Welcome to Fundamentals 1

An In-Depth Study of Belly Dance with Suhaila Salimpour’s Somatic Method

Discover the fundamentals of belly dance through Suhaila’s proven somatic method, built on a lifetime of study and teaching, featuring her Core Dimension™ approach. Raised within the rich cultural traditions and dance of the SWANA region, Suhaila brings a deep connection and understanding of the art form. Filmed documentary-style, this course offers a window into Suhaila’s classroom, letting you watch her teach real students — and join in yourself.

This is a structured workshop-based learning experience, not a casual video library. The course is designed to be revisited, allowing understanding to deepen as physical awareness develops.

Weekly Core Video Lessons

Weekly, you’ll access over 2 hours of core video lessons presenting Suhaila’s expert instruction on somatics, posture, finger cymbals, and movement fundamentals — the absolute must-know material. Lessons are organized in a week-by-week framework to provide structure, while remaining fully flexible and self-paced.

Focus on Technique and Somatics

Fundamentals 1 is a foundational training course focused on technique, somatics, and understanding—not on learning performance choreography. While performance material may appear as reference or context, the emphasis is on building a clear, functional base for continued study.

Supporting Materials

Short primers on key movements and concepts are included to help you master each element, step-by-step.

Flexible Workshop Experience

This course delivers the full workshop experience and lets you study at your own pace, balancing focused study with flexible timing. All lessons are available immediately upon enrollment, allowing you to follow the course in sequence or explore based on your individual learning needs.

Exclusive Premium Content

Premium learners receive exclusive access to a 6-class series filmed separately, providing extra practice and detailed explorations of the same content — perfect for reinforcing and deepening your learning.

Optional Certification

By the end, you’ll have the opportunity to take an optional certification assessment to demonstrate your understanding and proficiency with the core Fundamentals 1 material.

About Certification

Certification is intended for learners who want formal recognition of their Fundamentals 1 study, whether for continued training, teaching pathways, or personal accountability. Many students choose not to certify and still gain full benefit from the course.

Certification validates comprehension of course material; it is not required to benefit fully from the course, and many learners choose not to certify.
“The videos made me feel like I was right there in the classroom with Suhaila. The step-by-step guidance and real student footage helped me understand the movements deeply.”
andrea t.
Overview

What You Will Learn

Gain confidence in these fundamental belly dance skills, including:

  • Posture and body alignment essentials
  • Body shapes and movements
  • Finger cymbal technique
  • Basic musicality and timing 
  • Suhaila’s Core Dimension™ method somatic approach

How the Course Works

This course is crafted from real workshop footage of Suhaila teaching live students, filmed in a documentary style that blends demonstration, explanation, and guided practice to create an immersive learning environment.

Learners are expected to revisit lessons multiple times. Repetition and return are an intentional part of the learning design, allowing understanding to deepen as your body awareness develops. While this course is primarily self-paced, Premium learners also receive personalized private sessions and regular check-ins for added guidance.

Time Commitment

This course offers a comprehensive Fundamentals 1 workshop experience through prerecorded videos:
 - Economy Plan: ~15 hours total (2–3 hours/week over 6 weeks)
 - Premium Plan: ~25 hours total (economy + bonus series over 8 weeks)

All lessons are accessible immediately for flexible, self-paced learning to fit your schedule. You’ll get full access to all lessons at once, with course access lasting 6 weeks for Economy learners and 8 weeks for Premium learners. Not all materials are intended to be completed each week. Core lessons are the priority; supplemental resources are provided to support, clarify, or expand your study based on your goals and available time.

Choose Your Learning Experience

Economy Plan — $200

Ideal for motivated learners seeking a clear path at their own pace with:
  • Access to the 6-week Fundamentals 1 core video series (over 2 hours of instruction per week)
  • Short primers on key movements, posture, and finger cymbals to support your practice
  • Prerecorded content available immediately, organized week-by-week to guide your learning — so you can follow the course in sequence or explore at your own pace
  • Optional certification assessment available for $50
This plan is best for learners who value clear instruction and structure, and who are confident revisiting material to deepen understanding.

Premium Plan — $350

For learners who want an extended, enriched experience with personalized support. Includes everything in Economy, plus:
  • Access to an exclusive 6-class bonus practice series for additional skill-building
  • Two 30-minute private sessions with an instructor for tailored feedback and guidance
  • Extended 8-week course access, with the final weeks dedicated to private instruction and integration rather than new coursework 
  • Certification assessment fee waived (a $50 value)
  • Regular check-ins and personalized support to keep you motivated and on track
Premium is ideal for learners who want guided prioritization, direct feedback, and a more supported learning experience.

I loved having the bonus series in the premium plan. The private sessions were invaluable — personalized tips made all the difference.
mariana R.

Enroll Today

Check the year and date carefully for each option below before making your selection.

Ready to join?

