Belly Dance Technique

I love belly dance.
All the moves, undulations, instruments, melodies, hips up and down, shimmies, etc. Belly Dance is the perfect way I find to translate all my emotions and feelings into art. But it is not only this passion and expression that will make belly dance happen. It takes time, dedication, effort, persistence, and most of all: TECHNIQUE. This time I decided to write about the hard part of the dance on my blog. You can ask the best dancers out there, they all work on technique and you will be surprised of how they practise and focus on the very basic moves. So you can build a very strong foundation and be confident about what you are doing. Dancing then becomes natural to you and you will surprise yourself of how your body changes to your commands. The hardest moves roots come from easy moves, so focus on mastering them and adding more and more until you get to a high level. Below I put some photos of my hard work on belly dance technique and basic moves. Enjoy it, and get on practising!

Posture - Dont let your butt up!

Remember to stretch to loose your muscles

... Practising hip drops

Arms

Figure of eight

Hip Up

Cristina and her dance position

Get practising too!

Arabesque Nights

Such a great evening! Yesterday I went to Chiswick to check this event that happens on the first Thursday every month, The Arabesque Nights, 1970's inspired on this occasion.
Lots of people drinking, eating and enjoying the performances, in a relaxed and spontaneous atmosphere. It was fun!
About the dancers, it was a mix of students and teachers, as well as the songs, bellydance and other styles. But the best thing was the feeling that everybody had a chance to express and enjoy themselves. I recommend it! :)

A lot of things

There are a lot of dancing events coming for all Dance Lovers in England. This Thursday the Arabesque Night Show will present a 1970's BellyDance inspired show, at The Gunnesbury, in Chiswick, London. You don't need to be a dancer to attend! In September as well, the 15th, there is the Dancing to a Live Band - Performance Skills, the last live music workshop from them, in Derby. And on the same day, there is Hilde Cannoodt and Alexis Southall's workshop, in London, two workshops about Tribal Fusion and Bellydance. Alexis' workshop is for improvers, some experience required, but Hilde's workshop is open to all levels. On the 19th, Thursday, Arab Quarter Live Band Workshop will be in North London with a 3 1/2 hours live music workshop, 6pm at The Place. 

Also for ballet lovers, you have to check the Degas and the Ballet: Picturing Movement exhibition, at the Royal Academy of Arts. It looks very inspiring.This is a very popular exhibition, so 24h advanced booking is recommended. There are also a lot of events related to this exhibition, and you can check them all here. Open on the 19th October the Romeo and Juliet, at the Royal Opera House, London. This tragic tale is a must see. But if you just fancy attending a good ballet class for beginners in London, you should check these places: Central School of Ballet, close to Holborn, DanceWorks, close to Bond Street and also the Dance Attic, in Fulham. They all include drop-in, quality classes and affordable prices.

Finally, I want to share this Ballet Blog, which promotes all good ballet stuff around. You should definitely check this out =)

- No time to spend at home!

Belly Dance and Health

It is not only fun, but Belly Dance also has a lot of positive effects on your body. It is a potential work out and excellent for burning calories. And the best? You don't even realise it because you are dancing and enjoying it. Check the list below:

1 - Muscle Work -  while you are doing hip drops, ondulations, shimmies and so on (basic Bellydance moves) you are working abdominal, pelvis and gluteus muscles. It helps to improve your posture and tone. You gain more flexibility. But the best thing is that you exercise them in a natural way, using the normal body form and posture. It helps to increase the flow of substances that are good for your joints (synovial fluid, check it on Google). It prevents lower back problems, by the repeated moves of putting your pelvis forward and tucking it in. When you dance, you relieve any stress or tension from your body. There is no better way to relax and have fun!

2 - Improved Posture - It is also great to elongate you body, as you need a right posture to dance beautifuly. Your back muscles get stronger, preventing Lordosis (a back problem).Your arms and hands become smooth and graceful. And you get the exact balance between being strong and delicate.

3 - It gives you energy - when you dance, you become active and less sedentary. Your body releases endorphins, which gives you the feeling of well-being. On top of that, you improve your balance, not only for dancing, but for your daily life, while walking, etc. You feel alive and energetic. In addition, anyone can enjoy Belly Dance, even beginners. So no excuses to stay on the sofa.

