Folklore Crash Course

Well, I survived 4+ hours of awesome workshop action. I learned 2 new dances and reviewed 2 I know and love.

Hagalah and Nubian dance were new for me and Saidi and Alexandrian were not but the review was necessary and fun!

Of course, the workshop is about more than dancing. We learn geography, culture, expression etc. It's eye-opening, challenging...Definitely an experience worth having.

I have to say, I've been noticing an improvement in my overall dance thanks to "being forced" to practice improv more often and I HAVE been practicing...A LOT! I've also began to realize that the biggest part of it is just letting go.

I feel like to dance well you really have to put your whole soul in and it's exposing..Like being naked. It's only when I stop caring and become comfortable that I dance on the outside how I feel inside.

In the workshop it was only when I zoned out and forgot myself that the teacher told me I got something. Last night after some wine I danced (after the workshop, yes!) and I felt GOOD at belly dancing. If only I could dance that way ALL OF THE TIME.

My number one goal now is to let go...

Improving my Improvisation-Or at least trying

Well folks, I'm facing my biggest belly dancing challenge yet. I'm developing a complex over improvisation. You see the problem is...I suck!

I have a lot of things working against me here. I'm a planner, I'm shy, I'm introverted and I don't like being put on the spot. In one of my classes, a student is singled out every week to do an improvisational piece. This has been a SERIOUS source of anxiety for me. I feel like I'm one improvisational disaster away from reverting back to my original form. Dancing has really helped to bring me out of my shell and being made to improvise in front of the class is quite possibly, my worst nightmare realized.

Here are my options- I can quit, or I can suck it up, stop whining and get better. Obviously the former is not really an option. Here's my strategy to improve and I'm going to try sticking to it as much as possible:

1. Listen to classics over and over (I have done this three days in a row). The classic orchestral-type music is full of texture and layers and quite frankly, it makes my head spin. I'm trying to break it down, recognize instruments, rhythms and embrace these songs like I couldn't imagine listening to anything else.

2. Continue learning rhythms on my own time. Not just in class!

3. Practice more using the songs I enjoy. As in, pop songs and Beats Antique...*ducks from teacher's wrath*

4. Practice using the classics but by using a few different techniques:

-Only use 1-3 moves

-only dance to one instrument

-try my best, have back up moves and strut and/or shimmy when in doubt...Except during a taqsim. Then I'm screwed. Figure 8's?

-Watch YouTube videos to see these songs being danced by professional dancers.

5. Repeat the mantra, "it's okay to suck."

If anybody still reads this blog and has any tips, I wouldn't be able to thank you enough!

No Solo + Lots of Classes and Homework!

Oh, the irony. After getting pumped over the idea of preforming at the Cabaret 101 I choreographed my own routine and practiced it so much that I hurt my hip. Actually, the hip injury was the result of many bad combinations but dancing for 2 hours straight, two nights in a row, certainly didn't help. It's better now though. :)

After telling everyone that I was going to do my first solo (if you're going to commit, you have to tell everyone!) the studio told me that there was no room left for performers. Serious bummer!

Instead I will take the four hour Folklore crash course that day. This is rather unusual but I really love the folkloric style. Whenever we dance it in class I feel very...I donno...Empowered! It feels very natural.

I've started taking 2 classes a week...For now. I'll see how it goes. Right now in Toronto, it's the winter so going to a class on a Sunday is a good thing. When the summer comes around, there will be other things I'd probably rather do, like go to beach or bomb around downtown. For now, I'm taking two classes a week! Here's hoping it helps me to accelerate my learning.

In class we're doing a whole bunch of cool stuff. We're learning rhythms in a more serious way than ever before: layering shimmies, really working on arabesques and turns, learning to identify instruments by sound...phew. I was sweating my butt off in Sunday and Wednesday's class!

There's a LOT of events coming up at the studio like a weekend-long intensive for my level that is just way out of my price range, the folklore (which I want to go to. Hopefully by the time I have the money to pay they aren't full!) the professional performance in March (already purchased tickets!) the Cabaret, drum lessons, music lessons and finally, the studio is officially changing it's name to The Egyptian Dance Academy.

Many changes. All of them good! Can't wait to keep practicing and progressing!

Seriously Considering a Solo

At our dance school there are, "Student Cabarets." These events give us a chance to perform solos in front of other students. It's a great idea because it provides a supportive audience for new dancers to become confident with performing. At the same time it's an outlet to get us dancing in a contained space so those of us with a thirst for the stage don't do anything stupid like accept a paid gig before we are at that level.

