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.

Summer Term week 9

This week, we started on some more Folkloric (Egyptian Sa'aidi style) dance.

We worked on Horse Steps with and without heel drops. We'll add some stick work next week. 

For the veilwork, we've got plenty of technique under our belts now, so we started working on how we can put a routine together. It's not a choreography, you don't need to remember any particular moves. It's more like a Road Map. The routine is just a journey through the music. We worked on Introductions and building up the drama. Next week, keeping the audience interested, and nailing the finish.

We're using the music, Windows of the East, by Ron Goodwin.

I think the Spotify link is here.

It's a nice short piece, 2½ minutes, so it's not too long.

Here are some inspiration videos...

Solo veil - Maria


Nice routine, well choreographed, but she did a throwaway ending, where I would probably have done it a bit more dramatically!

Group Veil piece - Ensemble Lina


Lovely group choreography, good use of movement vs stillness.

Group Veil piece - Banat al Medina


They’re using the head wrap intro that I have warned you against! They include some Floorwork for interest. They include a good “veil pick up” from the floor, which works well with their dramatic ending. I really like this one!

Summer Term week 8

It's still warm, so we're taking it carefully, drinking plenty of water...

For our Veil work, we worked on how we can discard the veil beautifully (not just scrunching it up and throwing it away). We now have enough of a repertoire to think about putting a routine together (not a choreography, more a sort of road map!) so that's what we'll be working on in the rest of the classes this term.

We *were* going to practise the same exercise as in previous weeks, using a basic move & finding ways to vary it

• changing your arms
• changing which direction you are facing
• changing the speed of the move you're using
• changing your level

And also throwing in a step combination that we've got in our toolbag.

... But ...

It was hot and we were tired so we did some seated ribcage work, basically taking our warm up ribcage exercises and making them a bit smaller and snappier. Then we did a Musical Statues game, which brought out some interesting thoughts on balance and hand positions. 

You can practise the improv exercise, at home. Try using this music, pick a basic move and see how you can adapt it, using the changes above, or by using a variation of your basic move that we've done in class.

Summer Term week 7

Another warm night, so we were taking it easy.

We worked on some "double veil" techniques, but with just a single veil. We practised getting into the Double Veil position, a couple of techniques we can use while we're there, and how to get back out of it again.

We used the same exercise as last week, for finding ways to make a single move look different, and for including one of our combinations, to bring in something different.  

PS, if you're interested in some Double Veil Inspiration, take a look at these clips:

   

Summer Term week 4

My plans got a bit of a change, when there was only one person there! I'm editing this post to be more true to reality.

We started the Veil work today with a recap of the Neck Drape/Angel Wings from last week. I added a couple more Angel Wings options, but we didn't have as much time, so we didn't cover everything I had planned. Not to worry, we'll do it next week!

I was sticking with my Combinations for the technique part of the lesson, working with the Forward Back Step as our starting point:

• The FB only combinations were:
• A Reverse Pivoting Variation. This is a Forward Back step (R foot leading) for count of 6, then for the Back step cross the R foot behind you, to pivot backwards (turning 90° to your R). In four goes, you'll have turned all the way around.
  (You can do a fancier version by turning 270°, which looks very impressive and difficult, but I don't expect you to try this one!)
• Forward Back step (R foot leading) slow count (1234), tip toes (for speed), fast count (1234,1234). Sorry it doesn't make much sense written down, but watch the video!
  
  
• The FB plus other moves combinations I had planned were:
• Forward Back step (R foot leading) for count of 4, Hip hits R x 4
• Forward Back step (R foot leading) for count of 6, side step RLR (on 7&8)  to R, repeat with L foot leading and travelling to L.
• Forward Back step (R foot leading) for count of 4, cross step (R to L) & lunge to L and up again.

However, again, we didn't have so much time available, so we didn't do all of these. We'll go through them all again next week. So this vid is a bit of a spoiler for those who weren't here!

Summer term week 3

Sorry everyone, this week has been a bit extra. I wasn't quite as prepared as I would like. So with apologies for the delay, here is the Week 3 post. 

We used the Warm Up dance as a chance to practise the Hip Hit combinations from Week 1 and the Circle combinations from Week 2.

The Veil work started with a bit of a recap of the Walking and Wafting from week 1, and the Twirls from week 2, as it's always good to practise what you know, and reinforce your knowledge and skills. We then moved on to a technique I'm calling the Neck Drape and Angel Wings. It's a way to drape the veil in front of your neck and down behind your shoulders, so that you can get on with some non-veil-related dancing, safe in the knowledge that you can get the veil back into action very easily. Alternatively, while your veil is in the neck drape, you can pick up the edges and swish them around like wings. 

The step combinations today were brought to you by the Hip Drop.

• Using all hip drops
• Hip drop R x 4, then Drop Kick (R) x 2. These can be done swapping sides every time, or every second go, or randomly, it's your choice!
• Double Hip Drops (sometimes called Swings) RR, LL, RR, Drop Kick L. Then LL RR LL, Drop Kick R.
• Drop with a Dip. This is done over a count of 4 rather than 8. Drop RRR, then on 4th beat do a hip drop R with a dip. 
• Using hip drops combined with other moves
• Hip Drop with Single Sided Hip Circle. Hip drop R x 4, then on count 5678, single sided hip circle (horizontal) on R. If the music count is quite slow, you can try doing 2 circles in the 5-8 counts. 

Summer Term - Week 2

We recapped the combinations from last week in the Warm Up dance, so you could see how they can slot into the music, which is really the whole point of me teaching them!

Tonight with Veils, we were working mainly on Twirls, which we started last week. We practised twirling the veil in both directions, and brought in some variations on the basic twirl: 

• Half twirls, changing front to back & vice versa, or changing Right to Left & vice versa
• Incomplete twirls, with wafting opportunities
• Possibly Twirling and walking (typing this in advance, I don't know if we'll have the time for this, it's not as easy as it sounds!)

