Halanda Studio for Dance & Fitness

As part of the Fit and Flow Studio dance showcase, an instructor from Hala Dance showed us a Lebanese folk dance.
We all really got into it, to the point of the person in front of the dance waving someone’s shirt around in time with our step.
I could almost see someone blasting music from on top of a terrace, in baking sunlight.
You know what they say about life. Sometimes you just have to stop and smell the Hummous. Surprisingly relaxing!

I am Egyptian and belly dance runs in my veins but I got a little rusty and wanted to freshen my memory and have a good fun workout. Hala is very nice, welcoming, and very talented. Her dance moves are elegant and spot on. I am very happy to be her student. Her class is such a tension releaser with awesome Arabic and Egyptian music that makes me feel back home.

Bellydance Essentials with Courtney is awesome!
Such a great workout.
The class is perfect for Intermediate or advanced students.
Courtney also has an upbeat and encouraging teaching style.
You will not be disappointed!

I took two classes during national dance week. Very talented instructors here, also very kind and friendly staff. Highly recommended, I am an experienced dancer and I did not feel as if these classes were too simple for me. I would say they are suited to just about every woman, as the instructors often give alternative methods for doing a complicated dance move. The studio is a little tricky to find but its worth your time. Look for the purple building. Take a class and enjoy!

Hot Hula with Marie is absolutely fabulous! I sweated off the cupcake I had that morning, and then some. And even though I have absolutely no rhythm, two left feet, a hitch in my hip, and sore legs today, this class is a great workout.

I attended hula fitness classes here. Marie is a cool teacher, you will enjoy the classes and have fun with workout ;)
I had the groupon coupon, and it was totally worth it :)

I love Michelle Reynolds new performance emphasis in her skills and drills class. One of my favorite dance classes, I routinely drive from Santa Cruz to take this class.

Halanda Studio is a staple in the south bay for dance. Everything from traditional middle eastern dance instruction by Hala (Egyptian), Amanda (Folkloric) One of my favorite instructors is Michelle Reynolds who teaches Drills and Skills for Bellydance. Michelle gives you the fun and funkiness styling of fusion but with all the strong technique and skills of traditional belly dance. She infuses all experience and training and makes it a wonderful learning experience at each class.

Halanda studio is a great place to learn, perform and enjoy beatiful dancers’ performances. In this studio you can learn different belly dance styles and techniques. No matter what level you are. Hala, Amanda and Natika are wonderful instructors I’ve taken classes from. Warm and welcoming environment, individual approach makes classes in this studio special.
Even though this studio is somewhat far from my house, I am seeking for any opportunity to come and learn more from its wonderful instuctors Natika, Hala and Amanda.
I also enjoy taking workshops in this studio from other great and famous dancers, who come to visit this studio to share their experience with you.

Taking Marie’s Hot Hula Class was a blast!!! Having a hula background, it was refreshing to put on a pareo, dance Tahitian for an hour and your pau (done)! And you sweat… PLENTY!!! Great work out ! Would do it again and again!

5 stars for HOT HULA FITNESS. Class. Marie emphasis that this a fitness class rather than a hula dance techinque.
1^st class is free (1^st time not just first session of the series) otherwise its 8 bucks a class which is super cheap.
This class will make you sweat and you’ll have lots of fun and laughs =D. Its not intimadating at all. You’re going to mess up a lot and there’s nothing but gigles I mean good giggles no hating =D
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Go to the backside of the studio, many time the front is locked. Parking is okay since its a busy place but somewhat bigger parking lot than I thought. I can always find parking

First time here last night but have taken classes with the instructor, Vanessa, before. She’s a great instructor and her classes are always fun and new.
The location for the studio itself is very small and private. classes aren’t too big with limited space but it is very warm and welcoming with people who are there to enjoy the class as you are. Parking is pretty hard to get at night. I had to park around the corner and walk a little to the studio but there is parking in the back but usually packed with the patrons that go to the nearby bar and mexican restaurant.
Overall, class is worth it to me to go back. Just have to go a tad earlier to find parking.

Regular at Halanda for 3 years!
Taking Asley’s class on Thursdays — she is simply the best in bellydance. It is always fun + great workout.
Just started Bollywood fusion with Shaheen and love it from the day 1!
Looking forward to my classes — I think i will dance until retirement age.

I currently take classes from both Hala and Ashley Lopez at this studio and both are excellent teachers. Hala teaches a Middle Eastern form of Belly Dance while Ashley’s style is more hip and Tribal. They’re both pretty different but I like both classes for those very differences. I’d like to find time to take classes from a few more of the teachers here as well, Amanda and Dakini on the weekend for example, and there’s even a full ATS (American Tribal Style) class starting up at the end of July teaching standard ATS moves from Fat Chance Belly Dance! Alright, it looks like I’m going to have to find time to shimmy in on the weekends now too! :) Oh and did I mention they have Zumba and Bollywood as well!!!
PS — If you plan to take more than 3 classes at this studio, you might want to look into the Halanda Pass which will save you some money by allowing you to take unlimited classes for a single monthly fee. (about 95% of the classes offered accept the pass.)

