Summer Term - week 10

As we're winding down to the end of the term (😢), we're going all out for Props - Veils and Sticks (not together!)

We started with the Veils, and putting together a kind of routine, for the music Windows of the East.

The structure of the music goes:

Introduction, includes a bridge into the main melody

Melody A, twice, but the second one has a big orchestral whoosh at the start

Melody B

Melody A again, the one with the orchestral whoosh

Melody C & Melody D

Melody A, twice, like at the top, the second one with the orchestral whoosh 

Finale, winds up to a very clear finish 

Last week we worked with the first half, this week we were using the second half, from C&D, into A (x2) and the finale. We'll put it all together next week.

We continued with our folkloric technique work, Egyptian Sa'aidi style. We recapped the Heel drops and Horse Steps from last week, and added some Stickwork to go with those moves. We also added the Side Step (sometimes called a duck step), to build a bit more folkloric repertoire.

The main Safety rule with the stick, when you're new to it, is give yourself LOTS OF SPACE. Don't let other people get into your dance space. Try not to let go of the stick, but (and I know this is going to sound contrary) don't hold it too tight.

A bit of background/context for the stick work. Here's a video of men doing Tahtib, a martial art/dance game, which is what Stickwork in dance comes from:

Here's Tito Seif, who is using the sticks (yes, plural) more as a dancer. 

And now to see how the girls dance with a stick - much more playful and feminine, using those basic Sa'aidi moves.

And a duet to show how a masculine style and a feminine style are different, even when doing the same moves.