Frequently Asked Questions

Do I have to be a certain age to do belly dancing?
No. The beauty of belly dancing is that it is accessible to women of all ages. At Cinnamon Twist we encourage women to enjoy the benefits of belly dancing regardless of age, size, or cultural background. We cater to all ages! Cinnamon Twist's classes for adults are for women 18yrs and over. We also have dedicated classes for toddlers, kids, and teens.

What do I wear to class?
Wear comfortable clothes that are easy to move in such as leggings, yoga pants or stretchy track pants. Wear any kind of top you like – bare bellies are totally optional!  For your hips, bring a scarf – or a beaded/coined hip belt if you have one. Footwear: bare feet, socks, or Jazz shoes. Note: street shoes are strictly not permitted on the studio floor.

How do I enrol?
You can enrol online here! Alternatively, call Virginia on (02) 4226 1861 to arrange enrolment over the phone or email us.

Can I join a class by myself, or should I join with a friend?
While belly dance is a fun thing to do with a friend or a group of women, I would estimate that more than half of our students join a Cinnamon Twist class on their own. In fact, it's one of the great things about belly dancing - you don't need a partner or anyone else for that matter to join up, do it for yourself! Come along and join the fun, you'll meet plenty of like minded women in the process. 

Do I have to show my belly?
That is entirely up to you! You can wear whatever you like to belly dancing classes, although a form fitting top is best so that your instructor can check your technique. Bare bellies are totally optional!  

What about body shape, will I fit in? Do I need to have a big/little belly?
Bellies – just like people – come in all shapes and sizes. There is no ideal body type for belly dancing – come exactly as you are!

Is belly dancing good exercise? Will it help me lose weight?
All Cinnamon Twist classes use movements that will increase your heart rate and strengthen your muscles and therefore help you burn calories. So yes, belly dancing is definitely good exercise. However, the main focus of our classes is on the dance itself, on improving technique, and learning about the traditions of these dances. The fitness gained from belly dancing is just an added bonus.

I’m very unco-ordinated, will I be able to do belly dancing?
Belly dancing is a very grounded dance form. Most often it requires us to have our feet planted firmly on the ground – especially at beginner level. For many people this groundedness feels very natural and with practice, anyone can master the basics.

Are your classes for women-only?
Please note: Arabic Drumming is a mixed class. We also welcome boys in our Genies Kids and BellyBop classes.
All Cinnamon Twist adult dance classes are for women-only. Furthermore, all our dance teachers are female. Our Muslim female students are assured privacy in our studio for the duration of the dance class.

I'm not sure if I'll like belly dancing, can I do a trial first?
No we don't offer trial classes, all of our sessions are upfront payment for a full term of 9-10 weeks. All of the teaching staff at Cinnamon Twist have a genuine love of teaching, we equally love to see how much our students enjoy the classes. Learning a new skill can be a rewarding and fulfilling experience, but you'll never know until you give it a try!  Our students will attest to how wonderful it is to be part of the dance community and whether you're thinking of joining for fitness, fun, or just something different to try out we hope you'll take a chance on us and dive in.  You never know, you may find you fall in love with belly dance the same way we did. 

Do you have EFTPOS facilities?
We accept online payments via PayPal, Direct Deposit (bank to bank transfer) or cash payments in person.  We don't however, have EFTPOS and credit card facilities inside the studio. Payment for classes should either be arranged well before the start of term or come to class prepared to pay with cash. To avoid disappointment please arrange your payment method before attending class; students will not be allowed to participate in classes until fees are paid.

Can I perform? Do I have to perform?
Cinnamon Twist holds regular events throughout the year and we are also involved in many community events where performance opportunities may be available to interested students. If, on the other hand, performance is not for you there is absolutely no pressure to do so. Please note that your enrollment in classes at Cinnamon Twist does not guarantee that you will have performance opportunities.

Where can I buy a jingly belly dance belt?
While there is certainly no obligation to have anything special to wear to classes, many of us are irresistibly drawn to the colourful and noisy belly dance coin belts worn for the dance. If you would like to purchase a belly dance belt we have jingly coin belts and other dance wear items for sale online or in the studio.

Terms and Conditions of Joining a class

Read about Cinnamon Twist's Terms and Conditions