Tribal Fusion Bellydance Fall Class 4

We reviewed the choreography to Dilges and clarified a few sections. Here are a few:
1. In the Paddle Turn, step the right foot out to about 1 o'clock, but keep your weight centered. So, not leaning onto your right foot. Your body/hips should be facing stage left. The right foot acts like an oar that you're using to paddle yourself around to the back. That's count 1. As you use your right foot to rotate your body around, pivot on the ball of the left foot. Leave that left foot on the ground the entire time.

Step the right foot, toes facing upstage (back), in close to the left foot on count 2. At this point, your body should be somewhat facing stage right.

You start over again with the right foot stepping out to the 1 o'clock, body turns to stage left... etc.

You also use your right arm in the turn. Start with both arms bent, elbows up. Extend the right arm out as you step right foot out to 1 o'clock. Pull the hand in (back to arm bent), keep the elbow up. So the action of the right arm is extending out and pulling in of the forearm. Your upper body may lean forward as you step out, but come back to upright when you pull in.

2. For the Tunisian Box, remember that you are on the balls of the feet the entire time.

Hope that helps!

Alright, on to the new stuff:
1. Hip Singles with chest squares. This is the fun one!
The hip singles are eighth notes. Right hip on count 1, left hip on count 2.
The broken interior chest circles (or chest squares for short) are quarter notes. Chest lift on count 1, right on count 2, down/neutral on count 3, left on count 4. You can think of it even simpler like this: For every side of the chest, you're doing a hip right and left. Easy! Remember, practice makes permanent.

2. Walking Combo:
Think of a short and wide letter M or think of an infinity sign where the bottom half has been chopped off. So the movement is basically an up to down figure 8 (up and over-out), but you stop the down half way. Another way to think about it is if you have hammers attached to the sides of your hips and you have to hammer a little nail down: you'd bring your hip up, then tap it down gently. Yeah, like that!
Feet and hips are quarter notes for 8 counts. Arms up at 5th position.

Then right foot steps back, cross behind left. Right arm up, torso facing stage right, left arm parallel to floor extends towards stage right for counts 1 and 2.
Following that the right foot steps back to center, left foot in place, then right foot in place for counts 3 and 4.
Then repeat with the left foot steps back, cross behind right. Left arm up, torso facing stage left, right arm parallel to floor extends towards stage left for counts 5 and 6.
Half turn over the right shoulder for counts 7 and 8. Use your right arm to swing you around.


With the music, it is:
2:10 - Hip Singles with chest squares
2 times clockwise
2 times counter clockwise

2:19 - Hip slides with arms
Hip slide right - 4 counts
Hip slide left - 4 counts
Hands/arms push with the hip slides

2:25 - shoulder shimmies
Yes, we get a break here! A little fun attitude here please!

2:32
- SAME as previous section: Interior hip circles, hip drop, and cross turn Combo

2:51 - Walking Combo
Two times. First time will bring you to face back. Second time will be moving up stage (to the back) and will bring you to face front.

Hope to get a little video out to you soon!
Lily

Bellydance Basics Class 4 Notes

The focus of this fourth class is shimmies.

Shimmies: fast and timely alternating hip singles up. That being said, remember that the hips are going straight up. Start slow with one hip up, then alternating. Double the speed. Then speed up as fast as you can go. Remember to keep knees slightly bent and pelvis neutral.

Practice at home with the different "options" we talked about in class. Experiement a little and find a shimmy that works for you. We all have to start somewhere! Options:
- knees bent, shimmies powered by the hips
- knees soft, shimmies powered by the legs
- knees soft, shimmies powered by the inner thighs
- knees soft, shimmies powered by a combination of hips and legs
- bring your weight forward to the balls of the feet
- bring your weight back to the heels of the feet

We also covered:
1. Omis (interior hip circles) FLBR
2. Hip shimmies with hip slides
3. Hip shimmies with shoulder presses and chest lifts

Remember you can practice your shimmies anywhere! Let's set a goal for full voluptuous shimmies. We can easily tone them down later.

Enjoy!
Lily

Tribal Fusion Bellydance Fall Class 3

I wish I could have this in a better format, but here is the new section of the choreo.
Here we go!

1:19
Figure 8s Back to Front
Slower
3 x 4


Hip Twist RLR
Shoulders RLR
Chest UDU
Pelvic Locks FBF
[Lite accents]
2 x 4

1:31
Combo B (28 counts):
UD Figure 8 RL
Omi with Exterior hip circles, start left (12 counts)
Small hip circle for transition
[Vocals B]
7 x 4

1:47
Tunisian Box
start facing stage left
[Chorus]
3 x 4

1:52
Profile Combo:
Mira’s Lean Back Undulations (8 cts)
Pivot Double Hip Bumps (4 cts)
Pivot Singles Hip Bumps (cts 56)
Cross Turn with propeller arms (cts 78)
[Male Vocals]
8 x 4

Enjoy!
Lily

Bellydance Basics Class 3 Notes

Another jam-packed class! Here's a list of the movements we covered in this third class of the 7-week series:

1. Hip Squares
2. Figure 8's Down to Up
3. Shoulder Shimmies
4. Exterior Hip Circles
5. Exterior Chest Circles
6. Pelvic Locks
7. Reviewed:
- Interior Hip Circles
- Interior Chest Circles
- Hip Ups
- Shoulder Presses
- Chest Lifts
- Twists

Here are the new combinations we covered:
1. Alternating Hip Squares -
Hips start pelvic lock front, hip up right, pelvic lock back, hip up left.
Hip pelvic lock front, hip up left, pelvic lock back, hip up right.
Repeat!

2. Figure 8s DU (slow, slow quick, quick, slow):
Figure 8s DU R (2 cts), L (2 cts)
Figure 8s DU R (1 ct), L (1 ct)
Figure 8s DU R (2 cts)
Figure 8s DU L (2 cts), R (2 cts)
Figure 8s DU L (1 ct), R (1 ct)
Figure 8s DU L (2 cts)

3. Twist - Chest - Shoulder Combo:
Twist RLRL (cts 1-4)
Chest U (ct 5)
Shoulder Shimmy (cts 6-8)

4. Exterior Hip Circle and Half Circle:
Hips are Left Front Right Back; Feet are Right Left.
Then hips are Left Front Right; Feet are Right touch Left.
Hips go Right Front Left Back; Feet are with Left Right.
Then hips are Right Front Left; Feet are L touch Right.

Here's the choreography so far:

Choreography to Tabla Solo 3
From the CD “The Dancing Drum” by Issam Houshan
Length: 3:27

Time - Movement
0:01 - Hip ups eighth notes RLRLRLRL
- Shoulder forward press RLRLRL
Repeat
Counts: 2 x 8

0:08 - Hip ups eighth notes RLRL
- Chest lock UDU
Repeat 2 more times
- Hip ups eight notes RLRL
- Pose: Right arm up, Left arm at second, left foot in front and heel up.
Counts: 2 x 8

0:14 - Hip drops
Counts: 2 x 8

0:20 - Chest circle FRBL(cts 1+2+)
- Hip RL (cts 4+)
- Chest circle FRBL (cts 5+6+)
- ¼ pivot R (cts 78)
- Chest circle FLBR(cts 1+2+)
- Hip RL (cts 4+)
- Chest circle FLBR (cts 5+6+)
- ¼ pivot R (cts 78)
- Chest circle FRBL(cts 1+2+)
- Hip RL (cts 4+)
- Chest circle FRBL (cts 5+6+)
- ¼ pivot R (cts 78)
- Chest circle FLBR(cts 1+2+)
- Hip RL (cts 4+)
- Chest circle FLBR (cts 5+6+)
- ¼ pivot R (cts 78)
Counts: 4 x 8

0:35 - Alternating Hip Squares
Counts: 2 x 8

0:42 - Figure 8s DU (slow, slow, quick, quick, slow):
Figure 8s DU RL (4 cts)
Figure 8s DU RL (2 cts)
Figure 8s DU R (2 cts)
Figure 8s DU LR (4 cts)
Figure 8s DU LR (2 cts)
Figure 8s DU L (2 cts)
Counts: 2 x 8

0:56 - Twist - Chest - Shoulder Combo:
Twist RLRL (cts 1-4)
Chest Up (ct 5)
Shoulder Shimmy (cts 6-8)
Counts: 4 x 8

1:10 - Exterior Hip Circle and Half Circle:
LFRB and LFR with RLR touch L
RFLB and RFL with LRL touch R
Counts: 2 x 8

Hope you're having fun... and learning a thing or two while we're at it!
Cheers!
Lily
www.LilyBellydance.com

Tribal Fusion Bellydance Fall Class 2 Notes

Hello Dancers!
In this second class, we covered an ooey-gooey combination. Think of it as passing energy (or movement focus) from one part of the body to the next. Even though we've separated each movement out and defined them, make sure when you dance this, that it's all ONE move. Of course, make sure you're also completing the movement.

