This weeks is easier than the last two. Once again we will start with a horizontal hip circle, but this time layer it with a pelvic wheel. Start with a clockwise horizontal hip circle and layer the camel pelvic wheel at the left, front, right and back. Start slow (16 count horizontal circle/4 count pelvic wheels) and speed it up until you reach 4 count horizontal circle and single count pelvic wheels.
Try camel wheels with counter clockwise horizontal hip circles and reverse camel wheels with both clockwise and counter clockwise horizontal circles.
Have fun!
Sunday, March 29, 2009
Better late than never - the week in review
This past week in Beginner we covered head slides, circles, 8s and several hair tossing movements. We also covered several turns, including the four point turn, three point turn, two point turn, paddle turn and step turn. We learned the Basic Egyptian 2 point turn and the John Wayne as new tribal moves. We also worked on trying to speed up our ¾ shimmy.
In Intermediate we covered tummy flutters, candle arms, drop kick pivot turn and the cues for the funky Egyptian and the drop kick for use in tribal. We worked with another method for playing Kashlimar on the zils, reviewed the ¾ shimmy on the down and did some improvisational tribal review before finishing the class by working on our choreography.
In Advanced, we drilled improvisational tribal.
In Intermediate we covered tummy flutters, candle arms, drop kick pivot turn and the cues for the funky Egyptian and the drop kick for use in tribal. We worked with another method for playing Kashlimar on the zils, reviewed the ¾ shimmy on the down and did some improvisational tribal review before finishing the class by working on our choreography.
In Advanced, we drilled improvisational tribal.
Saturday, March 21, 2009
New Belly Dance Challenge
If you have taken my advanced class or attended one of my intermediate/advanced open studios this may be something you have tried before. It is similar to last week’s challenge, but more difficult.
Level one: Start by doing a segmented horizontal/large/exterior hip circle: left, front, right, back. Next do counterclockwise omi/interior hip circle in each of those positions, so one omi to the left, one omi to the front, one omi to the right one omi to the back.
Level two, smooth out your clockwise exterior hip circle so it takes a total of 16 counts, 8 to the front and 8 to the back. At the same time do four 4-count counterclockwise omis (the omis will be in the same positions, left, front, right, back, as before).
Level three, speed up your exterior hip circle to 8 counts and your omis to 2 counts.
Level four, speed it up again, 4 count exterior hip circle (2 to the front, 2 to the back) and single count omis.
Level five, one more time, crank it up a notch, 2 count exterior hip circle layered with a rotational/omi shimmy.
The faster you go, the harder this gets! Figure out what level you are at (which one can you do easily) and then work on the next level up moving between the speed you can easily do and the one that is challenging. Don’t forget to reverse it all! Try it with counterclockwise exterior and clockwise interior hip circles as well!
Level one: Start by doing a segmented horizontal/large/exterior hip circle: left, front, right, back. Next do counterclockwise omi/interior hip circle in each of those positions, so one omi to the left, one omi to the front, one omi to the right one omi to the back.
Level two, smooth out your clockwise exterior hip circle so it takes a total of 16 counts, 8 to the front and 8 to the back. At the same time do four 4-count counterclockwise omis (the omis will be in the same positions, left, front, right, back, as before).
Level three, speed up your exterior hip circle to 8 counts and your omis to 2 counts.
Level four, speed it up again, 4 count exterior hip circle (2 to the front, 2 to the back) and single count omis.
Level five, one more time, crank it up a notch, 2 count exterior hip circle layered with a rotational/omi shimmy.
The faster you go, the harder this gets! Figure out what level you are at (which one can you do easily) and then work on the next level up moving between the speed you can easily do and the one that is challenging. Don’t forget to reverse it all! Try it with counterclockwise exterior and clockwise interior hip circles as well!