4 stars because, yea I only take one class, but I’d take more if I lived in the SJ area. I’ve done Zumba with Valeria (who is worth driving 30 minutes out for) and once with Alyssa at a Zumba party.
You really have to have a sense of humor when you’re in a room with strangers, trying to follow what the instructor is doing. In my classes, I trip all over myself, I hit walls and mirrors and sometimes other people. I can’t follow a tango or mamba rhythm to save my life and my attempts at body isolations are comic at best. But I never feel like I can’t keep up or that I don’t belong in the class, because everyone is at different levels of fitness. I have a ton of fun, and when its over, I feel like I’ve used every muscle in my body.
I recommend these classes to all of my friends regardless of whether I think they can follow rhythm or keep up, because I think that as long as you have fun and get moving, it’s more than worth it.

I’ve taken several different belly dancing classes at Halanda and if you are looking for a work-​out try Tribal Fusion with Ashley Lopez. After one hour I was a shimmy machine! If you’d like something at a slower pace that focuses mostly on the craft, form and culture of belly dance take the Monday night classes with Hala.
The prices are right but the studio space is kind of small at just about 900 square feet or so. If you are looking for new approach to excercise check out a class! They are super empowering and fun! Also, all levels are totally accepted and respected.

I am very pleased with the array of classes and workshops offered through this studio. It is wonderful to see such a diverse collection of courses all in one place. Halanda Studio has a very nice dance floor, large mirrors, and ample space to move your body. The two women who own the studio, Hala and Amanda, both teach and are also open to new event ideas from other teachers and «cultural creatives» like themselves. I am impressed with their professionalism and community spirit. It is obvious that these women are dedicated not only to the art of dance, but to cultivating performing artists and perpetuating performing arts in the south bay.
Whether you are thinking of taking your very first dance class or you are an experienced performer, Halanda may be just what you are looking for. I highly recommend checking out their calendar and dropping in for a class or special event at this studio. You won’t be disappointed.
Yours in creation,
Tymn

Eversince highschool I’ve been intrigued with Middle Eastern culture and have had my moments dancing by myself to belly dancing lessons via YouTube. My friend and I decided to make our obsession legit by taking actual classes, and we determined that the lessons taught at Halanda Studios are too legit… too legit to quit.
I’ve taken both the Persian dance class with Farima and the Tribal Basics belly dancing class with Ashley. Both are well seasoned instructors with years of experience. What I think is most important to finding the right class/​instructor for you is their level of patience as well as a passion to teach their students the art of ethnic dance. Both of these instructors embody such traits which make it exciting and fun to attend their classes.
Be prepared to sweat like a beast. Ashley does NOT play when it comes to her Tribal Basics class. Belly dancing is all about coordination, rhythm and form. Practice makes perfect, as does being able to have fun with it all. If you take it too seriously, you end up looking robotic. Not sexy.
Definitely recommended. I’m looking forward to trying out their Egyptian dance classes with Hala. She’s ethnically Egyptian herself, so it does not get any more legit than that!
Meet me here on Thursday nights to master the art of moving your body like a cyclone. ;)

I am writing about the STUDIO itself.
The space is open with no columns in the middle.
The floor is cushioned.
The restroom is clean.
And the air conditioning works (I assume the heater does too, but we move too much for heat!)
As a teacher who teaches there, I love the little family feel of it. I love that Hala and Amanda have opened their studio and their hearts to let others share their passion. They have all sorts of teachers teach all sorts of dances there. I think it is really wonderful what Hala and Amanda (see it now? Halanda) have created. Thank you, Ladies!!!

Mao’s thoughts before class: Belly dance? I can do that. I have a belly. I can shake that belly. :)
Mao’s thoughts the morning AFTER class: Ouch.
What an experience!!! I am probably the most uncoordinated person in San Jose. I’ll miss a step just walking straight and sober. Our dance instructor Wendy was pretty good, because I was able to shake my hips thinking I was Shakira. Heck, I was even bold enough to show my belly. What I learned was it’s all in the hips. Shake your child bearing hips. Shake it to the right. Shake it to the left. Now do the shimmy. I got that. I can do the shimmy… ouch… not for 5 mins. I give props to the ladies who can do a belly dancer shimmy for 5 mins. Ass shakin’…hips pushing… torso in… torso out. Wat cha thinkin? It’s belly dancing I am referring to! :-)
Girls, if you want to try something new, have a little fun and work your abs all at the same time… give belly dancing a try. I am sooooo sore this morning! It’s $ 15 dollars for the Wednesday night class. I think it’s reasonably price for a 2 hour course. If you want something to loose up before the class… take a shot… Goosetown is conveniently located next door. Now go get loose and shake what your momma gave ya!