Bellydancers

[Macrina]

I can kind of do a belly roll. I'm hoping it'll look a lot better when I get some more muscle tone.

As for locating the lower abs... When you get "Basics and Beyond," be sure to go through all the isolations section. In there and in the next section there are some good moves -- like this pelvic tuck sort of thing that you can turn into a lower hip circle and another move or two that use the lower ab muscles but not the upper ones. Trying them in different ways may help you get the feel for it.

I'm still not very good at combinations, but I'm really pleased that I'm picking up a number of new moves. The cool thing is that once I learn a new move, it kind of helps solidify the other ones I know, too. And switching back and forth between DVDs is good, too -- if I spend a few days in a row with one instructor, then I can find new things when I return to another one. I have a hunch that my video library should last me for awhile if I use them in rotation like that.

I've been spending about an hour a day doing this stuff, and it's awesome -- it gets my heart rate up just enough, and it works the muscles really well.

 

[deornie]

I simply cant wait to get my DVDs! Have yours arrived already?

I really struggle with belly rolls, have to work on those lower abs....

Found interesting site on belly dance www.orientaldancer.net currently reading discussions about the styles there...

Although I am more familiar with egyptian style, I seem to like tribal more and more... To me tribal was more like oriental folk dances (with lots of hopping and bouncing and swinging around hair) Untill I have seen Rachel Brice and Sera... Do not think I like Turkish, cos it allso seems to have more hopping and "skirtwork a-la flamenco" than the admired isolations...

 

[Macrina]

Yes, I like tribal like Rachel Brice does it, but some of the ATS tribal stuff I've seen was... well, bland. I think it depends on how it's done.

My new DVDs haven't arrived yet. They were backordered or something, I guess. I got some new music, though, and a couple of books, so I did my own workout today and had a great time sans video.

I've realized that I've just got to develop my muscles more before I can do belly rolls. I'm not in the physical shape to have them look right yet... but I'm getting there!

I can't wait till you get Jenna's DVD and we can compare notes on particular parts.

 

[deornie]

Well Rachel Brice herself says that she does not dance pure Tribal, but is greatly influenced by more dramatic cabaret style (still researching on the main features of that one)... I wonder what other famous dancers out there do Tribal...

What i really do not like is Gothic fusion... it is soooo gross, so opposed to all the light and joy I see in belly dance!

I also cant wait to get the DVDs, it would be so much fun to compare and discuss the parts!

I am really glad I ordered them cos with DVD's I've got (which mostly were given to me except for Jillina and Neon) I do not get my dance workout, since most of them are fitness oriented!

I am also looking for some decent "tribal" DVD... Rachel Brice has one, but it is more of yoga workout than a dance DVD... I really dont think I have the pacience to do do smth like that... I think I might consider Sera's "East Coast Tribal" since I like her flexibility (not necessarily the fusion part of her dancing) and armwork...

Just think it would be nice to learn some other style than Egyptian... I am not too fond of Turkish, or other folk styles... Cos I am (like you) mezmerised by isolations... all that hopping does not do that for me...

 

[deornie]

My new DVDs haven't arrived yet. They were backordered or something, I guess. I got some new music, though, and a couple of books, so I did my own workout today and had a great time sans video.

Hey what music and books did you get? Just wondering...

I dont have much oriental music... But some Hossam Ramzy's drums are Awesome, always make me wanna dance... So I usually do some chest lifts and shoulder shimmies even if Im at my computer!

 

[Macrina]

Books: I got Rania's "Bellydancing For Fitness," which comes with a CD of music. I also got Tamalyn Dallal's "Belly Dancing for Fitness." Music-wise, I got "Best of Bellydance: from Egypt, Lebanon, Arabia & Turkey" and "Belly dance Instrumentals from Morocco and Lebanon."

If you want some free drum rhythms for practice, you can download several from Amirasbelly.com -- she also has a CD that I would like to order someday.

Yeah, I'm not such a fan of Gothic Fusion, either. I like either slow and mesmerizing (Rachel Brice) or bright and cheerful (Ansuya).

I don't know what famous solo dancers do Tribal -- it seems that American Tribal Style is inherently a group dance, so maybe that's why there aren't many Tribal soloists.

Cabaret has a lot of elements I like, because it seems that you can shape the moves for you own personal style (like, quite Egyptian if you want it that way). I'm not as into the sequins, though.

Since I only do it in my own home, I suppose I can make my own eclectic mishmash of styles!

 

[deornie]

From what I have read today American Cabaret is just a mixture Arabiaa and Turkish, what originated in USA in 50-60 and since dancers often learnt from each other, there appeared some "customized" mixed style, which adopted the most 'visual' moves from oriental and includs lots of floorwork, canes, swords and stuff- to make it even more visual....It is said that Egyptian is more music oriented in the fact that the body of a dancer is like one more instrument in the orcestra.... more elegant and flowing.... Well from what I have seen I am not all that mad abou "original" "native" egyptian dancers... well they are good surely, but for me personally I will stick with Ansuya's Cabaret, Sera's fusion and Jillinas Egyptian with elements of ballet and stuff...lolI think I am going to develop my own personal style...LOL I do not think that i ever gonna go and research say truely egyptian or truely turkish... I like that clear and bright style of Cabaret or Egyptian by "non-natives"...LOLI have a Lora Cooper's belly dance book... but reading does not do that for me... I stick rather with DVD... I have some Tarkan (turkish) music which is also good for dancing... Kuzu Kuzu is my fav song since my intructor choreographed that one.... just have good memories!Will have to check out Amira's site!