Whether you prefer a focused, self-paced foundation or a deeper, supported journey, this course brings Suhaila’s expertise straight to you — on your terms.
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“This course gave me a solid foundation and the confidence to move forward. The pacing and structure worked perfectly for my busy schedule.
Ethan K.
Taking the certification test was a great goal. Knowing I had access to quality content and support helped me commit to practicing regularly.
emily m.

Featured Testimonial

Taking Fundamentals 1 was a wonderful experience. I’ve wanted to learn belly dance for a long time, and starting here felt like the perfect choice. The course has lots of videos, so you’ll need to set aside dedicated time each week to focus on the classes. I wasn’t always sure how well I was doing, but I used the video feedback tool nearly every week, and my instructor gave me great personalized guidance. She also helped me prioritize which content was most important and what I could skip if I ran short on time. I had wanted to take a workshop in person, but traveling or taking time off work was difficult for me. This online course is much easier. The premium plan offers great value with all the extra help and bonus content. Now I’ve subscribed to the classes and use the rotation plans to keep improving — and it’s working!
AVERY D.

What Comes Next?

Upon completing Fundamentals 1, you’ll be well-prepared to continue your journey with more advanced classes available in the Salimpour Library & Conservatory subscription.

You may also choose to take the optional certification assessment to validate your skills and earn recognition for your progress.

FAQs

Is this course live or prerecorded?

All course content is prerecorded video. You can access all lessons immediately and follow the week-by-week structure at your own pace.

 How do I access the course materials?

All content is accessed through our online classroom via streaming video and on-screen materials. Lessons are not downloadable and are available for the duration of your course access period.

How long do I have access to the course?

Economy learners have access for 6 weeks, while Premium learners enjoy extended access for 8 weeks to deepen their practice.

What if I fall behind?

Since the course is prerecorded and flexible, you can catch up anytime during your access period.

Are the private sessions live?

Yes, Premium learners receive two live 30-minute private sessions with an instructor for personalized feedback.

Is the certification assessment mandatory?

No, the certification assessment is optional. Premium learners have the assessment fee waived, while Economy learners can choose to take it for $50.

What equipment do I need?

Comfortable clothes and enough space to move freely. Finger cymbals are strongly recommended, and you will need them if you intend to take the certification assessment.

Can beginners take this course?

Absolutely! This course is designed for beginners ready to learn the fundamentals with Suhaila’s somatic method.

What’s the difference between Economy and Premium?

Our Economy tier gives you full access to the core curriculum with helpful checklists and support, perfect for steady progress. Premium offers extended access, exclusive bonus content, and two private coaching sessions for personalized feedback — the best way to accelerate your skill-building and deepen your connection to the material. Economy: $200 | Premium: $350

Why are there two course options now?

Over the years, we’ve observed that learners approach Fundamentals 1 with different needs, schedules, and learning styles. Some prefer a focused, independent path, while others benefit from extended access and personalized guidance.

To support both, we now offer two learning experiences:
 - Economy provides a structured, workshop-based foundation with clear instruction and supporting materials.
 - Premium offers extended access, additional practice material, and personalized instructor support through private sessions.

Both options deliver the same core curriculum and instructional quality. The difference lies in the level of reinforcement, access time, and individualized guidance.

What if I want to upgrade from Economy to Premium?

Upgrading is easy — just contact us anytime during your access period for more information.

What happens during the extended 8-week access for Premium learners?

Premium learners receive two additional weeks dedicated to personalized private lessons and focused review. These weeks are designed to deepen your understanding and refine your skills with tailored instructor feedback, not to introduce new course material.

Will I receive emails related to this course?

Yes. You may receive both system-generated notifications (such as enrollment confirmations or assessment notices) and instructional emails related to your course experience.

What is the refund policy?

Please see our refund policy page for details.

Acknowledging the Cultural Heritage of the SWANA Region

The Salimpour School presents belly dance within the context of the cultural traditions of the Southwest Asia and North Africa (SWANA) region. Our curriculum emphasizes an informed and respectful approach to the art form, connecting students to its diverse historical and cultural roots.

Whether your interest is professional study or personal practice, the Salimpour School provides structured, culturally grounded instruction to support your development in this dance discipline.

About Suhaila Salimpour and the Salimpour Center

Suhaila Salimpour has been teaching belly dance since the 1970s and developed a structured somatic method that emphasizes a close connection between body and mind. She was an early adopter of digital education for belly dance, launching one of the first online platforms in 2008. Today, this platform offers over 1,000 hours of instructional content accessible to dancers worldwide.

The Salimpour Center for Embodied Dance and Cultural Studies (Salimpour School) provides comprehensive training programs rooted in the legacy of Suhaila’s mother, Jamila Salimpour, a significant figure in the history of modern belly dance. The Center’s curriculum honors the cultural origins of belly dance in the Southwest Asia and North Africa (SWANA) region and its diaspora, emphasizing respect for the dance’s validity and historical context.

Through structured instruction and a global learner community, Suhaila and the Salimpour Center support students in developing technical skill, somatic awareness, and an informed appreciation of belly dance as a cultural practice.

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