Saturday, May 14, 2011

Class Music List for This Term

This term we have a very eclectic mix. Some tribal, some old school!

Arabian Spices - DJ Kambo - Arabian Spices arabian spices - Arabian Spices

Sahirrnee (Bewitched) - George Abdo - The Magic of Belly Dancing Sahirrnee (Bewitched) - The Magic of Belly Dancing

Hanna Drumzilzia - Eddie The Sheik Kochak- Strictly Belly Dancing Volume 5 Hanna Drumzilzia - Tabla Solos (Various Patterns) - Strictly Belly Dancing Volume 5

Percumania - Body Shock - The Bellydance Project Percumania - The Bellydance Project

Wanna See You Bellydance -The Red Elvises - I Wanna See You Belly Dance I Wanna See You Bellydance - I Wanna See You Belly Dance

Chicky - Oojami - Bellydance Superstars Chicky - null

More to come!!! Check back!!

Homework Saturday 14 May

Happy World Bellydance Day!!!

Remember to start your practice session with at least a 5 minute whole body warm up.
Start with walking and traveling steps and then progress to limbering and warming up the major muscle groups from head to toe. Work progressively, starting out slowly and gently and then gradually increasing intensity. When you are warm then you can begin to drill the moves that we worked with this week. Remember to have a 5-10 minute cool down and stretch at the end of your practice session. For maximum progress aim to have 1 -2 30 minute practice sessions a week, but even 15 minutes is beneficial.

Things to practice this week:
[R = right; L= left]

Posture drill

Horizontal Egyptian hip circles - small, large (keep abs and pelvic floor engaged)

Chest circles - small and large


Hip circles

Setanu turn

Omi hip circle - tilting or polynesian/african hip circle (engage pelvic floor, don't crunch into lower back!)

Lotus hands sequence - Draw hands down, offer right (look R), offer left (look LO), cross wrists (start left in front) take up then swap right to front, bring hands down, soften and flatten hands, circle with thumbs (looking right), end with hand in prayer.

Mayas - downward/outward horizontal figure 8 of the hips.

Egyptian figure 8 - inward horizontal figure 8 of the hips.

Snake arms


Camels - basic, traveling camels, flat ball, ball, ball with level change.

DANCER ALERT: Be very mindful when learning undulations and body waves. ALWAYS WARM UP FULLY. Remember to engage your pelvic floor and core/abdominal muscles fully to protect your lower back. Using your core muscles improves the look of the move. Lengthen and elongate the spine. Don't crunch into the lower back. Don't over do it. DON'T work to the point of fatigue. A couple of minutes when you are learning is PLENTY! Allow time to develop your strength and flexibility. Working when fatigued can lead to injury. Remember to stretch fully (while still warm) at the end of your practice session.

Undulations


Forwards body wave up


Forwards body wave down


Important exercises that help to build strength and flexibility for working with your back:

Pelvic tilts lying on the back.

Bridge pose


Cat cow pose


More advanced moves:

Plank


Pilates Roll down

Have a great week!

Understanding Arabic Lyrics

It is really important to understand the lyrics of the music that you dance to. Not only does it prevent offending your audience, or embarrassing yourself, but it increases the emotional depth of your dancing. There are now some great internet sites which have the lyrics of songs written in Arabic, transliterated and translated. Some even have video clips too.
Some of my favorites include:

Arabic Music Translations
Arabic Song Lyrics
Asra
Lyrics for dancers on Shira's site

A few years ago, one of my friends was hired to perform at an Arabic-Turkish wedding. She found a song which she loved and put it into her playlist. She danced to it at the wedding, and couldn't understand why the crowd didn't seem to be enjoying it, as it was a very lively and energetic song. As she was packing up, the bride's grand mother came up to her and said: "A nice girl like you shouldn't be dancing to a song like that." It turns out it was a very ribald drinking song, and the lyrics basically said that "all the women here are for sale". Fortunately the bride's family had a good sense of humor and didn't make a major incident out of it, but my friend was absolutely mortified!

Monday, May 09, 2011

Modi of Lebanon

The delightful Modi of Lebanon who I had the pleasure of taking a couple of classes with a few years ago. He is a master teacher who is renowned for his energy - as you can see from the following clips.



Arabian Spices - Sahira



Great Choreography DVD - Highly Recommended!

Have a look at youtube - there are a number of interpretations of the choreography around. For example:

Sunday, May 08, 2011

Saturday 7 May 2011 - Class Homework

Things to practice this week:
[R = right; L= left]
Horizontal Egyptian hip circles - small, large (keep abs and pelvic floor engaged)
Chest circles - small large
Setanu turn
Omi hip circle - tilting or polynesian/african hip circle (engage pelvic floor, don't crunch into lower back!)
Lotus hands sequence - Draw hands down, offer right (look R), offer left (look LO), cross wrists (start left in front) take up then swap right to front, bring hands down, soften and flatten hands, circle with thumbs (looking right), end with hand in prayer.
Mayas - downward/outward horizontal figure 8 of the hips.
Egyptian figure 8 - inward horizontal figure 8 of the hips.
Mahmoud Reda sequence: Cross right over left, cross left over right, weight change R, weight change L, walk in a small personal circle RLRL, walk forward RLR touch L, walk back LRL touch R ending in ready position.
Snake arms
Grapevines
Chasse step
Shimmy

Have a great week!