Current Classes
Raqs Sharqi with Tarifa Salem
Summer 2024
Thursdays 6 - 7:15 PM
Tarifa Salem Eastern Dance Arts
These 75 minute classes will focus on refining technique through movement deconstruction, repetitive drilling, and short sequence practice. Physical conditioning exercises for increased endurance, strength and flexibility (components imperative for all dance study) will be included in the warm-up and cool down to meet my objective for students to achieve greater success in executing Raqs Sharqi vocabulary with strength, flow and clarity and for reducing the risk of injury while dancing.
will be held at the Tarifa Salem Eastern Dance space located at 800 Betsy Dr. Columbia, SC. Monthly Class Fee is $45 to be remitted before the first class of each month. This class is a Multi-Level Class (meaning Beginner with some dance training, Intermediate and Advanced).
Monthly Fee $45 to be sent via PayPal https://paypal.me/tarifasalem?country.x=US&locale.x=en_US (FRIENDS AND FAMILY PLEASE) , Zelle using tarifasalem@gmail.com, OR… send check made out to “Donna Smith” and mail to 800 Betsy Dr. Columbia, SC 29210 (Mail early so check arrives well before first class.)
Students should dress in comfortable, form fitting movement attire. A hip scarf is highly recommended. Please bring finger cymbals and veils if you have them.
*No-Refund Policy is in place.
Adult Beginner Ballet
Wednesdays 12:15 pm
January 16 - March 27, 2024
Lourie Center SC
Come enjoy the beauty and grace of classical ballet! No prior ballet experience necessary. NO pointe shoes, NO jumping. This 10-week class will introduce you to the fundamentals of ballet through a fun and friendly class. The class will cover basic ballet positions, steps, and vocabulary with a focus on proper posture and body alignment with an emphasis on adaptive techniques for the older adult physique. Standing barre work (Students will have a chair to hold on to that simulates a ballet barre) and center floor exercises will be given to enhance coordination, strength, balance, and flexibility. Participants will also develop a sense of musical awareness and movement quality. Appropriate attire would include anything that doesn’t hinder free flowing movement. Shoes should be soft soled dance shoes (ballet slippers. soft-sole jazz shoe, half sole sandals, or a grip bottom footie). If you have extreme ankle weakness, a lightweight sneaker may better serve you. Classes will include but not be limited to a barre warm-up/dynamic stretch, center floor vocabulary work, travel steps, drill sequences and a cool-down stretch.
Gentle Chair Yoga/Stretch
Lourie Center SC
Fridays 10 am
This is an ongoing class for adults of any fitness level, with or without physical challenges who are members of the Lourie Center SC. Tarifa employs exercises to develop strength, stability, balance and range of motion. Breathing and relaxation exercises help participants release tension and gives them a sense of well-being and confidence while going about their daily activities. Our goals for participants are to increase functional fitness, enhance quality of life and to develop skill related components of fitness that may reduce risk of falling. Tarifa also employs principles of “Constructive Rest” which utilizes mental imagery and tactile aid to help release tension in muscles in various parts of the body. She employs methods of Dr. Andre Bernardw ho was one of her inspiring professors while working towards her MA degree at NYU.
(Participants must be at least age 50 to become a member of the Lourie Center SC. Go to https://louriecentersc.com/membership/ for details on how to become a member.)
Raqs Sharqi Online
Starting Spring 2024
The fee for each 75 minute class is $13 to be remitted via PayPal at https://paypal.me/tarifasalem?country.x=US&locale.x=en_US or Zelle (tarifasalem@gmail.com) at least 24 hours before the start of class. Connect with Tarifa on the platform before signing up to insure your Skype account is active. Tarifa’s Skype profile name is live:tarifasalem. Once fee is sent via PayPal, you’ll be added to the class video chat. You’ll receive a call invite which you must respond to if you want to be included in the class. The video call will go out to everyone who responded promptly at 6:15 pm on the eve of each class so please be available on the platform. When Tarifa sends the call out you must respond by accepting it. Skype is a very user friendly platform but like everything else, it’s important to familiarize yourself with it.
Dates: March 12, April 9, May 21, June 18
*Recommendation: Please have your Skype open on the class chat page 10 minutes before the call goes out so you don’t miss it. You should test video and audio before the call goes out for each class.
*NO REFUND POLICY IN PLACE
Private Study with Tarifa
Tuesdays b
y appointment only
All private classes are 1 hour sessions and can be scheduled by sending a message on our Contact page. Private study fee is $60 which must be remitted 1 week before scheduled class. Last minute cancellations will only be reimbursed 50% of the fee. (Private study classes are held at Tarifa’s private space in Columbia SC.)
Cardio/Core
Lourie Center SC
Wednesdays 11 am
This is an ongoing class that addresses all of the “Health Related Components of Fitness” and some of the “Skill Related Components” such as agility, balance and coordination. Tarifa starts each class by employing repetitive low impact movement routines that utilize the large muscle groups of the body for the purpose of warming up and developing higher levels of cardiovascular fitness. She then guides participants through exercises that focus on the stability muscles of the core (abdominals, gluteals, chest, back, shoulders). Many of these exercises require the use of implements such as dumbbells or resistance bands for the purpose of applying the Overload Principle. Every class ends with a cool-down segment and a relaxing stretch & breathe segment. Before participating, students should discuss taking this class with their private physician to assess safety and risk factors with regards to their personal health. Modifications for intensity are always introduced for the benefit of individual students who may have health issues or physical limitations to consider. (Participants must have a full membership at the Lourie Center SC. Go to https://louriecentersc.com/membership/ for details on how to join.)
Jazz Dance Basics
Lourie Center SC
Sept. 13 - Nov. 15 2023
Join Donna “Tarifa” Salem September 2023 in “All That Jazz”, a class in which she’ll introduce various styles of jazz dance including but not limited to Musical Theatre Style, Lyrical Dance, Modern and even a bit of Hip Hop. The ethnic origins of jazz dance based on the anthropological work of Katherine Dunham and Pearl Primus will also be included in the content. Class protocol involves a general body warm-up which will include center floor barre, i.e., plies/releves, tendus, etc. in both parallel and turnout, isolation of body parts, and mild stretching. After the warm-up the focus will be on Axial and Locomotor movement vocabulary. Class will conclude with a fun drill sequence in which content introduced earlier in class will be applied. Students are encouraged to wear dance/fitness attire that does not restrict movement. Jazz shoes, jazz sneakers or a soft soled cross-trainer type sneaker is recommended. (All Lourie Center members are welcome to sign up regardless of membership level. Go to https://louriecentersc.com/membership/ for information on how to become a member.)