About
Hello and welcome! Ahlan wa sahlan!!!
My name is Lisa Hodgson and I am a bellydance teacher. My journey started in 1995 as a single mum of a 10 month old son and I was drawn to a class in a community centre. I wanted to explore my feminine side. Well, I got hooked!
Years later I was dared to start teaching. So around 2006 I gave it a go. It was something I realised I needed to hone more. The art of teaching. So I studied a couple of different teaching formats and they helped me enormously.
I teach women and sometimes men, of all ages. It is a dance that is based in folkloric dance and is about celebration of the feminine and to help women with their pelvic floors and in the birthing process. It is a fluid and sensual dance but is not in any way associated with stripping. Its about feeling confident in oneself and to celebrate with joy. It is a joyful artform. It IS an artform.
I do teach children too as it is perfect for those tweenie years and body confidence as well as emotional. We promote in the dance that we hold ourselves with confidence and spacial awareness. Children need age appropriate moves that are benign and non sensual. I find children love the music and naturally move to it.
Older folks too, love the dance. The mature adults who come to class find it loosens them up and helps them feel energised. The classes are fun and sometimes a good laugh. However, this dance is so much more.
My background is in counselling, naturopathy, intuitive arts and massage. I work in a holistic way and have a wealth of knowledge. My niches in these modalities are stress, anxiety and burnout. So many are experiencing this in this world and dance is a perfect pick me up or destressor. I want a friendly or inclusive environment and a little communtity.
I have an adult son who has grown up with a kooky mum who has sparkly costumes all over the house. I have cats and a dog and am an animal lover.
At some point, if you join me, we may have a small hafla. What is a hafla? A small concert where you can dance to your hearts content in front of your friends and family. This is possibly in the future.
So why not join me? You are welcome!