FAQs
- What should the customer know about your pricing (e.g., discounts, fees)?
The Start to Shimmy is $10.00 advance purchase or $15.00 for the day of. The 4-Week Crash Course is $80.00. Full term classes are $22.00 class. Monthly payment plans are available for not additional charge.
- What is your typical process for working with a new customer?
Dancers attend a 1 hour Start to Shimmy to see if they are interested in the movement approach. Following this introductory class, students can sign up for a 4-week session. After each 4 week session, students are ready to join 10-12 week term for Oriental 1 classes.
- What education and/or training do you have that relates to your work?
Saphira is the Founder & Artistic Director of Saffron Dance and has been teaching dance for more than two decades and has been a professional oriental dance artist, teacher, and choreographer since 1996. As a performer, her vibrant Egyptian inspired styling and natural interpretation of oriental music captures audiences by portraying classical oriental raqs sharqi ("belly dance") movement through precision, strength, and grace. She has been a featured soloist for international vocalists and performs regularly in theatres, festivals, and private functions.As a teacher, she teaches proper body alignment and articulated technique, and encourages students to identify their unique voice within the dance. Saphira has earned the reputation of supporting students through their belly dance journey. She celebrates that each dancer may come to class with a unique goal, whether one seeks to master technique, achieve fitness goals, improve one's self-image and body awareness, escape from the daily stress of life, explore feminine movement, or simply have fun. After teaching thousands of students how to develop the mind, body, and musical awareness to create movement with an intended aesthetic, Saphira has developed an outstanding reputation for breaking down movement for all levels of dancers. Though Saphira's teaching style has been greatly influenced by an extensive background and training in classical jazz and modern dance, her classes emphasize developing an understanding of how muscle architecture and control shape Middle Eastern dance movement and how to direct movement efficiently and intentionally