Come join us this Saturday, May 19th 8:30-9:30 AM for a complimentary Shimmy Pop (Dance Cardio) class at Lulu Lemon-Berkeley on College Ave with Giti!

Bring your loved ones, friends, family, and your awesome self!

See you on the Dance Floor party peoples!

Come join us this Saturday, May 12th 8:30-9:30 AM for a complimentary Shimmy Pop (Dance Cardio) class at Lulu Lemon-Berkeley on College Ave with Andrea!

Bring your loved ones, friends, family, and your awesome self!

See you on the Dance Floor party peoples!

We are proud to announce that we are formally changing the name of the Belly Dance program to the Arabic Dance program.

When we opened up Hipline in September of 2008, we opened as a “Belly Dance” studio. As Lebanese-Americans we wanted to create a cross cultural, accessible dance program where we could share our heritage with our community. Over the last 4 years, Hipline has evolved into a thriving community of both fitness goers coming for Shimmy Pop and Shimmy Pop Toning, as well as Arabic Dancers coming to study Arabic Dance in Shimmy Flow. By changing our name to Arabic Dance, we are further solidifiying our commitment to cultivating this cultural expression that we believe in. Ziva, our Arabic Dance director, who has been at the front lines cultivating this program explains in her May article below, the historical evolution of the word “Belly Dance”.

Over the next 6 months, you will be seeing some awesome changes around the studios regarding this name change. Please keep the feedback coming!!

Enjoy this informative good read!
thank you for growing with us ladies,
Samar and Gabriela

Arabic Dance – What’s in a name?
by Ziva Emtiyaz, Hipline Arabic Dance Director

We all do it.  We use the term “Belly Dance” to conjure up images of shimmies, rich music, intricate isolations, and sequined costumes.  We all have our own interpretation of what “Belly

Dance” is, but have we actually stopped to ask ourselves where the term comes from?

While commonly embraced and popular, “Belly Dance” is a debatable term.  It is only used in the US, Britain, Australia, and a few other English-speaking countries.

Some believe that “Belly Dance” originates from the Arabic word “Beledi”.  Beledi means “my country,” and is also used to describe a 4/4 rhythm commonly found in Middle Eastern music.   Others feel that the similarity between “belly ” and “beledi” is just a coincidence.

The historical explanation behind the origin of the term “Belly Dance” derives from its’ translation of the French words “danse du ventre.”  “Danse du ventre” was used during the Victorian era as a derogatory colonial name for dances isolating the hips and torso.  It was used to describe burlesque and can-can style shows.  The term “danse du ventre” arrived to the U.S. when the 1893 World Fair in Chicago featured exhibitions of dancers immolating “Egyptian” dance.  In actuality, Turkish women from Egypt were the ones performing the “danse du ventre”.  Truth be told, the isolation of the belly of “Belly Dance” comes from the regions of Turkey and Greece, (not Egypt!)

The correct Arabic term for the dance we’ve all come to know and love is “Raqs Sharqui”.  “Raqs” means dance. “Sharqui” means of the East.  Raqs Sharqui references the cabaret performance style traditionally danced as an improvisational solo.  At any rate, the term “Raqs Sharqui” has not been widely embraced in its original or translated form.

So…. Now that we have “the know”, what do we call this beautiful art form?!  Anyone who has shimmied her way through a Shimmy Flow class knows that there is much more to “Belly Dance” than then belly.  While the core is an integral element of the dance form, it seems quite limiting to name it this way.  This would be like calling Ballet “leg dance.”  Targeting just one anatomical part of the body does not do the dance justice.

Furthermore, I find that the term “Belly Dance” drives audiences to expect performers to expose their midriff.  They are confused if a costume covers one’s torso.   Does this mean a dancer who does not expose and isolate her belly cannot perform Arabic dance? Of course not!

While “Belly Dance” is widely accepted, I encourage us to remember the cultural roots of our shimmies, twists, and rolls.   Raqs Sharqui is an Egyptian dance that was embraced and embellished by many Arabic cultures, and later adopted by the world.  I feel that “Arabic Dance” is a more respectful, fitting, and encompassing term to reference an art form that is older than we know.  Let us use the power of words to reflect the power of this dance!

Whatever you decide to call Arabic Dance, may it come from a place of respect, passion, fulfillment, and sheer joy!

Happy Shimmying ladies,

~Ziva Emtiyaz

Arabic Dance Program Director

Hipline Fitness

ziva@myhipline.com

Ziva enjoys practicing her shimmy while in line at the supermarket and when it’s cold outside.  Learn more about Ziva at www.zivadancer.com and contact ziva@myhipline.com for resource details.   Resources: Souhail Kaspar, Morocco’s “You Asked Aunt Rocky: Answers & Advice About Raqs Sharqi & Raqs Shabbi,” and “The Belly Dance Book.”

Come join us this Saturday, May 5th 8:30-9:30 AM for a complimentary Shimmy Pop (Dance Cardio) class at Lulu Lemon-Berkeley on College Ave.

Bring your loved ones, friends, family, and your awesome self!

See you on the Dance Floor!

Tootsies aka paws aka los pies (Spanish pronunciation PEE-es, not apple ‘pies’) aka feet.  They are truly the foundation of your beautiful body.  Here are some fun facts that I hope will dazzle you into loving your precious feet even more.

• 1/4 of the bones in your body are located in your feet.  Wow!
• On average, you walk 10,000 steps a day.  That’s a lot!
• This equals about 3 million pounds of pressure that your feet absorb every day!                                                   Take a pause & reflect on that!

Ladies, these numbers do not even take into account the hours of barefoot dancing we will do in our lifetime!  Can I get a yee-freakin’-haw for our amazing feet??!

It is absolutely essential that we take good care of them, so that we can all be doing Golden Shimmy Pop when we are 93.  For real.  (We’re already thinking of choreo! ; ) )

For skin support, which happens when you first start Shimmy Popping & when you increase the amount of days you are dancing, my not-so-secret cure for feet is BodyTime lotion (Vitamins A, D & E Moisturizer).  This stuff is miraculous at making your barking dogs turn into purring kittens.  Plus, you get to add in your favorite scent.  Are you a lavender lady, a grapefruit girl, or a light musk mamacita?  Whatever your scent preference, lube up your feet with a generous amount of lotion & put socks on so they can marinate before bed or going to work for the day. The closest Body Time store is conveniently located between our 2 Hipline locations on College Avenue.  Seriously?  Seriously.  A related aside, be sure that if you get pedicures, that they do not scrub too much off!

For structural support, it really depends on what is happening with your individual body.  One thing to really pay attention to is your alignment during class.  Be sure that your knees are lined up with your feet at all times.  You can also modify some of our crazier choreography by staying grounded & rocking it out at ground-level rather than jumping.  Personally, I find that receiving bodywork–pedicures, massages, chiropractic work, acupuncture–make a huge difference.  In addition, being aware of what kind of sassy heels you strut your stuff in as well as being cautious of older shoes that offer less support, can impact what’s going on with your fabulous feet, too.  Lastly, while I know there is a beautiful feeling of connecting with the ground when we are doing our Shakira hips, wearing dance shoes is always an option.  In fact, I wore my new Rykas to class the other day & sometimes forgot I even had them on!  The most important thing is that you develop a relationship with your body in which you listen carefully to what it is saying to you, especially when it comes to your feet!

Live Lusciously one step at a time, beautiful ladies & love those tootsies!

In peace, health & happiness, Heather

-

Heather is an advocate of giving the body the love it deserves!  She keeps lotion by her TV & nightstand for random foot rubs.  She will happily schedule a Mama’s Day Special Shiatsu massage with extra Reflexology to support your feet!  You can find details & more inspiration on how to Live Lusciously through her website, CreateYourOwnBeautiful.com.

Monday

9:45 AM Shimmy Pop Toning Rockridge with Heather
11 AM Shimmy Pop Rockridge with Gabriela
5:30 PM Shimmy Pop Rockridge with Nicky
6:45 PM Shimmy Pop Rockridge with Giti
8 PM Shimmy Pop Rockridge with Samar

Tuesday
9:45 AM Shimmy Pop Rockridge with Deb
10:15 AM Shimmy Pop Lakeshore with Nicky
11 AM Shimmy Pop Toning Rockridge with Laila
12:15 PM Shimmy Pop Rockridge with Laila
5:30 PM Shimmy Pop Toning Rockridge with Gabriela
6 PM Shimmy Pop Lakeshore with Heather
6:45 PM Shimmy Pop Rockridge with Samar
7:15 PM Shimmy Pop Lakeshore with Andrea
8 PM Shimmy Flow Rockridge with Tabitha

Wednesday
9:45 AM Shimmy Pop Toning Rockridge with Gabriela
10:15 AM Shimmy Pop Lakeshore with Heather
11 AM Shimmy Pop Rockridge with Ziva
12:15 PM Shimmy Flow Rockridge with Ziva
5:30 PM Shimmy Pop Toning Rockridge with Heather
6 PM Shimmy Pop Toning Lakeshore with Ziva
6:45 PM Shimmy Pop Rockridge with Deb
7:15 PM Shimmy Pop Lakeshore with Giti
8 PM Shimmy Pop Rockridge with Andrea

Thursday
9:45 AM Shimmy Pop Rockridge with Laila
10:15 AM Shimmy Pop Lakeshore with Nicky
11 AM Shimmy Pop Toning Rockridge with Laila
5:30 PM Shimmy Pop Toning Rockridge with Gabriela
6 PM Shimmy Flow Lakeshore with Rebecca
6:45 PM Shimmy Pop Rockridge with Samar
7:15 PM Shimmy Pop Lakeshore with Heather
8 PM Shimmy Pop Rockridge with Andrea

Friday
8:30 AM Shimmy Pop Toning Rockridge with Laila
9:00 AM Shimmy Pop Lakeshore with Samar
9:45 AM Shimmy Pop Rockridge with Deb
11 AM Shimmy Pop Rockridge with Nicky

