Sahara Nights this Saturday!

See you there!

A few upcoming shows April-May-June

Thursday, 30 April, 2009 - On Your Feet Benefit. Doors open at 7am. Show 8pm - 1am. Tickets $15 in advance, $20 at the door.

Saturday, 2 May, 2009 - Desert Passion at the Eternal Way Center. Show 8-10pm. $10.

Saturday, 9 May, 2009 - Sahara Nights at Copa Bar & Grill. Show 10:30. Guest DJ el John Selector from Theivery Corporation.

Friday, 5 June, 2009 - Belly Dance Showcase starring Gitane, Bahaia, Stacey Lizette, Lily, and special guests with a sneak preview performance by YASMINA; Tickets $20/door, $15/advance, $5/child; doors open at 8pm. Williamson Conference Center
1209 N IH 35(adjacent to the Wingate Inn), Round Rock, TX 78664

Hope to see you there!
Lily

Back from New Zealand

When I landed in Auckland, it was 5:30 in the morning. By the time, I got through immigration, baggage claim, and customs, it was 6:00. I was picked up by my dear friend Louise's man Mark, who was so helpful throughout the trip. We had some time before I was to check in to my room, so Mark swung by the near by beach to watch the sunrise. It was amazing; chilly but amazing. The beach was maybe about 10 minutes away... ya gotta love New Zealand!

I took a nap after checking into my room. Then Louise picked me up, and we went to the mall to do girly things like have lunch, manicures, etc. We went out for dinner at a yummy Japanese restaurant, then had a break before I taught a private class to another friend Christine and her dance partner Ivy.

Friday, I taught my first workshop to the advanced oriental style dancers. We packed in the material. It was a move after another. Then we broke out to small groups. After class, I met the guest drum teacher Matt Stonehouse from Melbourne. Having never worked together, I asked if he'd drum for me for the show the next night. He was keen, but we kept it a surprise.

Saturday, I taught an introductory class to Tribal Fusion style bellydance. Lots of eyes were opened, and I was glad people were enjoying it. There was the show rehearsal afterwards where we sorted out stage lighting and sound check. I was starving, so I snuck away with some other dancers to get pizza from the local chain called "Hell's Pizza". They have some crazy toppings on their pizza it makes American pizza look boring. The show was great. Lots of dancers in lots of different and creative pieces. Matt showed up right on time for the improv drum solo. We never practiced, just talked about what we'd do. I hope to get the video soon so I can see how it went!

Sunday, I taught 3 workshops. I had not slept much at all the previous night, but it didn't stop me. I loved every minute of the teaching and watching the dancers improve throughout the day. There were other workshops going on, but because I was teaching 3 in the day (timeslots allowed for 4 workshops per day), I didn't have the time to take someone else's class. After the workshops finished, there was "Tribal Jam" which was a party where the ATS (American Tribal Style) girls could get up and do their improvisational dance. I was so tired, I ended up picking up one of Matt's drums and drumming with the drummers instead of dancing.

Monday, I only taught 2 workshops today. In the morning, I taught my lastest and favorite choreography to date. Monday night, we had a hafla where there were people who performed. It's a different setting than from the show because there was not a stage or lighting but a big dance floor. Whoever wanted to dance could show up to the DJ with her music. So, I danced a short "Ana Fintazaraak" since the festival had been mostly tribal fusion based, I wanted to do a little modern Egyptian style for variety. Then all the drummers came out and jammed while everyone got up and danced. It was so much fun. I didn't want it to end. I was so tired, but I was loving the energy ... I had to dance!

I'm back in Austin now. It was a sad plane ride home. Matt had given me "Hic" which was some sort of Turkish music. I started listening to it on the airplane and tears started coming down.

Inspired in every possible way, I'm ready to start class again. Lots of new ideas. Get ready ladies! We're going to have lots of fun together really soon! See you in May!

Love,
Lily

On my way to New Zealand

Since I have about an 8-hour layover in the LA airport, I decided to write...

I am heading off to New Zealand again. This time, it's specifically for dance and for one week only. It feels like a dream... to be invited as the guest Interntional teacher for a national belly dance festival. I am still pinching myself to make sure this is really happening!

Currently, I am preparing to teach six tribal fusion style workshops and one advanced bellydance workshop to be taught in the span of three days. The topics
of these workshops range from floorwork to technique to choreography.

