Be A Better Dancer

Years ago, when I was in my mid forties and teaching belly dancing, a 22 year old dance student challenged me in class to a flexibility test she had in some college class.  I lost of course. When she's 45 maybe she'll figure out that it's not so easy once your not all that flexible.  But today I was thinking that while flexibility is important to a dancer there are so many other factors that are important.  Most of us love to keep practicing the ones we are great at because that's our comfort zone.  But if you want to grow as a dancer, it might help to pick the five you are the worst at and work on those too.

Here are some I came up with off the top of my head.

1. Timing
2. Motivation
3. Musicality
4. Confidence
5. Poise
6. Strength
7. Stamina
8. Overall good health
9. Passion
10. 'the it factor'
11. Balance
12. Persistence
13. Consistency
14. Ethics
15. Spacial awareness
16. Peripheral Vision
17. Symmetry
18. Teamwork
19. Theatricality
20. Synchronicity
21. Punctuality 
22. Business savvy 
23. Originality
24. Innovative 
25. Trust 
26. Self-acceptance 
27. Sense of humor 
28. Posture

Flowers in Your Hair

How to keep those fancy hair ornaments in your hair while you dance.

Reminiscing

Many nights when I am restless I find myself watching belly dance videos on line. I must have seen 1000 by now. I wish that resource had been available in the 70's when I needed them. I love all the innovations. When I first combined belly dancing, fire spinning and juggling back in the 70's, people looked at me like I'd just fallen off the turnip truck. No one patted me on the back and said, "Wow, what innovative ideas." Now of course a great many dancers combine things like hooping and fire props. Maybe I was born 20 years too soon. I wonder if other dancers in their 50's feel like I do. One year I was performing at Cairo Carnivale with a boa constrictor, juggling, and magic. I wish I'd known a friend with a video camera from back then so I'd have a record of it. The only time I got to watch belly dancing videos back then was if I was at a M.E.C.D.A. party of something and someone put videos in. I was on a tight budget, raising 2 small daughters, so videos weren't a high priority compared to rent and groceries. Costumes are also much easier to come by. You don't have to wait for a convention to roll around anymore. I hope you guys are appreciating how good you have it.

Tarot Inspired Belly Dancer

Pink Gypsy

Penny over at the Pink Gypsy updated my listing. It's here: http://www.pinkgypsy.com/fayme/zelena.htm Make sure you refresh your browser to see the new updates. If you've wanted to take belly dancing but had no idea how to find a local teacher, her site provides links to many resources, so pop over and see what's in your neighborhood.

Seeing Spots

Source: raks-sharki.com via Theodora on Pinterest

Love this costume. The spots remind me of Flamenco dresses. This is Sandra. She will be teaching for M.E.C.D.A. at the convention.

Twisted Gypsy

Twisted Gypsy performing at Festival of the Rose last Saturday. I was too far away to get good photos, but at least these are better than nothing.

Self Acceptance

Source: criticaldieteticsblog.org via Kitt on Pinterest

HIgh Pony Tail With Hair Extensions Tutorial

This high pony tail is a great look for belly dancing.

Amazing Belly Dancer in Leopard Print and Red Costume

I thought this dancer was so talented and gorgeous, and I said to myself, "I bet in the comments someone is going to be hating on her." Belly dancing seems to be so polarizing and some of the comments are so ridiculous.  Why oh why did I read the comments? A few people give a very condescending 'well, I thought she was kinda good, but you should go watch so and so, now that girl can dance." One guy said, "Look at that jawline, must be a man." Seriously? What an idiot. Anyway, you can judge for yourself.  If I never see another belly dancer again, I'd still die happy knowing I saw her, even if it was only on YouTube.



And her costume is to die for. It fits her like a second skin. And she won a major contest. Who do YouTube commentors think they are anyway? If I had $10,000 to hire 10 dancers for a show and each one got $1000. then she'd be my headliner.

Bead Fever

Inexpensive beads I got from Walmart today.

Expensive Delica beads I got from Fire Mountain Gems today.

Like many belly dancers, I suffer from bead fever. I just can't resist the little suckers.
Today I got my Delicas in the mail. I call them the Legos of beads, because they are so uniform, they improve the look of anything you weave out of beads. These are spendy, and will be used only for things like loom beading, peyote (gourd) stitch and brick stitch. I can use the run-of-the-mill beads for other things like stringing necklaces, or freeform embroidery.

Tumblr

Since I can't resist the appeal of Tumblr, I started a fashion Tumblr, which morphed into a belly dance Tumblr, so if Tumblr is your thing, follow me over there. http://splashionbellydance.tumblr.com/

Two Patterns For One Costume

Today when I went to JoAnn's they had Simplicity patterns 5 for $5. A new belly dancing coat pattern caught my eye.  It's #2159.  The other new pattern 2158 was similar to other skirt patterns I have so I wasn't going to get it. But since I needed to get 5 patterns to get the sale price, and one of my selections wasn't in stock, I got it.

Now that I'm home and on closer inspection I realized the patterns go together. Pattern #2159 just has the coat and 2 hip scarves. The other pattern has the skirt and bra to complete the outfit. It's not typical for a pattern company to split one outfit into two patterns.  I'm afraid you're going to be disappointed if you only get one or the other. See the photo for details.

Steampunk

Steampunk Crocheted Hipband

I spent the morning making a pattern for a crocheted hip band.  Since it's a Steampunk theme I'm going to use washers at the ends of the fringe.  But for a more traditional look you can use coins, bells or wooden beads.  For pirate belly dancing you can use sea shells  As I'm working on it, I can already visualize 3 or 4 more variations on a theme. I'm putting together a tutorial video and I'll share it when I have it made.

Steps I Can Do For Tomorrow

Watching this makes me miss teaching.

Costume Inventory

I posted this in my recycling blog and realized it would probably get more use here.

I need to inventory all my belly dance costumes.  Then I can repurpose things into other things.  Like old veils that are too worn to use can be gleaned for fabric to make hair scarves, belly covers, and sleeves.
Belly dancing coins can be cut off and added to new costumes. Broken barrettes can be repaired or the beads and trim can sometimes be re-used.

Bras that no longer fit can get new straps and trim. And any damaged beadwork that can't be fixed can be cut apart and added to hats or turned into appliques.

Sometimes dancers have swap meets and trade their old costumes with other people. Since women gain and lose weight constantly, your rejects may be someone else's best find of the day.

New Year's Day Dance

I started the New Year off right with some belly dance practice.  It's cold out but if the Rose Parade marchers can parade in it, I can dance in it.

It's a Whole New Year

I got some bitchin' trim to use for my steampunk belly dancing outfit. I'm just not sure if I want to put it on my hat or my hips or what. I only bought a yard of it. Maybe I should have bought 2 or 3 yards. 

I may be having a moment of insanity, but wouldn't it be wonderful to belly dance every single day of 2011? I'll get right on that.  At least it would make my self portraits on Project 365 more interesting. I don't have anyone to dance for anymore. So I guess I'd be doing it for my own self. My boyfriend isn't the least bit interested in belly dancing. In fact I showed him a video on youtube because I think it's funny and because it shows big women in a positive way, and he thought they were good dancers. The choreography was blah. The dancers were out of sync. But they did have bright sparkly tight fitting outfits that showed lots of T and A. He's a guy, haha, its the only way I can explain it.

Photos taken at Ren Fair in Irvine last year.

Do you have any dance goals for 2011?

The Saucy Zoe Jakes

I couldn't think of anyone I'd rather spend the New Year's moment with: