TFBD Class 6 Notes

Hello Dancers!

I hope that you've really enjoyed this 6-week series which included a choreography based on Jamila Salimpour repertoire and finger cymbals. This last class, we transformed the choreography from a normal sequence of movements into something really cool! The formation changes and partner work should create another dynamic to the dance. It's really important to know the sequence of movements, but I'm hoping that you'll start to associate your place on the room (or stage) with the movement you are executing.

Hope you've enjoyed this exploration... 'til next time!

Lily
www.LilyBellydance.com

Bellydance Basics Class 6 Notes

So what did we do in the last class of the 6-week series? We reviewed, of course!
Though, not only did we reviewed the movements, but we also put a couple of them together to make for a short combo. Here are a few examples:

Arabic 2 and Pivot Shift Step
Arabic 3 and Running Choo Choo
Hip Slides and Basic Egyptian with full turn
Figure 8 and Hip Circle
Turkish walk and Hip Circle

The possibilities are endless!

Hope you enjoyed this series... 'til next time!
We start March 9th!

Lily
www.LilyBellydance.com

February 2011 Newsletter

Finally... the first newsletter for 2011.
Lots of good news folks! Read all about it!
February 2011 Newsletter from Lily Bellydance

TFBD Class 5 Notes

Hello Dancers!
Here's a quick recap of what we covered in our fifth class of this six-week TFBD series.

Taxeem (aka Down-to-up Figure 8's): You can think of this as the reverse of the Maya movement we did previously. The Taxeem starts with the hip down, slide out, lift up and pulling in. Covering both sides to draw an infinity sign.

Goosh Step: Let's take the Taxeem and add some foot work! If we start with the right foot and right hip, the right foot steps flat and knee bends to get low (count 1), left foot steps on the ball (count 2), right foot steps on the ball (count 3), then the left foot steps on the ball (count 4). With each step that same side hip completes that side of the figure 8.

Back-to-front Figure 8: Now taking the figure 8 on the horizontal place, start with the right hip back, draw a curved line up to the right front corner. Take the left hip and slide the hip back to the back left corner, draw a curved line up to the left front corner. Slide the right hip back to the back right corner... so on, and so forth. Remember to keep the knees soft and your arms and shoulders unaffected by the hip movements.

X-Step: Starting with the left foot and left hip, step on the ball of the left foot (putting your weight on it) and press the left hip out (your torso should be in line with your back foot); this is count 1. Slide the hip diagonally back to the back right corner; now your weight is on your right foot with knee bent; this is count 2. Twist the right hip forward with the right foot coming on to the ball of the foot and slide the left foot back; this is starting over again but now on the right foot. Slide the hips diagonally back to the back left corner; now your weight is on your left foot with knee bent. Continue again on the left side. Keep going and start to speed up the pace.

Turkish Back Walk: Simply put, this is a reverse undulation. Start the contraction in the lower ab, mid ab, upper ab, then upper back (ending in a chest lift). Practice really slowly to get the transition from one muscle group to the next.

Choreography!

0:00	Intro:	Wait (16 cts)
0:10	Vocal:	Arabic 2 (8 cts), Arabic 3 (8 cts) Arabic 2 (8 cts), Arabic 3 (8 cts)
0:30	Beats:	Running Choo Choo 1 (8 cts), Running Choo Choo 3 (8 cts), Running Choo Choo 4 (8 cts), Running Choo Choo 1 (8 cts)
0:50	Transition:	Pose (8 cts)
0:55	Intro:	Turkish Walk facing right diagonal (16 cts), Turkish Walk (8 cts), Turkish Walk (4 cts), Turkish Walk (4 cts)
1:15	Beats:	8-Count, starting stage right (8 cts), stage left (8 cts), stage front (8 cts), stage back (8 cts)
1:35	Mizmar Q/A:	Maya (8 cts) + Baraka (8 cts) Twist Step (8 cts) + Baraka (8 cts) Samiha (8 cts) + Baraka (8 cts)
2:05	Drum Transition:	Locks: head slide RL, Chest up down up, Rshoulder FB F, chest up drop
2:10	Vocal:	V step + V step with turns
2:30	Vocal and Violins:	X step (8 cts: QT+HT), Goosh Step (8 cts) half turn
2:50	no drum transition:	Taxeem (8 counts)
2:55	no drum instruments:	Turkish Back Walk ( 3 x 8 counts)