During the MEDANZ Festival (Middle Eastern Dance Association New Zealand), there will be other workshops presented by
local teachers and a guest drum teacher from Australia. The Kiwis really know how to have fun because not only do they have a stage show but they also have a
hafla as part of the festival. I forgot to bring my camera! I hope the camera on my phone will be sufficient.

Also coming up in the next week, I will be graduating from the 200-hour hatha yoga teacher training I started in September of 2008. The past 7 months have
been an inspirational learning process. It's a very exciting time in my life right now, full of growth, change, and the art of movement.

Tribal Fusion 5-week series :: class 5 notes

Hi Ladies,

Thank you for a great final class of the 5-week series. Here is a recap:
1. Quick warm up
2. Review the movements covered throughout the 5-weeks and also exploring other variations of these movements.
3. Review the choreography to "Cybele".
4. Dance the choreography.
5. Dance the choreography collectively facing inward towards the group.
6. Explore different ways of changing the choreography to your liking. Start with replacing just one movement.
7. Dance the choreography with a partner. Travel towards each other in the Basic Egyptian section so that you change places. Other directional changes are optional.
9. Cool down.


My goal in this class was to shine some light into the tribal fusion dance and its possibilities. There are lots of elements that "make" a dance, the movements themselves, the direction in which you execute the movement, partner or group work, they all contribute to the dynamic of the dance.


I am off to New Zealand on Tuesday and will be teaching several workshops there at the New Zealand Middle Eastern Dance Annual Belly dance festival. If I get Internet connectivity there, I'll post a few pictures on the blog here. So, check back next week for new posts.


Also, I wanted to remind you about the next series which will be 8-weeks starting May. Check the website: http://www.lilybellydance.com for registration details. There are 4 registrations already, so get yours in quick! Even though I will cap the class, I will always welcome my existing students back.


Lastly, there is a big benefit on April 30, called "On Your Feet! an International Music and Dance Festival". I will be performing with Sabaya Bellydance Collective. Purchase your tickets in advance! Website: http://www.onyourfeetworld.org

Happy Easter!
Lily

Tribal Fusion 5-week series :: class 4 notes

Here is a recap of yesterday's class:
1. Warm up
2. Review of each movement
3. Introduce new movements:
- 3/4 shimmy = walking, right foot steps as right hip lifts up 2x, then left foot steps as left hip lefts up 2x; continue "walking".
- hip drops = begin with a twist with the downbeat on the back of the right hip; set the hips on auto-pilot, step the right foot forward about 3 inches and lift the heel, pivot your entire body to the left diagonal; continue.
- undulations up to down = contracting the upper back to lift the chest, the contract the upper abs to drop the chest, then contract the lower abs, and release; continue.

Choreography to "Cybele"...
- Horizontal Figure 8, front to back. 8 of them (right and left side counts as 1). On the 2nd, 4th, and 6th ones, add a sharp right hip accent up-down-up.
- Turkish shimmy. 4 of them (front and back counts as 1). (start time = 00:48)
- Turkish shimmy with quarter turns. 4 of them.
- Pivot Bump Doubles. (2xfront, 2xback, 2xfront, 2xback). (start time = 1:01)
- Turkish shimmy half turns. 4 of them, leaving you facing the back. (start time = 1:08)
- Hip singles, down beat left. 4x right hip down to face front. (start time = 1:15)
- Hip singles, down beat left. 2x right hip down, level change down. 2x right hip down, level change up.
- Hip singles, down beat left. grapevine feet pattern, traveling right. 8x right hip down.
- Choo Choo traveling left with left hip leading for 8 counts.
- continue with Choo Choo, traveling in small circle in your dance space for 8 counts.
- Single-hipped Figure 8 in place right hip. 4 counts. (start time = 1:35)
- Choo Choo leading with right hip, circle around over right shoulder. 8 hip bumps total.
- Single-hipped Figure 8 in place left hip. 4 counts.
- Choo Choo leading with left hip, circle around over left shoulder. 8 hip bumps total.
[PAUSE both arms up] Time = 1:50
- Propeller Turn. Turn on count 4, decorate drum accent with chest lift up-down-up. (start time = 1:54)
- Propeller Turn. repeat.
- Egyptian Basic 4x. (start time = 2:14)
- Egyptian half turns 4x.
- Hip drops, pivot on left leg to face front. 4 counts to face front, then 4 counts facing front. (start time = 2:27)
- 3/4 shimmy walking forward for 8 counts. (start time = 2:35)
- Undulations up to down, circle to the right for 8 counts. (start time = 2:37)
- Single-hipped Figure 8 in place right hip. 8 counts.
- Undulations up to down, circle to the left for 8 counts.
- Single-hipped Figure 8 in place left hip. 8 counts.
- Undulations up to down, circle to the right for 8 counts.
- Continue with Undulations up to down, walking forward for 8 counts. Raising arms up into flamenco position (left arm back) on counts 7,8.
- Finale: (hip and chest accents) double hip down, chest lift down and up.


