Beginner and Intermediate classes this week + Cartouche open house

In beginner class this week we reviewed hip and rib cage slides and circles, weighted hip lifts and the hip lift shimmy, weighted hip twists and the hip twist shimmy, shoulder thrusts and the shoulder shimmy. We then worked on snake arm derivative arm movements (medusa arms, Persian arms, fish tail, katia arms and low snake arms). We then worked on unweighted hip lifts, unweighted hip drops and unweighted hip twists. We finished the class working on single hip lift walk, single hip down walk, double hip lift walk and traveling with hip bumps.


In intermediate class we learned another way to play kashlima on the finger cymbals, the pelvic shimmy and the rotational shimmy. We then learned some “Turkish Hand Jive” and started learning the choreography to Hoplanda. The song can be found on the CD Bellydance With Ozel: How to Make Husband a Sultan

The information on the Cartouche open house I mentioned in class is as follows:

Cartouche takes pleasure in inviting you to our Open House
Saturday, November 20th, 2010
From Noon until 5:00 P.M.
at our Belly Dance Garage just North of 1344 Massachusetts St. (14th & Mass.) Lawrence, Kansas 66044

There is a phone number in case you get lost, if you think you might attend, please email me and I’ll send you the phone number, I don’t want to post it to the blog.

Last night in class

In beginner, we discused middle eastern music and the rhythm fallahi we reviewed hip and rib cages slides and circles. Learned about crescents and stepping side to side with hip circles and crescents. We also learned weighted hip twists which are horizontal and parallel to the ground. We then worked on weighted hip lifts speeding them up to a shimmy.

The fallahi rhythm is written:
1-+-2-+-

Dk-kD-k-
DtktDktk

and a track you can purchase to listen to the rhythm can be found here Fallahi

In intermediate we discussed how to recognize kashlima, I played it a bit on the drum and we learned the two easiest ways to play kashlima on finger cymbals. We reviewed the 3/4 shimmy on the up and on the down. We then discussed how to hold your skirt, various position it can be held and how to get it there, skirt figure 8s and layering skirt moves on to grapevine, rocking step hop and kashlima walk.

Kashlima rhythm is written:
1-+-2-+-3-+-4-+-5-

D-__T-__D-__T-T-t-
D-kkT-kkD-kkT-T-t-
D-tkT-tkD-tkTkT-t-


and a track you can purchase to listen to the rhythm can be found here Kashlima (9/8)

I was asked about drumming books, the one I have and really like is Dumbek Fever: Dumbek Instructional Kit unfortunately it is currently out of print and not availble for a reasonable price. I do recommend Doumbek Technique and Rhythms for Arabic Percussion, Bellydance, and Drum Circles as a practice DVD and there is good information on rhythms on the booklet included with the CD Zill Speak - How to Play Finger Cymbals from A(lmee) to Z(ills) The booklet has a TON of excellent information and I recommend spending the money on the CD just for the booklet!

In beginner we learned about the history of belly dance, reviewed hip and rib cage slides and learned hip and rib cage horizontal circles


In Intermediate we reviewed ¾ shimmies on the up and down, learned the folkloric shoulder shimmy, zill played 3-1 and when you would use it. We also worked on adding heel drops and bounces on hip circles, the rocking step hop, the foot in the mud step, the double pelvic tuck and drop walks and hip downs.

In Advanced we learned various points to balance a sword or cane and worked on descending and ascending for floorwork gracefully in a skirt.

I was asked about tummy covers/body stockings, http://www.dahlal.com/ carries them for around $30. Search midriff body stocking. Nashid, one of the Manhattan dancers says she has a few that she is looking to sell. She would want $15-20 for them. If you would like to purchase one of hers, let me know.