4 - Curiosities - It has low impact on the body, which means the risks of injury are minimal when the moves are executed properly. There is no age limit, anyone can belly dance. It helps the process of weight loss. It can burn an average of 250 to 300 calories per hour. Obviously, it will depend on how intense your class is.

Interesting, isn't it?

What to wear for Bellydancing?

I know a lot of people who are enchanted by the graceful and different moves in Belly Dance. It has a lot of health benefits as coordination, tonification of the body, a way to burn many calories, etc. It also helps to bring self-confidence, body awareness and a sense of femininity. This post is about those people who want to start it but don't feel comfortable about what to wear for a class. 

         The most important accessory: the hip scarf.

The hip scarf is an enhancer. It will bring all your movements to life by making the hips stand out. Be careful with coin belts (not all teachers are keen on them) because of the noise they make  you can't really hear the music properly. And not everybody enjoys the "ding ding". I know they are cute, but they can also leave traces, little coins or beads, on the floor.

What else to wear? Should I show my belly? Simple. Wear what you feel comfortable in. Tops will make your dance become real, as you need your belly exposed to make Belly Dance happen. But if you are not confident with it, just wear a t-shirt and you should be fine. I prefer black leggings, so I can contrast them with a coloured hip scarf to show my hip movements and flats, like the picture below.

Should Bellydancers be barefoot?
Not necessarily. Think of it. I just mentioned about beads and coins falling off from your pretty class clothes. It can be very unpleasant to step on something unexpected on the floor, as well as dangerous. So if you are barefoot, make sure you know the floor you are dancing on and feel confident about it. Some bellydancers also wear heels when performing, which can be very elegant depending on the occasion. 

Some little tips:
- I don't recommend wearing short skirts to practise. The whole point is to focus on hips and belly, not the legs.

- Wearing nice clothes and accessories for the class, I mean the more you invest in yourself, will raise your confidence in the class. Feel good.

- The proper Belly Dance costume is meant just for performances. They are too much for a class. You need to feel as much comfortable as possible. 

Is there anything you would like to know about dancing? Any doubts? Please leave a comment. I will be very happy to answer, or maybe create a post just about it. So let's put hip scarves on and happy shimmies everyone!

Club Baklava October 10th 2013

It is coming!

Great dancers. Great atmosphere. Of course I am looking forward to this event. It is organised by Hossam and Serena, and, you know, everything they touch becomes precious. The only problem is the day, and unfortunately I am a working mortal, so a weekday evening is always a bit of trouble for me. Still, it will be an amazing show. (As were all the previous shows they have done there.)

It will be a lot of fun for everyone, but it is also a great opportunity for all dancers to perform (if you know what you are doing, obviously) and to learn as well.

If you have never heard of this event, please check it out:

http://www.hossamramzy.com/ClubBaklava.htm 

The place is really nice. No, no bellydancers around tables! They have a kind of stage. And be sure to watch interesting performances, a little bit of everything and luckily some Serena dancing or the Ramzy Dance Company. Then you will have a real taste about what quality dancing means. So, there is a lot to get excited about, but October is still a bit far... Let's concentrate on my one-hour Bellydancing with Style Workshop.

 I am planning this workshop with so much care and I am sure you will love it! Especially the super cute hip scarf from Follow the Sun. Yes, you are going to get a free one if you attend it. I am very excited and can't wait to finish preparing everything. My booking list is getting bigger, which is another reason to carefully watch for every detail (as if everything would go according to plan, and we know it is not usually like this... That's life.) Anyway, there will be music, bellydancing, basic moves, a lot of energy, and most importantly, cute hip scarves. It will be a workshop to remember...

You still have time to make your booking, just go to my Facebook Page Classic Dancer and find the details there. I will keep preparing everything until the 10^th for an amazing afternoon. I can see a lot more coming, and I am so looking forward to it. Do not forget the date.

YOU CAN DO IT

Club Baklava is on the 10th October. Dani Agnis perfoming in the video. I am sure it will be amazing.