The fun is almost over... Next week is our last class for the series. Of course we have the next series, which starts March 10th .... same time... same place... new material:
Thursdays, March 10 - April 28, 2011 (8 weeks)
7:30 - 8:45 PM at Cafe Dance
3307 B Hancock Drive, Austin, Texas 78731 (near the intersection of Balcones Drive and Hancock Drive, next to Russell's Bakery and Coffee Bar)
Cost of 8 classes: $96 / $84 if registered by February 18

Registration and details are available here:
http://www.lilybellydance.com/instruction/index.shtml
Note that this is an 8-week series, and we will be working on a full dance routine!

See you next week!
Lily

Bellydance Basics Class 5 Notes

Hello Ladies!
Here's a quick recap of what we covered in our fifth class of the six-week series.

Taxeem (aka Down-to-up Figure 8's): You can think of this as the reverse of the Maya movement we did previously. The Taxeem starts with the hip down, slide out, lift up and pulling in. Covering both sides to draw an infinity sign.

Goosh Step: Let's take the Taxeem and add some foot work! If we start with the right foot and right hip, the right foot steps flat and knee bends to get low (count 1), left foot steps on the ball (count 2), right foot steps on the ball (count 3), then the left foot steps on the ball (count 4). With each step that same side hip completes that side of the figure 8.

Back-to-front Figure 8: Now taking the figure 8 on the horizontal place, start with the right hip back, draw a curved line up to the right front corner. Take the left hip and slide the hip back to the back left corner, draw a curved line up to the left front corner. Slide the right hip back to the back right corner... so on, and so forth. Remember to keep the knees soft and your arms and shoulders unaffected by the hip movements.

X-Step: Starting with the left foot and left hip, step on the ball of the left foot (putting your weight on it) and press the left hip out (your torso should be in line with your back foot); this is count 1. Slide the hip diagonally back to the back right corner; now your weight is on your right foot with knee bent; this is count 2. Twist the right hip forward with the right foot coming on to the ball of the foot and slide the left foot back; this is starting over again but now on the right foot. Slide the hips diagonally back to the back left corner; now your weight is on your left foot with knee bent. Continue again on the left side. Keep going and start to speed up the pace.


There was a question about where I buy bellydance stuff. There are a few places in town, and whenever there are workshops or festivals there are usually people selling bellydance wear. However, if you're looking for a one stop shop or you just want to browse there are two places that I frequent:
http://www.dahlal.com
http://www.bellydancestore.com

If you're looking for a good second-hand costume, there is:
Bhuz - This is a swap meet. All transactions are at your own risk. I sell my costumes here and have bought second-hand wears here too!

Qamar Bazaar - She's here in Austin!


The fun is almost over... Next week is our last class for the series, but it doesn't have to end! There are many teachers in town. Here's a quick list:

Stacey Lizette - Mondays 7-8 at Tapestry Dance (South). Tuesdays 6-6:50, 7-8, 8:15-9:30 at Nia Space (South Central).

Maribel - Wednesdays 6:15 - 7:30 at Flamencura (North Central).

Bahaia - Tuesdays 5:45 - 6:45 at the Carver Museum (Central). Sundays 5:45-6:45 at Arthur Murray Studio (Northwest)

Najla - Sundays 4-5, 5-6:30 at Tarrytown Dance (Central).

Check out each instructor's website and contact them prior to the class to confirm time, location, and rates.