The music for "Cybele" can be found in iTunes, under the artist "Solace", in the "Sha Waza" album: http://itunes.apple.com/WebObjects/MZStore.woa/wa/viewAlbum?id=257814522&s=143441
[Note: You need to have iTunes installed and have an iTunes account to purchase the music.]


Next Thursday is our last class for the series. We will cover some new material... yes, adding on to this choreography!

Have a great weekend and see you next week!
lily

Tribal Fusion 5-week series :: class 3 notes

Single-hipped figure 8 - Start with body at a 45 degree diagonal, arms in flamenco position. The hip facing the audience will dip back/down, scoop up, back to center, dip front/down, and scoop up back to center.

Propeller turn (modified) - Start with both arms overhead. 1.) Drop the right arm to hip height and slide your hip to the right, then raise it again. 2.) Then do the same with the left arm and slide your hip to the left. 3.) Drop the right arm again. 4.) Cross your right foot over your left and pivot in place, dropping the left arm down to hip level as you turn to the back. As you come around to the front again, sweep the left arm up, end with both arms up.

Egyptian Basic - Step on the ball of the right foot, twisting the right hip up/forward, then drop it back (1-2), and repeat on the left (3-4). Try to accentuate the natural swivel in your hips as you change weight from side to side: this will give the step more shape. Arms are overhead with elbows back. The arm on the same side as the hip that's working will be pulled back slightly; the effect will look like your hands are making an X overhead. Shoulders and torso face front.

Egyptian Half Turn - Start with the Egyptian Basic: Step on the ball of the right foot, twisting the right hip up/forward (1), then drop it back (2), and then step the left foot on 3 and twist the left hip up; as you release the left foot, turn by stepping back with the left foot on 4 and pivoting over the left shoulder, ending with the right foot ready for 1. Turn back to the front on 4 again.

Correction!
So, I've been calling the movement we did "Reach and Sit", which is actually incorrect. That movement is actually called Pivot Bump Doubles.
Here is the description again:
Pivot Bump Doubles - The right hip goes up twice to the front, then up twice to the back. Right arm up, left arm forward when right hip is front, right arm forward and left arm up when hip goes back.


Continuation of Choreography to "Cybele".
- Horizontal Figure 8, front to back. 8 of them (right and left side counts as 1). On the 2nd, 4th, and 6th ones, add a sharp right hip accent up-down-up.
- Turkish shimmy. 4 of them (front and back counts as 1). (start time = 00:48)
- Turkish shimmy with quarter turns. 4 of them.
- Pivot Bump Doubles. (2xfront, 2xback, 2xfront, 2xback). (start time = 1:01)
- Turkish shimmy half turns. 4 of them, leaving you facing the back. (start time = 1:08)
- Hip singles, down beat left. 4x right hip down to face front. (start time = 1:15)
- Hip singles, down beat left. 2x right hip down, level change down. 2x right hip down, level change up.
- Hip singles, down beat left. grapevine feet pattern, traveling right. 8x right hip down.
- Choo Choo traveling left with left hip leading for 8 counts.
- continue with Choo Choo, traveling in small circle in your dance space for 8 counts.
- Single-hipped Figure 8 in place right hip. 4 counts. (start time = 1:35)
- Choo Choo leading with right hip, circle around over right shoulder. 8 hip bumps total.
- Single-hipped Figure 8 in place left hip. 4 counts.
- Choo Choo leading with left hip, circle around over left shoulder. 8 hip bumps total.
[PAUSE both arms up] Time = 1:50
- Propeller Turn. Turn on count 4, decorate drum accent with chest lift up-down-up. (start time = 1:54)
- Propeller Turn. repeat.



The music for "Cybele" can be found in iTunes, under the artist "Solace", in the "Sha Waza" album: http://itunes.apple.com/WebObjects/MZStore.woa/wa/viewAlbum?id=257814522&s=143441
[Note: You need to have iTunes installed and have an iTunes account to purchase the music.]


Hope to see some of you this weekend at The Gathering show!!
Lily