 

[Macrina]

I think one of the neatest things about belly dance is that it is something that can be very personalized. I think we're free to take different elements from different styles and combine them as we wish, because the dance is always evolving.

Since I'm a beginner yet, I don't know what avenues I'll want to explore in the future. At the moment, I'm not focusing on props or fusion styles, but that's not to say I wouldn't expand my horizons down the road. They do say that the veil is a good upper-body workout. As for elements from other styles of dance, that could be interesting to include them (I've done a little bit of other dancing), but I would want to feel really solid on my bellydancing technique before I try adding anything that might distract me, ha ha!

I can tell that I'll be limited for a little while until my abs develop a bit more. I'm very flexible, which gives me an advantage, but I don't have the control strength which would make those slow moves look fluid and graceful. Plenty to work on in the meantime, though, as I develop some muscle tone.

I think I've gotten to the point where alternating DVD sessions with on-my-own-with-a-cd sessions will help solidify everything. It wasn't until I started to put things together all on my own that I realized how many movements I actually knew. It was kinda cool!

 

[deornie]

Yeah I agree, that happened to me as well, when at certain point you start putting stuff together and it gives you such a boost! That's why I am soo excited about combos!

Unfortunately I am very extremely stiff, especially my back, that is why my moves often look jerky... I really really want to work on my arms to acheive smooth movement, and I really would love to learn backbends, but THAT requires really developed back and thigh muscules... On youtube I have found a dancer called Morgana and in a clip called "Immortal Serpent" she does one stunning backbend, with change of level... geez for that your muscules must be made of steel...

Have you seen her? I think she is from Spain. She really reminds me of Rachel Brice... She is Stunning!

I have watched some "Tribal" dancers, and I am not too impressed either... I think what Rachel, Sera and Morgana do is "Tribal Fusion", I would love to learn more about that...

But as for learning isolations you are totally right, whatever belly dance style you learn, mastering the isolations is the must!

 

[Macrina]

No, I haven't seen Morgana -- I'll have to look for her next time I'm on YouTube.

I know my muscles aren't up to full backbends yet!

 

[deornie]

You mentioned some drym Rythms available for download from Amira's site... I do not seem to find them on her site.... *freeling rather dumb*

 

[deornie]

The other day I did smth very brave...LOL recorded a little videoclip of myself practicing to send to my friend back home- we were discussing chest circles and struggled to explain to each other in chat. I was quite embarrassed with the result.... BUT I have learnt something about myself- my head bounces too much when I do hip moves! When I practice a separate move then all is perfect, but as soon as I go into combo's everything goes out of sync! LOL This is something I did not notice looking in the mirror! Also I make quite a horrible face- so concentrated that I look I could pop!

It surely helps to see yourself from aside... If I was practicing with an instructor she would point out what I am doing wrong, but as I am on my own, I think I might record myself again, to be able to analyse the mistakes I make!

Just thought I'd share with you my new "self-study" tool!

 

[Macrina]

Here is a 5-minute beladi rhythm.

Here is a masmoodi rhythm.

I can't seem to find the others, but they aren't as full as these, just 2-minute drum rhythms. If you want them and use IM, I could send them to you sometime.

You were very brave to record yourself. Would you be brave enough to share?

 

[deornie]

Here is a 5-minute beladi rhythm.

Here is a masmoodi rhythm.

I can't seem to find the others, but they aren't as full as these, just 2-minute drum rhythms. If you want them and use IM, I could send them to you sometime.

You were very brave to record yourself. Would you be brave enough to share?

Thank you for the links! I am busy downloading them! Is it music or Hossam Ramzy explaining the rythms? I know Amira colaborated with him...

I have an album of Hossam where he explains the most used belly dance rythms... Also have his "Sabla Tolo"...

As for sharing the clip...well have to record something more decent...LOL we were discussing chest lifts, so this is clip was about... so it is boring...LOL

PS I use yahoo

 

[Macrina]

They are app. five-minute drum rhythms performed by Joshua Levin. The beladi rhythm was commissioned especially for Amira's DVD and is the one she uses for her combination. The other music on the DVD is Hossam Ramzy and Phil Thornton, and the CD she sells on her site is of them.

The other tracks I have are about 2 minutes long and they are much simpler drum rhythms than the ones I linked you to. I'll try to remember where I found them.

I haven't used Yahoo for like a year, but I'll PM you my username and I'll try to log on sometime.

 

[deornie]

Thanks for the links! I actually use any rythmic music to dance(like Shakira for example) but I like to learn the rythms used in belly dance!

I am considering taking up drum! LOL (i have seen there is a DVD out there that teaches Arabian rythms!) I was trying to hint my fiance that he is eager to learn drum! LOL

On Monday we gonna check our post... hope my DVDs are there!!I read somehere that you have to change your DVDs now and then, as you grow out of them...

Of course you can never have troo much technique, each time I use Neon's DVD I learn smth new about the old moves! But to keep it fun, I need to learn combo's and my mostly fitnes oriented dvds got boring!

 

[deornie]

I actually found the page with Resources on Amira's site... Took me a while )

 

[Macrina]

Oh, good. I was wondering if maybe I only got those tracks after I opted in for her newsletter.

 

[deornie]

Im off to bed for tonight hope you have a great weekend!

 

[Macrina]

You too! Goodnight!