Of course I have new class material ready for you for the next series, which starts March 9th .... same time... same place:
Wednesdays, March 9 - April 27, 2011 (8 weeks)
7:30 - 8:45 PM at Flamencura Dance Studio
7113 Burnet Rd. # 111, Austin, Texas 78757 (Behind Dallas Nite Club)
Cost of 8 classes: $96 / $84 if registered by February 18

Registration and details are available here:
http://www.lilybellydance.com/instruction/index.shtml
Note that this is an 8-week series, and we will be working on a full dance routine!

See you all next week!
Lily

TFBD Class 4 Notes

Hello TFBD Thursday dancers!
Here's what we covered today:

Basic Egyptian: Not to be confused with the American Tribal Style (ATS) Basic Egyptian. This is from the Jamila Salimpour format. The movement is more like the "reverse" of the Pivot-Shift-Step. Meaning, we step first, then pivot.
Starting with the right foot, step right (put weight on the right foot), then touch the left foot on the ball and twist the left hip forward. Now, step on to the left foot flat (put weight on the left foot), then touch the right foot on the ball and twist the right hip forward.


With this movement, travel forward.

Travel backwards.

Basic Egyptian with Full Spin: Turn to the right (counts 1 and 2, using right and left foot), step right (count 3), touch the left foot on the ball and twist the left hip forward (count 4). Turn to the left (counts 5 and 6, using left and right foot), step left (count 7), touch the right foot on the ball and twist the right hip forward (count 8).

Basic Egyptian with Open Spin: Turn over right shoulder but traveling forward (counts 1-4); the feet are right foot flat, left foot releve, right foot flat, left foot releve. Step right foot flat (count 5), touch left foot on the ball and twist left hip forward (count 6). Step left foot flat (count 7), touch right foot on the ball and twist right hip forward (count 8).

V-Step: This is a 16-count movement. Walk RLRL to left diagonal (start by right foot stepping behind left), Basic Egyptian (R and L sides for 4 counts); Walk RLRL to right diagonal (start by right foot stepping behind left), Basic Egyptian (R and L sides for 4 counts).

V-Step with turns: This is a 16-count movement. 4-count turn start with right foot behind left turning over right shoulder, walk RLRL to left diagonal, Basic Egyptian (R and L sides for 4 counts); 4-count turn start with right foot behind left turning over right shoulder, Basic Egyptian (R and L sides for 4 counts).

Choreography!

0:00	Intro:	Wait (16 cts)
0:10	Vocal:	Arabic 2 (8 cts), Arabic 3 (8 cts) Arabic 2 (8 cts), Arabic 3 (8 cts)
0:30	Beats:	Running Choo Choo 1 (8 cts), Running Choo Choo 3 (8 cts), Running Choo Choo 4 (8 cts), Running Choo Choo 1 (8 cts)
0:50	Transition:	Pose (8 cts)
0:55	Intro:	Turkish Walk facing right diagonal (16 cts), Turkish Walk (8 cts), Turkish Walk (4 cts), Turkish Walk (4 cts)
1:15	Beats:	8-Count, starting stage right (8 cts), stage left (8 cts), stage front (8 cts), stage back (8 cts)
1:35	Mizmar Q/A:	Maya (8 cts) + Baraka (8 cts) Twist Step (8 cts) + Baraka (8 cts) Samiha (8 cts) + Baraka (8 cts)
2:05	Drum Transition:	Locks: head slide RL, Chest up down up, Rshoulder FB F, chest up drop
2:10	Vocal:	V step + V step with turns

Thanks for a great class.
Happy Valentine's weekend.
See you next week!
Lily

Bellydance Basics Class 4 Notes

Today we covered hands and arms. The key points are (remember these are generalizations):
1. when lifting the hand, lead with the top of the wrist.
2. when lowering the hand, press the palm and extend the fingers.
Imagine a line of energy running through from your wrist to your finger tips.
3. when lifting the arm, keep in mind the 4 main areas that need to be active, in order: shoulders, elbows, wrist, and finger tips.
4. when lowering, the same order: shoulders, elbows, wrist, and finger tips.
5. shoulder are kept gentle.