As last week, I took a basic move - the hip circle - and put together some movement combinations using different circle variations. 

• Using all circles
• Beg, Medium, Small circles
• Varying the speed of the circle, front half quick in 2 counts, back half slow in 6 counts OR the other way around
• Hip circles with stops - front half smooth, back half (stops on 5,6,7,8)
• Using circles combined with other moves
• Hip circle x 1½, hip push x 2
• Hip circle x 1½, forward back step

You can do these combinations with any music with a basic 4 or 8 count. You just need to find something that's the right speed for you.

Here's the video:

Try practising the combinations this week. Start with just one or two, and really try to get them into your muscle memory, so that you can do them without having to think about them.

If you're feeling brave, see if you can create your own combination, maybe starting with one of the combos I've set out here, and changing part of it. 

If you want to buy a veil...

I always recommend these three shops, because I know the owners personally, I know they provide excellent customer service, and I know they stock their shops from ethical sources.

FaridaDance.com - looks like she's only got one in stock. But she's been in Cairo, so presumably she'll soon be stocked up again.

BellydanceBoutique.co.uk - has a very good selection of silk veils right now. Cost approx £34

ZarasZouk.com - has a good selection of silk veils. Cost approx £27

I did look on Ebay, to see if you can get veils dirt cheap, but it turns out, not really! They were still coming in at around £25-£35.

I even looked at trying to buy the silk habotai fabric, but that's pretty pricey too, especially if you go for wide fabric. Honestly, you might as well check out Bellydance Boutique and Zara's Zouk, to see what they've got.

Summer Term - Week 1

Welcome back! It's good to be dancing with you again!

This term is going to focus less on Technique, and more on personal interpretation. We'll be looking at the skills you can use to keep dancing even when you haven't got a choreography to follow (that's right - Improvisation!) There's a lot of simple tricks we can use, and we'll look at how you can keep your dancing looking fresh and sparky.

We'll also be working on Veilwork. I gave you a little taster last term, and this term we'll build up some basic technique, some tricks and fancy Veilwork, and how we could put together a short routine (not choreographed, but structured).

Tonight we started with the Veils (before we all got very tired arms and shoulders), revisiting our Walking and Wafting from last term, and working on Veil Twirls.

• Remember the Golden Safety Rule of Veils - don't tread on your Veil. (Also, don't tread on anyone else's Veil).

Other guidelines include:

• Try to keep your shoulders down, to stop your arms and shoulders getting tired.
• Keep the top edge of the Veil taut, so you can keep control of it better.
• Keep your arms straight to create beautiful lines
  
• Try not to bunch your hand up into a fist, again, we're trying to create beautiful lines

After that we did some starter work on Improvisation skills. We used Side to Side/Hip Hit movement combinations, to start thinking about how we can put moves together, using simple 4-counts and 8-counts. 

• Using all Hip hits
• RLRL RRR, LRLR LLL
• RR LL RR Step back with the L & hit the hip backwards, LL RR LL step back with R & hit backwards
• Hitting to diagonals - Front RR LL RR, then Back with L.
  This one is single sided, it will always start R first. So if you want to change sides, you'll need to add a little step before starting the next combination
• Using Hip hits combined with other moves
• RLRL Forward Back step
  Again this one is single sided so if you want to change sides, you'll need to use one of the Forward Back changeover options 
• RLRL Hip drops R x 3. Again, you'll need to add a little step R to change sides between the third drop and the hip hit on the L
• RRLL ½ circle to change sides (like we did in the choreo)
• RRLL Fig 8 x 1½ to change sides.

Here's the video (sorry for it being late):

Our motto for the term is going to be: JUST KEEP GOING! 

Spring Term - week 11

Tonight was the last session of the term, I hope I'll be seeing you all again when we come back on 27th April.

This session was a combination of my original plan for this week (Veilwork) and a recap of last week, when the bad traffic made it difficult for everyone to attend (123-EE move).

I use silk veils mostly, because they have a beautiful movement and you can really show off with them (and there's nothing I like better than showing off!). I will add a post later about how you can buy silk veils for bellydance, but PLEASE don't buy anything until we know for sure the course next term will be going ahead. Don't worry - I have plenty of Loaner veils, for you to borrow in class.

Tonight we covered the Golden Rule of Veil Safety, which is:

• Don't tread on your veil (or on anyone else's).
  They are super-slippery, and you could end up falling head over heels.

The next rule is more about your personal comfort, and that's:

• Lift with your Back, not your neck.
  Your back muscles are much stronger, so this will allow you to keep your arms aloft for longer, and it will look much better.

Finally, this is more about Aesthetics, try not to bunch up your hands into fists:

• Keep your hands long
  Hold your veil with a finger weave, or delicately with your thumb and finger.

We did a lot of Walking and Wafting, adding in accents with wrist flicks and hip level wafts. We did some Overhead Flips and some Half-Twirls. 

To be honest, you can probably get away with a 4 minute routine using nothing but these techniques! But next term we'll look at more techniques and tricks, and about how you can put together a more varied routine.

Finally, I recapped the 123-EE technique that I started last week. 

Summer Term enrolments

If you are intending to return to the course next term, the enrolment details are here. You can enrol online from that page, or you can call the Customer Service Team to enrol (0300 200 1044 - quote course no QHET415NZA - Bellydance Beginners).

As I mentioned in class, there will be some Technique work, but my aim is to help develop more Interpretation skills, and specifically to bring in dancing with Silk Veils. I have plenty of Loaner veils for use in class, and I'm planning on introducing them to you in the last session of this term (30th March)

Actually, that's not a silk veil, but this one is