Thursday, March 19, 2009
Oops - forgot to post yesterday
So here is the review of what we did in class both on Tuesday and on Wednesday
In Beginner
We reviewed hip slides and circles, rib cage slides and circles, hip lifts, hip lift shimmy, hip twists and hip twist shimmy. We then learned unweighted hip twists, the basic Egyptian (both cabaret and tribal versions), single hip bumps, double hip bumps, traveling hip bumps, single hip lift walk, single hip drop walk and double hip lift walk (aka gawazee). We then finished the class with a short session of tribal improv using the three stall movements we have learned (Choochoo, basic E and gawazee).
In Intermediate
We worked on another way to play kashlima zils, reviewed the ¾ on the down and learned the rotational shimmy. We then learned several different variations of “gypsy hand jive” including shoulder beats, fist beats, hip beats, arm slices, belly slices and Indian snake. We then learned two new tribal combos, the ghawazee jill and Choochoo foot change. We finished up the session working on our choreography to Hoplanda.
In Advanced/Troupe
We learned three new tribal combos – the hissy fit by cyra, slow ride by Nadima and the Hips of Hathor by Huraiva – we then reviewed intermediate tribal combos and advanced tribal moves based in Arabic and Basic E.
Homework: Review all combos we have picked for use in the performance on the 4th.
Don’t forget about Open Studio on Friday.
Don’t forget about extra practice on Sunday.
In Beginner
We reviewed hip slides and circles, rib cage slides and circles, hip lifts, hip lift shimmy, hip twists and hip twist shimmy. We then learned unweighted hip twists, the basic Egyptian (both cabaret and tribal versions), single hip bumps, double hip bumps, traveling hip bumps, single hip lift walk, single hip drop walk and double hip lift walk (aka gawazee). We then finished the class with a short session of tribal improv using the three stall movements we have learned (Choochoo, basic E and gawazee).
In Intermediate
We worked on another way to play kashlima zils, reviewed the ¾ on the down and learned the rotational shimmy. We then learned several different variations of “gypsy hand jive” including shoulder beats, fist beats, hip beats, arm slices, belly slices and Indian snake. We then learned two new tribal combos, the ghawazee jill and Choochoo foot change. We finished up the session working on our choreography to Hoplanda.
In Advanced/Troupe
We learned three new tribal combos – the hissy fit by cyra, slow ride by Nadima and the Hips of Hathor by Huraiva – we then reviewed intermediate tribal combos and advanced tribal moves based in Arabic and Basic E.
Homework: Review all combos we have picked for use in the performance on the 4th.
Don’t forget about Open Studio on Friday.
Don’t forget about extra practice on Sunday.
Friday, March 13, 2009
First Belly Dance Challenge!
If you have taken my advanced class or attended one of my intermediate/advanced open studios this may be something you have tried before.
Level one: Start by doing a segmented horizontal/large/exterior hip circle: left, front, right, back. Next do clockwise omi/interior hip circle in each of those positions, so one omi to the left, one omi to the front, one omi to the right one omi to the back.
Level two, smooth out your clockwise exterior hip circle so it takes a total of 16 counts, 8 to the front and 8 to the back. At the same time do four 4-count omis (the omis will be in the same positions, left, front, right, back, as before – 2 cts forward, 2 cts backward).
Level three, speed up your exterior hip circle to 8 counts and your omis to 2 counts.
Level four, speed it up again, 4 count exterior hip circle (2 to the front, 2 to the back) and single count omis.
Level five, one more time, crank it up a notch, 2 count exterior hip circle layered with a rotational/omi shimmy.
The faster you go, the harder this gets! Figure out what level you are at (which one can you do easily) and then work on the next level up moving between the speed you can easily do and the one that is challenging.
Don’t forget to reverse it all! Try it with counterclockwise exterior and interior hip circles as well!
Let me know how it goes. :)
Level one: Start by doing a segmented horizontal/large/exterior hip circle: left, front, right, back. Next do clockwise omi/interior hip circle in each of those positions, so one omi to the left, one omi to the front, one omi to the right one omi to the back.
Level two, smooth out your clockwise exterior hip circle so it takes a total of 16 counts, 8 to the front and 8 to the back. At the same time do four 4-count omis (the omis will be in the same positions, left, front, right, back, as before – 2 cts forward, 2 cts backward).