Our new movements are:

Basic Egyptian: Not to be confused with the American Tribal Style (ATS) Basic Egyptian. This is from the Jamila Salimpour format. The movement is more like the "reverse" of the Pivot-Shift-Step. Meaning, we step first, then pivot.
Starting with the right foot, step right (put weight on the right foot), then touch the left foot on the ball and twist the left hip forward. Now, step on to the left foot flat (put weight on the left foot), then touch the right foot on the ball and twist the right hip forward.


With this movement, travel forward.

Travel backwards.

Basic Egyptian with Full Spin: Turn to the right (counts 1 and 2, using right and left foot), step right (count 3), touch the left foot on the ball and twist the left hip forward (count 4). Turn to the left (counts 5 and 6, using left and right foot), step left (count 7), touch the right foot on the ball and twist the right hip forward (count 8).

Basic Egyptian with Open Spin: Turn over right shoulder but traveling forward (counts 1-4); the feet are right foot flat, left foot releve, right foot flat, left foot releve. Step right foot flat (count 5), touch left foot on the ball and twist left hip forward (count 6). Step left foot flat (count 7), touch right foot on the ball and twist right hip forward (count 8).

REVIEW!

Thanks for braving the cold.
Happy Valentine's weekend.
See you next week!
Lily

Valentine's Sahara Nights this Saturday!

If you're looking for something different to do this Saturday... something different from the typical dinner and a movie thing, come check out Sahara Nights at Copa!


http://www.sabayabellydance.com/sn2011feb.html

This may very well be my LAST performance for a while. Hope to see everyone there!

With lots of HIPS!
lily

TFBD Class 3 Notes

Hope everyone made is safe home. There was a little bit of ice on my windshield when I left the studio, but it melted away quickly with the defroster. The roads were bare and safe enough to make it home without any troubles. I'm speaking for myself, of course... so I hope everyone else had it as easy as I did.

Our new finger cymbal pattern is: 3513
We reviewed: 355, 31313

Just to recap, the new movements introduced today are:

Pivot-Shift-Step: This is a 3-part movement. Starting with left foot flat, step the right foot on the ball and twist the right hip forward on count 1. On count 2, shift the weight over to the left and release the hip back to neutral. On count 3, step the right foot flat. Hold in place for count 4.

Now the left side: Step the left foot on the ball and twist the left hip forward on count 1. On count 2, shift the weight over to the right foot and release the hip back to neutral. On count 3, step the left foot flat. Hold in place for count 4.

Now, you can start again on the right side.

Baraka: This is essentially the Pivot Shift Step with a half turn. Starting with left foot flat, step the right foot on the ball and twist the right hip forward on count 1. On count 2, shift the weight over to the left and release the hip back to neutral. On count 3, step the right foot flat. Half turn to face back on count4.

Now facing the back, we do the left side: Step the left foot on the ball and twist the left hip forward on count 1. On count 2, shift the weight over to the right foot and release the hip back to neutral. On count 3, half turn to face front to step the left foot flat. Hold in place for count 4.

Maya: Also known as the "up-to-down figure 8". You can think of this as a 4-part movement, although you really need to do both sides (8-part) to make a figure 8 shape(or infinity sign). Start with your right hip lifted (1), slide hip out to the right (2), drop the right hip down (3), then collect it back to neutral (4).

Now the left side: Left hip lifts up (1), slide hip out to the left (2), drop the left hip down (3), then draw the left hip back to neutral (4).


Now, continue on start again on the right side. Play with different speeds, slow, fast, medium... let's do it all.

Twist Step: Start with right foot flat and left foot on the ball behind right. Step the right foot flat (weight on right foot) and twist the left hip forward (yes, left hip) on count 1, then twist right hip forward on count 2. Step the left foot on the ball (weight on left foot) and twist the left hip forward on count 3, then twist the right hip forward on count 4. Repeat! Then repeat faster!

