Whats the deal with bellydance certifications?
Certifications are a fairly recent development in the world of bellydance. Suhaila Salimpour has a fairly successful and widespread certification process, which is specific to the levels of her format. For example, level one is very basic movement and rhythm theory. Since Suhaila, other instructors have been implementing their own certification programs. Not all are the same, and often times, a certification demonstrates that you a have a beginning level understanding of each format. I have mixed feelings on bellydance teaching certifications. There are quite a few teacher trainings offered in weeklong programs, however, I feel that a week is simply not enough time to prepare anyone for the huge responsibility of being a movement instructor. Ideally, those interesting in teaching bellydance should apprentice under a trusted mentor for at least a year (if not more) preceded by years of intense study and advanced ability.