Combo A (36 counts)
• Int Chest circle dbL (4 cts)
• Undulation u2d (4 cts)
• Fig 8 dbL (4 cts)
• L Hip hook to left diagonal (2 cts), weight on left, right extended.
• Undulation d2u (2cts)
• With right hip ups, head circle (4 cts)
• With right hip ups, chest circle (4 cts)
• With right hip ups, undulation u2d (4 cts)
• Lateral body wave right (4 cts)
• Drop hip on count 1.
• Undulation d2u. (3 cts)

See you soon!
Lily

Bellydance Basics Class 2 Notes

Hello Ladies!
It was lovely to meet everyone. Thank you for your eager and open attitudes towards learing a dance! In general the basic movements we covered are:
1. Hip ups (or hip singles)
2. Shoulder presses
3. Chest lifts (or chest locks)
4. Hip twists
5. Chest circles

Wow! That's a lot for just one class... well, we were making up for last week!

0:01
- Hip ups eighth notes RLRLRLRL
- Shoulder forward press RLRLRL

0:08
- Hip ups eighth notes RLRL
- Chest lock UDU
Repeat 2 more times
- Hip ups eight notes RLRL
- Pose: Right arm up, Left arm at second, left foot in front and heel up.

0:14
Hip drops 16 counts

0:20
- Chest circle FRBL(cts 1+2+)
- Hip RL (cts 4+)
- Chest circle FRBL (cts 5+6+)
- ¼ pivot R (cts 78)
- Chest circle FLBR(cts 1+2+)
- Hip RL (cts 4+)
- Chest circle FLBR (cts 5+6+)
- ¼ pivot R (cts 78)
- Chest circle FRBL(cts 1+2+)
- Hip RL (cts 4+)
- Chest circle FRBL (cts 5+6+)
- ¼ pivot R (cts 78)
- Chest circle FLBR(cts 1+2+)
- Hip RL (cts 4+)
- Chest circle FLBR (cts 5+6+)
- ¼ pivot R (cts 78)

Look forward to seeing you soon!
Lily

Tribal Fusion Bellydance Fall Class 1

Hello Dancers!
Thanks for joining me in this first class of the Fall Tribal Fusion bellydance series. We have this fun and upbeat song "Dilges", which starts out like this:

Time		Music	Counts
0:00	Walking in	Intro	2 x 8
0:08	Arabic Hip Twist (4 cts) + Arabic 1 (4 cts)	Flutes	2 x 8
	Omi (half notes), Undulate up on 5, Cross Turn 7-8	Stops	2 x 8
	Pose arms draw up to 5th position for 4 cts. Flow right arm in front (left arm back) elbows bent for 4 cts. Quarter note turns.	Trumpets	2 x 8
0:35	Egyptian Campfire + Sit Toe Toe Combo	Drums	4 x 8
0:53	Flingy Hip Circle Finish facing right diagonal, left heel up	Transition	8
	Shoulder roll back RL	Pause	4

Hope you like it!
Lily

Bellydance Basics Class 1

Hello Ladies,

Apologies for missing the first class of this new series at the Flamencura dance studio. I had a last minute emergency that I had to take care of, but I hope you enjoyed your time with Maribel!

I can't wait to get started! We'll meet this coming Wednesday, October 13th at 7:30 in the lovely Flamencura dance studio. Let me know if you have any questions.

Lily

Music for October/November bellydance series

Hi Everyone!

If you've registered or are planning to register for the upcoming bellydance classes, here is the music we'll be dancing to for a complete dance.


Bellydance Basics on Wednesdays at Flamencura
Music: "Tabla Solo 3"
Album: The Dancing Drum
By: Issam Houshan


Tribal Fusion on Thursdays at Cafe Dance
Music: "Dilges"
Album: Vizontele Tuuba
By: Kardes Turkuler


You can find these on iTunes or Amazon.
Have a listen, and see you soon!
Lily

Rakasa Revue: A to Z

I am performing today Friday, October 1st at:

The Gemini Playhouse
5214 Burleson Road, #209
Austin, TX 78744

Show is at 7:30PM. $12, children free. There will be several local performers, including Amara, and Z-Helene doing a live set with
drummers Rick and Troy and dancers Celeste Bliss and Alana Shea.
Get tickets at:

http://rakasarevue.ticketleap.com/atoz

Hope to see you at the show!
Lily