3/4 Shimmy on the down: Step the right foot with the right hip down-up-down-hold. Step the left foot with the left hip down-up-down-hold. Start slow and speed up to full tempo so that the feet are walking on the beat while the hips move 3 times per step.
Options are flat foot or on the ball of the feet.

Samiha: This movement is essentially 3/4 shimmy on the down with the right foot flat and left foot on the ball. Start with the right foot stepping over towards the left while the right hip twists and executes the 3/4 shimmy. Then step left foot on the ball and twist the hips back to neutral while executing the 3/4 shimmy. The difference in the timing is that the 3/4 shimmy starts before the beat (similar to our finger cymbal 3 pattern), so that the last hip down is actually ON the downbeat.

Here's the choreography so far:

0:00	Intro:	Wait (16 cts)
0:10	Vocal:	Arabic 2 (8 cts), Arabic 3 (8 cts) Arabic 2 (8 cts), Arabic 3 (8 cts)
0:30	Beats:	Running Choo Choo 1 (8 cts), Running Choo Choo 3 (8 cts), Running Choo Choo 4 (8 cts), Running Choo Choo 1 (8 cts)
0:50	Transition:	Pose (8 cts)
0:55	Intro:	Turkish Walk facing right diagonal (16 cts), Turkish Walk (8 cts), Turkish Walk (4 cts), Turkish Walk (4 cts)
1:15	Beats:	8-Count, starting stage right (8 cts), stage left (8 cts), stage front (8 cts), stage back (8 cts)
1:35	Mizmar Q/A:	Maya (8 cts) + Baraka (8 cts) Twist Step (8 cts) + Baraka (8 cts) Samiha (8 cts) + Baraka (8 cts)

Looks like it's another CHILLY week ahead of us. Stay warm and I will see you in class!
Lily

Bellydance Basics Class 3 Notes

Thanks for making it out to class in this chilly... ok, freezing... weather. What better way to keep warm than to be dancing, learning to control your body parts, and burn some calories all at the same time. Like they say down under: "Good on ya, mate!"

Here's what we covered in this class:

Pivot-Shift-Step: This is a 3-part movement. Starting with left foot flat, step the right foot on the ball and twist the right hip forward on count 1. On count 2, shift the weight over to the left and release the hip back to neutral. On count 3, step the right foot flat. Hold in place for count 4.

Now the left side: Step the left foot on the ball and twist the left hip forward on count 1. On count 2, shift the weight over to the right foot and release the hip back to neutral. On count 3, step the left foot flat. Hold in place for count 4.

Now, you can start again on the right side.

Maya: Also known as the "up-to-down figure 8". You can think of this as a 4-part movement, although you really need to do both sides (8-part) to make a figure 8 shape(or infinity sign). Start with your right hip lifted (1), slide hip out to the right (2), drop the right hip down (3), then collect it back to neutral (4).

Now the left side: Left hip lifts up (1), slide hip out to the left (2), drop the left hip down (3), then draw the left hip back to neutral (4).


Now, continue on start again on the right side. Play with different speeds, slow, fast, medium... let's do it all.

Twist Step: Start with right foot flat and left foot on the ball behind right. Step the right foot flat (weight on right foot) and twist the left hip forward (yes, left hip) on count 1, then twist right hip forward on count 2. Step the left foot on the ball (weight on left foot) and twist the left hip forward on count 3, then twist the right hip forward on count 4. Repeat! Then repeat faster!

Review, review, review!

Stay warm and see you next week!
Lily

Brrr it's cold outside!

For those that are wondering... Will we have class this week?
The answer is YES!!! At least that is the plan as of now. Sure, it's a 28 F cold (feels like 18 though), but what better way to warm up than to dance our little hearts out.

HOWEVER, if the weather gets bad (ie. percipitation... ice... snow) to where the road conditions are too dangerous for driving, I will call each and every one of you to let you know that class is cancelled.




Don't be afraid of the cold, it only happens once a year for us Texans. Think of the northerners that get a whole season of it!

'Til then, stay warm!
Lily