holidays from Bella Diva Dance!

Dear family, friends, and students of Bella Diva Dance,

 

Warmest Greetings of the Season

and Best Wishes for

Happiness in the New Year

with Holiday Cheer!

 

The studio will be closed for winter break from Monday, December 22nd – Saturday, January 3rd, 2015. All classes will resume Sunday, January 4th, and we look forward to dancing with you in the New Year!

 

Much love and dancing,

 

The Bella Diva Dance Team

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JOIN US FOR WORLD DANCE CLASSES IN DENVER

Bella Diva Dance’s  new studio is located in the Glendale Center on E. Mississippi Ave and Birch St, near Colorado Blvd.  We offer you: Belly Dance, Samba, Yoga, Bollywood, Hot Hula Fitness, Afro-Caribe and Kids’ World Dance. Contact Caitlin for more information about classes: 303.359.9414 or email us at [email protected].

 

Bella Diva Dance founder: Caitlin Brozna-Smith

How to Improve Grace and Fluidity Throughout Your Arms and Hands

Behind a successful performance dance group and a great dance studio, there is an amazing and hard-working mind: Caitlin Brozna-Smith. Bella Diva Dance artistic director and founder has quite a curriculum and extensive studies that back-up all the that is taught here. Let us share with you the impressive roadmap it took to get where she is now.

caitlin dancing samba

  • At an early age, Caitlin was introduced into the world of figure skating, classical ballet and jazz. Caitlin has performed as a figure skating coach since 1997, at the Big Bear Ice Arena.
  • She obtained a B.F.A. in Musical Theater and Dance at the University of Colorado, at Boulder.
  • In 2001, she started her Samba no pe studies, in Salvador, Bahia, Brazil. For the past 13 years, she has continued her studies with Kaya & Sadie of Groove du Monde, Samba Ottawa and Luciana da Silva.
  • In 2004, Caitlin began her Middle Eastern Dance training with Kaya & Sadie, and also performed in their internationally renowned company Groove du Monde, 2004- 2009. Her Middle Eastern studies continued with Shadia in Ottawa, 2010, and with Suzanna del Vecchio in Denver, 2011.
  • In 2005, Caitlin received her Masters of Arts in International Affairs and Communication, from the University of Denver.
  • In 2009, she began her Bollywood studies under the tutelage of Renu Gupta. She became a Teaching Associate and troupe performer with Gupta in her Bollywood West Dance Company.belladivadance_homepageslide02.jpg
  • Caitlin is currently also an Adjunct Professor in the Theater Department and at the Lamont School of Music at the University of Denver where she teaches Musical Theater Dance, World Dance, Stage Movement and Choreographs for shows, too.

Caitlin’s extensive years of experience in different world dances, as a trainee and teacher, have led her to become a perceptive and communicative instructor, who easily detects how students learn best, whether they are dominantly visual, auditory or kinesthetic learners. Her  warm, funny and passionate personality will motivate you to continue learning more about the fascinating world of dance!

JOIN US FOR WORLD DANCE CLASSES IN DENVER

Bella Diva Dance’s  new studio is located in the Glendale Center on E. Mississippi Ave and Birch St, near Colorado Blvd.  We offer you: Belly Dance, Samba, Yoga, Bollywood, Hot Hula Fitness, Afro-Caribe and Kids’ World Dance. Contact Caitlin for more information about classes: 303.359.9414 or email us at [email protected].

 

World Dances: Origins of Belly Dance

bella diva dance belly dancers

belly dance photo

There is much debate behind the true and real origin of belly dance, but it’s considered one of the most antique dances there is. Being so ancient, its origin can be traced back to different cultures. This Middle East dance is considered to have some religious background, as it’s related to fertility rituals that were recorded as early as 1,000 B.C in Egypt, Mesopotamia and Greece. Even current wedding traditions in Egypt include having a belly dancer in the celebration, where the couple takes a picture with their hands on the stomach of the performer. Another association to this dance’s origin is childbirth rituals. There are several movements taught in a Lamaze class that are quite similar, if not identical, to belly dance moves. One last speculated place of origin is India, from where many Gypsy migrations helped spread out their culture across the Middle East; in countries such as Turkey, where this beautiful dance is currently practiced.

Belly Dance in Western World

It is agreed that the official introduction of belly dance into Western civilization took place in 1893, in Chicago’s World Fair, where a belly dance performer captivated the Americans with this exotic dance and rhythm. Belly dance has always been associated with femininity and the power of feminine. The feminine movements in 1970s and 1980s, rediscovered this dance as it empowered women. In many cultures nowadays, belly dance is considered a folk or social dance, as well as a performance art.

halloween masquerade

 

We offer Belly Dance lessons for Beginners, Intermediate and Advanced students. Our classes are thoroughly planned series in which we cover all belly dance moves, including hip and arm moves, body isolations, traveling moves and shimmies.

Our prices:
4 week month series = $52
5 week month series = $65
$15 Drop-in rate (if spots are available)

JOIN US FOR WORLD DANCE CLASSES IN DENVER

Bella Diva Dance’s  new studio is located in the Glendale Center on E. Mississippi Ave and Birch St, near Colorado Blvd.  We offer you: Belly Dance, Samba, Yoga, Bollywood, Hot Hula Fitness, Afro-Caribe and Kids’ World Dance. Contact Caitlin for more information about classes: 303.359.9414 or email us at [email protected].

 

Bella Diva Dance Community: Sharing the Passion for Dance

The Healing Power of Dance

Sharing the passion for dance in Denver

“Bella Diva Dance Studio is one of my favorite places to be!
The instructors are all such wonderful people,
great dancers and just full of knowledge to teach everyone
about dance from all around the world!
This is what I love about the Bella Diva Dance community,
having the passion for dance and being able to share it
with everyone around us.”

Zenia ~ Student

afro caribe performance

You can join us for World Dance Classes in Denver

If you were still waiting for a reason to dance to the beat of the world… this testimonial by Zenia, one of our students, should help you get off the couch and head to Bella Diva Dance’s  new studio in the Glendale Center on E. Mississippi Ave and Birch St, near Colorado Blvd.  We offer you: Belly Dance, Samba, Yoga, Bollywood, Hot Hula Fitness, Afro-Caribe and Kids’ World Dance.

Contact Caitlin for more information about classes: 303.
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359.9414
or email: [email protected]

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