I'll admit I am rather slow at learning certain choreographies. Dance differs from having to pick up a violin and letting the hairs on the bow glide across the strings to emit sound. It is frustrating to find myself confused, however, I move forward and continue to learn it, let it marinate in my mind, and practice it. I take in as much as I can and utilize it in the same manner as students do after taking notes and being assigned homework. In fact, that is exactly how it is: You follow your instructor, take notes at what is hinted, go home, complete the assignment, and study it. Because the next class attendance, an exam is prepared to see how well you've covered over the material. It sounds rather redundant but it does, in fact, work. Say in this evening's class with Lamees and Arastya, I struggled to identify the combination of a pelvic tuck, release, and chest lift, followed by a reverse belly roll, ending with a hip drop, hip drop kick, repeated hip drops again. It sounds rather complex but in all reality it is not so once you break it down and identify each individual step. Everything has a process and when you identify it, you are capable of replicating it. In Lamees' class it was drilled repeatedly down to the point where the girls were capable of owning it. That is my assignment for tonight, though as I build up on it, it is required of me to embellish movements in my performances one day. Repetition is the key. Practice
My weakness is learning new material, however it is also my strength. Like many weaknesses I have, they call for an evaluation, a great deal of ethics in practicing, and embellishing them to become my strengths. The confidence in learning is there, it just needs a little polishing. :)
AALIM Bellydance Academy - Home of Desert Fire and the AALIM Princesses
Wednesday, August 10, 2011
Who is Zareen Amar?
It is agreed that we all wish to emulate internationally acclaimed belly dancers Sadie Marquardt, Didem, the belly twins Neena and Veena Bidasha, tribal dancer Rachel Brice, and so many more. Even here in our own home studio the AALIM Belly Dance Academy we dream to emulate our reigning queen Soraya Al Musri and beautiful princesses Ayperi Al Jawahir, Arastya Amar, Alifia Amar, Zafirah Amar, and countless others. It takes time and dedication, but most importantly it takes finding our own self. We are intimidated by dancers who are the true professions of the elite. Yet in being timid, we tend to lose our sense of self and our own confidence in who we stride to represent, that is, the dancer within. A dancer is not of full bloom until she can free her mind and express herself through her music and her body. She should be unique in character and be capable of telling a story. She should be complete, whole, in sound and body to transition into a masterpiece. A dancer is an artist and storyteller.
When I envisioned Zareen, I didn't envision the names of the dancers mentioned above. I envisioned gold. That is what Zareen's name means just as my own. She is not just of any gold, but one of rare gold that flows like water from the Nile. When she rises, she is a goddess of sensual beauty with a fierce persona. She is the representation of what I long to be - a woman more than just an artist, but a masterpiece. She is a passionate storyteller with her body and mind. Her green (or honey) eyes and signature arm movements are her weapons of mesmerizing expression. All else is a sedating illusion. Zareen makes her presence known. She owns you in her brief performing moments. She is fluid in her moves that it is difficult to divert your eyes from her. The goal is to surrender all thoughts and become enamoured in her character. When she tells a story, she tells it from the heart. Seldom may one catch her shed a tear during her performances, though when one does, the feeling is mutual as the response from the audience is to embrace the beautiful emotions she feeds through her music. Should the audience share in the same emotions as Zareen, then she has not only left her mark, she has proven her love and passion in her own artistic manner. Zareen is more than just a princess, she IS a golden goddess. That is my envision of Zareen Amar.
I am far from proclaiming that golden status, but she is the fire I seek within and will soon be capable of being. There is no doubt that being Zareen will be my biggest obstacle, however, I do not wish to be any other. To emulate a dancer is a loss of character. To create a dancer is the evolution and adaptation of one's own character and confidence. We should never attempt to emulate those around us, but we should never fear them as our resources as well. I dare not continue to hold back. I AM Zareen Amar. I own her proudly and like the belly dance princess she will one day want me to be. :)
When I envisioned Zareen, I didn't envision the names of the dancers mentioned above. I envisioned gold. That is what Zareen's name means just as my own. She is not just of any gold, but one of rare gold that flows like water from the Nile. When she rises, she is a goddess of sensual beauty with a fierce persona. She is the representation of what I long to be - a woman more than just an artist, but a masterpiece. She is a passionate storyteller with her body and mind. Her green (or honey) eyes and signature arm movements are her weapons of mesmerizing expression. All else is a sedating illusion. Zareen makes her presence known. She owns you in her brief performing moments. She is fluid in her moves that it is difficult to divert your eyes from her. The goal is to surrender all thoughts and become enamoured in her character. When she tells a story, she tells it from the heart. Seldom may one catch her shed a tear during her performances, though when one does, the feeling is mutual as the response from the audience is to embrace the beautiful emotions she feeds through her music. Should the audience share in the same emotions as Zareen, then she has not only left her mark, she has proven her love and passion in her own artistic manner. Zareen is more than just a princess, she IS a golden goddess. That is my envision of Zareen Amar.
I am far from proclaiming that golden status, but she is the fire I seek within and will soon be capable of being. There is no doubt that being Zareen will be my biggest obstacle, however, I do not wish to be any other. To emulate a dancer is a loss of character. To create a dancer is the evolution and adaptation of one's own character and confidence. We should never attempt to emulate those around us, but we should never fear them as our resources as well. I dare not continue to hold back. I AM Zareen Amar. I own her proudly and like the belly dance princess she will one day want me to be. :)
Monday, August 8, 2011
Repetition need not be repetitious!
Identify - Replicate - Perform - Embellish
For a Bellydancer, these four words are words to live by.
Oftentimes, a dancer, especially a new dancer, does not take the time to fully "explore" repetitive movement. A new dancer wants to keep changing steps and movements, believing repetition is an indicator to her audience that her repertoire is limited and/or that she doesn't know what to do next. She believes that constant change will keep the audience's attention and create interest.
Most often, this is far from actuality. Watching dance sequences which have no foundation and no structure, can be very disconcerting to the viewer. Consider..... the music has structure, a defined musical composition, which any listener can relate to, understand and recognize. Consequently, any dance form performed to music should also have a structure and composition. The music is repetitious, the dance movements should also be repetitious to compliment the music.
Dance Combinations are built around four repetitions and a dancer should consider working within these parameters: Identify, Replicate, Perform, Embellish!
The First Repetition: "Identify" - identify the music, its rhythm and the instruments. This will immediately give clues as to what steps/movements are appropriate.
The Second Repetition: "Replicate" - repeat the same step/movement, now with a greater understanding of putting it to the music - now it makes sense!
The Third Repetition: "Perform" - perform it! dance it! make it your own!
The Fourth Repetition: "Embellish" - Change it up, add layering (shoulder shimmies, hip shimmies, locks, pops); change directions; add travelling or level changes.
The audience can now see a progression of dance, they are comfortable, they can see structure which matches the music they are listening to - and, in all respects, they can recognize and take time to appreciate the dancer's skill. Don't be afraid of repetition - make it work for you!
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