I finally made it! My dream dance shop - SolenneDance.com - up and running. You can visit, watch, comment, and most of all, you can order :)
And belly dancing... I like belly dancing, the mystery in each song, translating movements with the body, loose hips, delicate arms, undulations... The body looks like it was made for belly dancing. I am lucky because I have the opportunity to learn and improve this dance style. You do not need to be tall or thin to look great as a belly dancer, you just need to add charm to your dance.
But belly dance is also an opportunity to establish my beloved pieces of clothing - the costume. Costumes and jewellery are my love, I can never have too many of them, and this is an essential part of a belly dance lover. Remember - wear something that will not fall into pieces! Belly dance is perfect for classic, elegant designs, in which you may look like you are from a story or tale. From light and delicate colours to bright and vivid ones, depending on your personal style. But you do not need to perform to look great. You can wear beautiful pieces for rehearsing and practising too. Hand-made dance tops and vests and a pretty hip scarf will make you look chic and elegant. A shiny bracelet and a delicate hip scarf will be a sensational, contrasting element. So now you grab your pretty clothes and get ready for some dancing!
Coloured dance clothes and accessories, because only black is boring
As a dancer I have no doubts, I love new dance gifts. This year, I must admit to you, I am quietly counting on new pointe shoes (my very first ones). But enough about me. If you like red, blue, pink or any other colour, we have gift ideas for you. Find it below from SolenneDance.com Make your dance look more... Red! Best colour if you want to stand out, but also especially good for matching with white and black clothes or other contrasting colours.
As I mentioned, red is great for impacting. For example, the great Alina Cojocaru wearing red in contrast to the black background. Check it out:
Make your dance look more... Blue!
Looking for a blue gift for a dancer? Here it is - set of blue dance clothes and accessories, also available individually.Blue knitted leg warmers will help dancers stay warm, cosy, and stylish. Other blue pieces will add an extra touch. Of course!
If you follow the famous dance slogan "all the world's is a stage" you will find you can dance everywhere, but to become a good dancer you've got to attend dance classes. So, today's subject is: how to get the most out of a dance class. And we must remember, good dance classes are not cheap. In every class you have the opportunity to become better, improve your skills, musicality and technique. And here - a surprise. We have listed all the things you can do to enjoy your classes and get the best from them and hope it also inspire those who are stiff and unaware of the magic side of dancing.
- Be punctual
Surely you can get to your class on time and start dancing straight away, but it would be much better if you could manage to arrive 10 - 15 minutes earlier, get yourself dressed, start stretching and warming up (if you plan to arrive on the dot, make sure you come wearing your dance clothes). Most teachers like the students who arrive early and are ready to work on time. Dear dancers! Avoid arriving late! But in case you do, make sure you enter quietly, discreetly, and do not disrupt the ongoing class.
- Hair Tidy
As the author wrote on the blog surlepointeballet:
Ballet is a beautiful art form that involves graceful and powerful movements. But in order to fully appreciate a dancer, you have to see their face and neck, not to mention their arms. With long, loose hair, this is very difficult, which is why I insist on hair buns for all students. A hair bun will remove the hassle of loose hairs and will help concentrate on what really matters--the dancing.
So how do you do your hair? First of all, we take care that it is securely in a strong bun, up, and with no hair falling on your face or neck. We do not want our hair to go loose while jumping or spinning. But do not worry so much about what to do with your hair, a tight bun should be enough.
Hair clips can be useful too
What's next?
- Know what to wear
Ask your teacher about what you should be wearing for the classes. But comfortable clothes. But it is worth asking, there are some strict dance dress codes. Or you can also have a look around and check what everybody else is wearing. Do you need more examples?
What I find very comfortable to wear is dance trousers. I like my legs feeling protected. And preferably something that will make me look thinner and flexible if that is possible.
Make sure the clothes fit your body properly. In any case you can always wear black to look slimmer if you are worried about that. But truly, accepting your body is also important to enjoy dancing. But I am sure all ballet dancers have witnessed the girl wearing a leotard that is far too tight and looks very funny.
But the one piece that everybody should wear, especially ballet dancers is the pair of ballet shoes, the brilliant invention that protects your feet from anything nasty on the floor and help with your movements.Again, make sure you have the correct size for you. The entire collection available in SD you can see here.
I hope I persuaded you to enjoy your classes and get the best of it. We should use every opportunity to improve ourselves! And do not forget dance is also meant to be pleasant and fun. That's why I want to share this video, that is to me the perfect example of dance as a form of enjoyment and not an endless challenge.
Spring has come and has brought with it lots of beautiful dance clothes. And what about us? We are looking forward to getting a chance to wear everything and look amazing while dancing. So, we have lots of handmade clothes and accessories to try on. And now it is really beautiful. Let the sun shine together with you. Make sure you warm-up. Start a new choreography. Let the music fill your heart. And get some inspiration from our new pieces:
When I first heard this question there was only one thing that came straight to my mind: YES! Especially if you are going to do some undulations, which make your belly look fantastic. If you think about it, all movements involve a lot of belly motions and there is no better way to show them than by leaving your belly exposed, right? Wrong!
Belly Dancers! It is perfectly fine to cover your belly if you are shy or have any other reasons! Actually, there are many belly dancers who chose to cover their bellies in their costumes or when practising. If you do not feel comfortable exposing your body, go ahead! Hide it then. But that does not necessarily mean you cannot find an alternative way to look charming and beautiful.
My advice is to wear belly covers with your costume or a belly dance t-shirt if you are practising. Often I see a lot of girls hiding inside their clothes while they should be enjoying their dance. I always wear tops (I like to show my belly), but since I started wearing dance t-shirts I felt I was more focused on the music rather than my body and how it looks like on the mirror. I felt great. Not because I was covering my belly, but because I was paying attention to other things. When I realised that, I stopped worrying about how good or not my movements were and started to feel the music. For this reason, my tip is: try it!
Sometimes I like to think of belly dance classes as a form of exercise where I should wear comfortable clothes that allow me to move freely. On the other hand, I also believe I should be able to see my movements clearly and easily. ( Keep in mind that we do not wear belly dance costumes to practise). So I think it is such a personal choice that I can't even decide what to wear for myself. It changes with my mood. Why get stuck with only one way of doing things?
Of course, the most important thing is to enjoy belly dancing and feel fulfilled by dancing. Therefore, we should not really worry too much about our bellies. Take a moment and reflect - belly dance is meant to be an enjoyment, so let's get the best of it.
It is coming! Silk Route Show is a belly dance event, so you can expect a lot of colourful costumes, happy atmosphere and shimmies, of course! What I love about this show? First, they have a nice stage for the dancers, so they don't need to go around tables and stuff. You can sit down and just enjoy the performances. If you fancy a drink or something to eat, there is the pub service for you. What about the dancers? You can expect highly skilled belly dancers and impressive performances. But, most of all, it is fun! A perfect choice for cheering up your Sunday evening!
So, do not forget! 30th of March, at 19:00, at The Bedford - 77 Bedford Hill, SW12 9HD