Saturday
8:30 AM Shimmy Pop Toning Rockridge with Gabriela
9 AM Shimmy Pop Toning Lakeshore with Laila
9:45 AM Shimmy Pop Rockridge with Gabriela
10:15 AM Shimmy Pop Lakeshore with Laila
11 AM Shimmy Pop Rockridge with Ziva
12:15 PM Shimmy Flow Rockridge with Ziva
1:30 PM Belly Dance Team Rockridge with Ziva

Sunday
8:30 AM Shimmy Pop Toning Rockridge with Laila
9 AM Shimmy Pop Lakeshore with Andrea
9:45 AM Shimmy Pop Rockridge with Laila
10:15 AM Shimmy Pop Lakeshore with Deb
11 AM Shimmy Pop Rockridge with Giti
11:30 AM Shimmy Pop Lakeshore with Heather
12:45 PM Shimmy Flow Lakeshore with Rebecca

***Please check our online class schedule for any subbing or current class changes, have a great summer ladies!***

Dear Hipliners,

We would like to announce that Taylor will be on leave for the summer due to long distance family obligations.

She has been an integral part of the Hipline community. She is a dedicated, heartfelt instructor who has brings a beautiful energy to our space. We have had so much fun dancing with her and to say she will be greatly missed is an understatement.

The good news is she may be back end of summer.

Her last class will be Saturday April 28th.

Bon Voyage Beautiful Tiger! RAWR!!!

with lots of love,

Samar, Gabriela and the whole Hipline Fam

Hipline Dance Fitness Studio is looking for dance cardio and body sculpting/toning instructors to join our team.

WHO IS HIPLINE®: We are a Women’s Dance Fitness studio putting the fun in exercise, since 2008. Our clientele are women looking to achieve and maintain their fitness goals in a supportive, fun & challenging environment. We have an A-list team of instructors, who love to share their passion for dance and movement with their community. For more information about us and our two locations, go to myhipline.com.

WHO WE ARE LOOKING FOR:
• For body sculpting class: National certification (personal trainer or group fitness instructor).
• For dance cardio: Training/experience in a dance style (for example, Afro-Caribbean, Belly Dance, Hip-Hop/Funk, Bollywood).
• Must have a desire to succeed and always be fun and energetic in class.
• You are approachable and a team player.
• Willingness to change your class curriculum each week to make it fun and appealing to our regulars.
• We seek candidates that will extend a superior level of commitment to the team and community of women at Hipline.
• Comfortable teaching a mixed level class with beginners and experienced fitness goers.

Rates: Flat rate per class, plus additional per head compensation. ***class is one-hour long

If you think you are the right candidate, please contact samar@myhipline.com. Submit resume and cover letter (in body of e-mail) and attached photo. Submissions without this information will not be considered. No yoga applicants please.

Please visit our website, myhipline.com for more information about who we are, our classes, and more.

Cat : Meow :: Dog : ___.

Sun : Yellow :: Hipline : ___.

Do you remember analogies from back in the day in school & trying to figure out the connections?

How about this one,

Car : Gas :: Body : ___.

That’s right, y’all! Food! Here’s the deelio, your body needs food to act as its fuel to keep on keepin’ on! Not only does it affect your workouts, it also plays into your overall energy level post-Poppin’, even when you are just hangin’ out & being mellow, Oaklandish style.

Here is some food for thought around fueling your body when it comes to workouts:

• Try to eat a well-balanced meal 3-4 hours prior to class.
• It’s better to have something in your system before an intense workout. Eating 1 hour before is better than nothing, but be sure to stick to a simple carb like pretzels, raw almonds, or a banana that is easier to digest.
• Avoid heavier foods that are high in protein or fat before working out. One of you lovely ladies recently shared with me about eating a burrito an hour before dancing; let’s just say it leads to not the most comfortable workout! ; )
• If you are working out more than an hour, have a snack. That means all y’all who double up on classes, it’s key to have a handful of something in between!
• Related reminder: all of us need to hydrate during our workouts! Adding a pack of Emergency also can give you a nice energy boost. Pomegranate cranberry is my favorite flavor : )
• After a workout, try to eat a few carbs within 15 minutes after in order to replenish your glycogen level. This is helpful so that you don’t experience a ‘crash’ in your energy level.
• Finally, a well-balanced meal within 2 hours after you are done exercising is essential to fully replenish all of your hard work!

Alright, Lovely Ladies, take care of your bodacious bodies & Live Lusciously!

In peace, health & happiness, Heather

Heather is an advocate of staying fueled to keep the energy high for Shimmy Poppin’.  She is well-known for popping a handful of cranberries & nuts into her mouth between teaching her Toning & Pop classes. She also loves a perfectly ripe banana to eat during the halftime show between classes.  You can find more inspiration on how to Live Lusciously through her website, CreateYourOwnBeautiful.com.

We would like to formally announce that Bibi is no longer with the company. We would like to thank her for her time spent at Hipline. We wish her all the best in her new endeavors.

Nicky will be taking the Monday 5:30 PM slot at Rockridge starting April 9th.

If you have any questions, please contact us at samar@myhipline.com.

have a great week,

Samar and Gabriela