Anyway, I'm seriously considering trying out my first solo at the student cabaret. It's February 18th. There are three options: I could do my own choreography, a gala choreography, or a teacher could make one up. I'd like to do my own. If I'm going to be in, I want to go all in!

Of course, a teacher has to approve it first and this is 100% okay. I'd definitely like to know if the piece is okay before performing.

I have already started on my dance but I haven't committed to anything. If I get the choreography together this weekend, I'll sign up Monday.

The prospect makes me feel excited but also incredibly nervous

Stay tuned

Holiday Homework

We have two weeks off from class now and then I start the New Year with 2 classes a week. Our homework for the holiday season is to watch these videos. They are both entrance pieces:

One modern Randa Kamel

and one classic Samia Gamal

Five times each!!!

In the last class we wrapped up the module on traveling steps (did a little of everything that we learned) and became better acquainted with some Arabic rhythms which surely, is going to be my belly dancing downfall!

I picked up a Music Appreciation and practice for belly dancers workbook from the studio ages ago. I figure now is a better time than any to get on it. However, much to my dismay the second CD uploads into iTunes without a hitch but the first one (and more important) will not! This means that instead of being able to learn on the subway or from the comfort of my sofa, I'll have to do this from the office. Bleh! Maybe I can take breaks and dance.

I'm not totally clueless when it comes to music theory but I'm better at the written aspects of music, rather than ear training. Big surprise.

AND after all of that, I want to work on refining what we learned in the module so that my muscle memory grasps it firmly before we get started on the next.

*Phew*

I just wanted to post this Zar Ritual that my teacher shared with us. Aside from the rabbit torture (you don't see anything aside from rough handling but it assaulted my animal loving eyes...) it's really quite interesting.

Oh, and the picture is from the last gala show. It's the watermarked version. I purchased the unmarked copy but I'll keep that to myself!

Motivated Beyond Control

As we near the end of our traveling steps module I feel a lot more confident with them. Now I need to learn how to balance steps with hip and chest work. At one point all I could do was stand in one spot and now I'm flying across the room in arabesques, chanees and sharky steps with not enough you know...belly dancing. Lol.

I've actually taken my practice up about 10 notches. I'm practicing everyday now instead of once or twice in between class and I'm using a variety of mediums from DVDs I've taken out from the library, to online classes and of course, going over my own course material.

I have noticed though that I'll reach a eureka moment and feel like I have excelled significantly only to be bopped on the head and taken down again. The most recent example of this was in the last class when my teacher asked us to follow along with her to an entrance piece for the other half of the students. I did terribly, including getting stuck in my veil.

I'm not one of those people that visually shows disappointment with myself. You know, I kept smiling and acted like it was pretty funny but deep down it actually kind of hurt. I just want to get better and I want things to come together more quickly then they actually are.

I do realize that it takes time. Rome wasn't built in a day and a belly dancer doesn't become proficient in the art in one or two or maybe even ten years. I just have to keep reminding myself that it's the journey that counts and not the destination.

Very Motivated

Classes are going so well. After the student performance we started a module on traveling steps, including entrances. I have to say, I'm getting much better at steps. This, along with arms, were my primary weak spots and now both are continually progressing at a pace that I'm proud of.

I've practiced almost every night this week. Actually, I'm over-training and my hips are getting sore. I'll take it easy this weekend! I've even signed up for an extra class, on Sundays, to kick off the new year. I figure that it will be cold anyway, so I might as well try to accelerate my learning.

So my weakness now all lie in transitioning. When I practice I just try to dance to songs that I really like. If I'm standing in one spot I find that I can change between different body parts from my head to feet with relative ease for my level but once I try moving around the room I become repetitive and lose my grip on the musicality of the song. I suppose these things will improve, just like all of the other moves that I used to find so challenging but it is quite frustrating! Fortunately I have a good teacher(s) at the studio and I feel like I can ask them anything without feeling ridiculous.

I'm even starting to feel more like a dancer. I notice that I'm beginning to stand in first position by default. In the past, I never would have considered trying an exercise like Pilates. I would have said that it's not hard enough but if I'm convinced it will help my posture or improve my flexibility for dancing, I'm in!

So there you have it, I'm ultra-motivated and feeling more like a dancer every day!