Level three, speed up your exterior hip circle to 8 counts and your omis to 2 counts.
Level four, speed it up again, 4 count exterior hip circle (2 to the front, 2 to the back) and single count omis.
Level five, one more time, crank it up a notch, 2 count exterior hip circle layered with a rotational/omi shimmy.
The faster you go, the harder this gets! Figure out what level you are at (which one can you do easily) and then work on the next level up moving between the speed you can easily do and the one that is challenging.
Don’t forget to reverse it all! Try it with counterclockwise exterior and interior hip circles as well!
Let me know how it goes. :)
Thursday, March 12, 2009
What did we do last night?
In Advanced last night we spent the bulk of our time working on tribal. We reviewed all beginner level tribal moves and intermediate level tribal stall moves and combos that cue out of Arabic, Choochoo, Turkish, Basic Egyptian and started on the ones out of Ghawazee. We also discussed costuming, stage dynamics and potential dates for an extra practice/dress rehearsal before the performance on April 4.
Additionally, we learned three new tribal combos. The Ins and Outs by Huraiva, The Caboose by Cyra and The Typewriter by Nadima.
Homework for next week:
A new tribal combo.
Email Huraiva a photo for use on the website.
Email Huraiva a bio for the website.
Don’t forget the meeting on Saturday.
Additionally, we learned three new tribal combos. The Ins and Outs by Huraiva, The Caboose by Cyra and The Typewriter by Nadima.
Homework for next week:
A new tribal combo.
Email Huraiva a photo for use on the website.
Email Huraiva a bio for the website.
Don’t forget the meeting on Saturday.
Wednesday, March 11, 2009
March 10 – What did we do?
In Beginner we reviewed hip slides and circles and rib cage slides, arch and contract and circles. We then learned hip crescents and how to do a step touch with them, hip twist shimmy, hip lift shimmy, unweighted hip lifts (aka choochoo), unweighted hip drops and how to move forward and backward with Choochoo.
In Intermediate we worked on the two simplest ways to play the Kashlimar rhythm on the zils, reviewed the ¾ shimmy on the down, learned the pelvic shimmy, worked on bellyrolls, learned two new tribal combinations (Choochoo 4 pt turn and Fu Man Choochoo), learned how to hold our skirts, various positions we can hold them in, how to do figure 8s with the skirt, swishy skirt and catch-me skirt, then adding figure 8s to grapevine and rocking step w/hop, swishy skirt to kashlimar walk and catch-me skirt to both 3pt turns and paddle turns. We then started learning the choreography to Hoplanda.
In Intermediate we worked on the two simplest ways to play the Kashlimar rhythm on the zils, reviewed the ¾ shimmy on the down, learned the pelvic shimmy, worked on bellyrolls, learned two new tribal combinations (Choochoo 4 pt turn and Fu Man Choochoo), learned how to hold our skirts, various positions we can hold them in, how to do figure 8s with the skirt, swishy skirt and catch-me skirt, then adding figure 8s to grapevine and rocking step w/hop, swishy skirt to kashlimar walk and catch-me skirt to both 3pt turns and paddle turns. We then started learning the choreography to Hoplanda.
What about Advanced?
In advanced we have spent the last two weeks learning how to choreograph a song. We are working with Warda by Warda.
We spent the first week mapping the natural breaks in the song and then dancing improvisationally to the song first with no props and then with several different weights of veil and both half circle and rectangular veil. We decided we liked the 8mm silk large half circle veil best for the music.
We also learned three new tribal combos – Grape Stomper created by Nadima, Salt ‘n’ Peppa created by Cyra and Whirlygig created by Huraiva.
Homework was:
Develop a new tribal combination.
Pick three songs as possibilities for triberet improv performance on April 4
Find several places in Warda where you consistently do the same movements and write them down.
Practice leading tribal improv using only beginner level moves.
Practice finding the “1” beat in a song regardless of where you start listening to it.
