Bellydance Basics: Class 1 Notes

It was so nice to meet everyone on Thursday night. For most, this was the first bellydance class. For a couple of you, this was a good introduction to how we'll work together and a good review of some basic belly dance movements.

What we covered in this first class:
1. POSTURE!
2. Hip singles (a.k.a. hip ups or hip lifts)
3. Hip circles
4. Hip half circles
5. Step Touch foot pattern

We put a few of these movements together:
1. Walking with the hip singles. The hip that lifts is the same side as the foot that steps onto the ground.
2. Walking with hip doubles. Two hip lifts on the same side as the foot that steps on the ground.
3. Step touch with hip singles. The hip lifts on the side of the foot with the heel up (the "touch"). We vary the arms over head or alternating one hand behind head and the other reaching forward.
4. Step touch with Hip half circles. Step right foot, start hip half circle from left (slide left) and round to right. Stop the hip half circle on the right hip and touch the left foot. Alternate: step the left foot, start the hip half circle on the right hip (slide right) and round to the left. Stop the hip half cirlce on the left hip and touch the right foot. Just think opposite hip to opposite foot.

Hope you had fun! See you next Thursday at Cafe Dance!
Lily

TFBD: September series: Class 1 notes

Hi Ladies,

Thanks for a great first class. I hope you had as much fun drilling and dancing as I did!

Some basic concepts to keep in mind when we drill with layers:
1. Speed - If you are having a difficult time keeping up with the tempo we're going, you always have the option of slowing it down. Cut the speed in half and go slow. Once you get comfortable at that speed, try going full speed once, go back to the slow speed. Then try going full speed twice, go back to slow speed. Three times at full speed, etc. etc. When you get to a stopping point, say, four continuous times at full speed, then you lose it. Alternate four times full speed, four times slow speed. Gradually build up.
2. Foundation - When layering two movements together, often we have difficulties with one of the two. Perhaps you feel you can't do the movements together. Determine which one of the two movements you are having difficulties with. Let's say you are attempting to do a hip circle with shimmy. Do you lose the shimmy at some point during the hip circle? If so, go back to the shimmy. Start with the shimmy, work on free movement of the hips while shimmying. Then put your shimmy on auto-pilot. Focus then, on your hip circle. Maybe start with a smaller hip circle, then gradually increase the size of your hip circle. Determine where in the circle you're having a difficult time with your shimmy. Focus on that part of the circle with the shimmy.

We can all just "do the move" or attempt to do the move... and hope one day it'll click. But if we actively diagnose our own problems, then we can better are own dancing and technique. Sometimes, however, it helps to have the assistance or coaching of a teacher!

Prior to drilling, take each layer and reviewed them, then begin to add another movement.

Here are the combinations we ended up with at the end of the class:
1. Chest circle with shoulder shimmy. Starting down, alternating directions.
2. Shoulder roll down combo:
- Right shoulder roll (back, up, forward, down), chest lock up [Count 1]
- Chest lock down [Count 2]
- Undulation from upper back down, finish at release [Counts 3-8]
... then left side
3. Shoulder roll down combo with shimmy:
- Right shoulder roll (back, up, forward, down), chest lock up [Count 1]
- Chest lock down [Count 2]
- Undulation with shimmy from upper back down, finish at release [Counts 3-8]
... then left side

All that with the music "Special Kae". Time: 0:00-0:26

Thanks for a great start of the series!
Lily

Tribal Fusion Bellydance September series starts Wednesday!

Hi Ladies,

Even though the focus is on layering in September, we're going to organize the combinations into a little choreography (drum solo). You can find the music on iTunes (or Amazon).
Song: Special Kae
CD: The Silent D
Artist: Djinn

See you Wednesday!
Lily

A Touch of Alchemy

Hi there!

Tribal Alchemy is an annual tribal/tribal-fusion style bellydance event in Dallas / Fort Worth. This year, it's a scaled down version called "A Touch of Alchemy". But the workshops and show promise to be just as inspiring. The instructors include Mira Betz, Steven Eggers, and Urban Gypsy.

October 16th and 17th 2010
http://www.tribalalchemy.net

I'm signed up. Are you?
Lily

TFBD Jul/Aug 2010 Series: Class 7 Notes

Sorry this is so late! Here are the new additions to the choreography:

Music Time 5:59

Traveling Undulations

• Walking down beat right foot, arms extended out to the side. Undulations up to down. 8 counts.
  
• Walking down beat right foot, left arms extended out to the side, right arm raises up over head and down then out. Undulations up to down. 8 counts.
  
• Walking down beat right foot, right arm extended out to the side, left arm raises up over head and down then out. Undulations up to down. 8 counts.
  
• Walking down beat right foot, both arms raises up over head and then down and then out. Undulations up to down. 8 counts.
  

Music Time 6:20

Swimmer:

• Step right foot out and reach right arm right; keep the torso lifted and facing front. Counts 1,2.
  
• Pivot torso to face floor; crown of the head reaches to the right wall. Counts 3,4.
  
• Raise body to upright while drawing the left arm upwards and right arm down next to right hip. Counts 5-8.
  
• Draw the left arm back behind body. Counts 1-4.
  
• Grapevine walk to the right. Counts 5-8.
  
• Repeat again but on the left side. Half turn as you start your left side so that you are still reaching to stage right but now with your left arm. Continue until you've slowly traveled off stage.
  

See you Thursday for the Beginning section of this piece!
Lily

Rachel Brice and Mardi Love in Austin

Are you interested in learning from Rachel Brice and Mardi Love but missed out on the sign up? Recently, Friday night workshops opened up and there are still spaces left!
Friday, September 24, 2010
5:30: registration
6-8: Class with Mardi
8-10: Class with Rachel

http://rachelandmardiaustin.eventbrite.com/

Sign up before they run out!

TFBD Jul/Aug 2010 Series: Class 6 Notes

Hello Dancers!
Here is a super quick recap of the new combo we learned in class last week:

For this combination, the circles start front and go in a clockwise direction.

Combo 9 -
1. Facing left diagonal with left arm up, extend the right arm out to left diagonal (counts 1-4)
2. Single hip figure 8 - right hip down to up, then back down and up. 2 times. (counts 5-8)
3. Exterior hip circle (counts 1-4)
4. Interior hip circle (a.k.a. "Omi") (counts 5-6), then an Omi count 7, and another Omi on count 8.
5. Ribcage circle, start front right (counts 1-8)
6. Undulation (counts 1-4)
7. Hip hook to right (count 5). The rest of the body follows (count 6-8)

[Now repeat facing the right diagonal, using left side of the body.]

1. Facing right diagonal with right arm up, extend the left arm out to right diagonal (counts 1-4)
2. Single hip figure 8 - left hip down to up, then back down and up. 2 times. (counts 5-8)
3. Exterior hip circle (counts 1-4)
4. Interior hip circle (a.k.a. "Omi") (counts 5-6), then an Omi count 7, and another Omi on count 8.
5. Ribcage circle, start front left (counts 1-8)
6. Undulation (counts 1-4)
7. Hip hook to left (count 5). The rest of the body follows (count 6)
8. Two quick turns over RIGHT shoulder on counts 7 and 8.

See you Thursday!
Lily
www.LilyBellydance.com