The second week we reviewed the movements everyone was doing at a given point in the song. There was a spot where both Nadima and Cyra had the same movement so that was placed into the choreography. We then worked from that point forward and finished the evening with having choreographed from 25 seconds to 1:20 in the song.
We then learned three new tribal combos – Slow Snakes by Cyra, Pop the Cork by Huraiva and Half Moon by Nadima.
Homework was:
Develop a new tribal combination.
Continue working with Warda to see if additional moves “come up” repeatedly.
Practice leading tribal improv with beginner level moves and Choochoo and basic Egyptian based intermediate level moves.
We spent the first week mapping the natural breaks in the song and then dancing improvisationally to the song first with no props and then with several different weights of veil and both half circle and rectangular veil. We decided we liked the 8mm silk large half circle veil best for the music.
We also learned three new tribal combos – Grape Stomper created by Nadima, Salt ‘n’ Peppa created by Cyra and Whirlygig created by Huraiva.
Homework was:
Develop a new tribal combination.
Pick three songs as possibilities for triberet improv performance on April 4
Find several places in Warda where you consistently do the same movements and write them down.
Practice leading tribal improv using only beginner level moves.
Practice finding the “1” beat in a song regardless of where you start listening to it.
The second week we reviewed the movements everyone was doing at a given point in the song. There was a spot where both Nadima and Cyra had the same movement so that was placed into the choreography. We then worked from that point forward and finished the evening with having choreographed from 25 seconds to 1:20 in the song.
We then learned three new tribal combos – Slow Snakes by Cyra, Pop the Cork by Huraiva and Half Moon by Nadima.
Homework was:
Develop a new tribal combination.
Continue working with Warda to see if additional moves “come up” repeatedly.
Practice leading tribal improv with beginner level moves and Choochoo and basic Egyptian based intermediate level moves.
Tuesday, March 10, 2009
Lets get started!
I've created this blog so that my students can review what was covered the prior week from home or, if they had to miss, can see what was covered. We are on the third week of the current session.
So far in beginner we have covered:
Week 1: proper dance posture, various arm positions, hip slides and rib cage slides
Week 2: the falahi rhythm, snake arm family of arm movements, rib cage arch and contract, horizontal hip circles and rib cage circles.
So far in Intermediate we have covered:
Week 1: how to wear zils and the sounds they can make, playing 3s with zils, 3/4 shimmy on the down and its cue, learned the lower body accent drill, intro to the kash rhythm, arabesque walk, kashlimar walk, fall step, Turkish skip, turning basic Egyptian and its cue. We also reviewed all beginner level tribal moves.
Week 2: reviewed falahi, maqsoum and masmoudi rhythms, learned the upper body accent drill, reviewed 3/4 on the down, learned folkloric shoulder shimmy, adding heel drops and/or bounces to hip circles, rocking step w/hop, foot int he mud, pelvic tuck or drop walk, hop downs. For tribal we learned the cue for basic Egyptian hip twists and the basic Egyptian full turn.
So far in beginner we have covered:
Week 1: proper dance posture, various arm positions, hip slides and rib cage slides
Week 2: the falahi rhythm, snake arm family of arm movements, rib cage arch and contract, horizontal hip circles and rib cage circles.
So far in Intermediate we have covered:
Week 1: how to wear zils and the sounds they can make, playing 3s with zils, 3/4 shimmy on the down and its cue, learned the lower body accent drill, intro to the kash rhythm, arabesque walk, kashlimar walk, fall step, Turkish skip, turning basic Egyptian and its cue. We also reviewed all beginner level tribal moves.
Week 2: reviewed falahi, maqsoum and masmoudi rhythms, learned the upper body accent drill, reviewed 3/4 on the down, learned folkloric shoulder shimmy, adding heel drops and/or bounces to hip circles, rocking step w/hop, foot int he mud, pelvic tuck or drop walk, hop downs. For tribal we learned the cue for basic Egyptian hip twists and the basic Egyptian full turn.
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