When do you major?? If you ever do....

fatinah · 06-22-2008, 03:14 PM

Hi guys,

I have noticed on alot of forums people say that they are a turkish belly dancer or an egyptian bellydancer or that they do tribal.

In most classes Im assuming people do a little bit of everything or specialise in one form but when do you decide what style you want to "major" in if you like.

I have only been to 3 classes but already I know that I prefer doing Egyptian. I prefer watching tribal but I think I am better suited with a ballet abckground to the more floaty and graceful egyptian movements rather than the more poppy earthy tribal stuff.

So when did you decide which was your style and was it a complete personal decision or did your teacher and classmates etc tell you which you was best at?

Caroline_afifi · 06-22-2008, 06:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by fatinah

Hi guys,

I have noticed on alot of forums people say that they are a turkish belly dancer or an egyptian bellydancer or that they do tribal.

In most classes Im assuming people do a little bit of everything or specialise in one form but when do you decide what style you want to "major" in if you like.

I have only been to 3 classes but already I know that I prefer doing Egyptian. I prefer watching tribal but I think I am better suited with a ballet abckground to the more floaty and graceful egyptian movements rather than the more poppy earthy tribal stuff.

So when did you decide which was your style and was it a complete personal decision or did your teacher and classmates etc tell you which you was best at?

Who do you study with in Liverpool?

fatinah · 06-22-2008, 08:05 PM

with Liz Jarret who is brilliant!! I am very lucky to go to a class where I am shown great technique but someone who is a fab dancer.

I think its too early for me to ask her what style I am best suited to as I really am just a beginner and I have so much more basic training to learn.

I was just wondering when other dancers knew what style they wanted to follow.

Caroline_afifi · 06-22-2008, 08:18 PM

Yes, I know Liz!

She will also have passed on the info about the Arab arts etc.

I do mostly Egyptian and that is my strength although I do dance other styles.

I cant actually pin piont when and why I was drawn to it more than say Tribal, Turkish etc.
I will go and have a think about that one....

fatinah · 06-22-2008, 09:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by fatinah

with Liz Jarret who is brilliant!! I am very lucky to go to a class where I am shown great technique but someone who is a fab dancer.

I think its too early for me to ask her what style I am best suited to as I really am just a beginner and I have so much more basic training to learn.

I was just wondering when other dancers knew what style they wanted to follow.

sorry that meant to say by a fab dancer not but!!!

lizaj · 06-22-2008, 10:16 PM

Dear me I'm blushing..

You're only going to learn Egyptian style and ATS with perhaps a little folklore with me..I can't cope with anything else.

Egyptian style you can be a solo diva as well as team player..for ATS, it's all a troupe thang.

I've been doing my best to dance (something) like an Egyptian for over 10 years and 3-4 years later discovered tribal and 5 years ago started dancing in a troupe. I prefer ATS styling to any kind of fusion as we seem to like the dynamics and I carry that over to my class. I leave Rachel Brice type fusion to the younger and funkier as I do leave to experts Turkish, Lebanese etc along with the myriad of dances being fused these days..now you know what to expect and what limitations there are to my curriculum.

Egyptian is my first love but I like troupe dancing be it Egyptian or ATS more than solo dancing these days.
As a spectator I love to watch it all..Turkish, Persian, Contemporary..I am even being converted to the truly weird and wonderful!

Kashmir · 06-23-2008, 01:26 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by fatinah

Hi guys,

I have noticed on alot of forums people say that they are a turkish belly dancer or an egyptian bellydancer or that they do tribal.

In most classes Im assuming people do a little bit of everything or specialise in one form but when do you decide what style you want to "major" in if you like.

I have only been to 3 classes but already I know that I prefer doing Egyptian. I prefer watching tribal but I think I am better suited with a ballet abckground to the more floaty and graceful egyptian movements rather than the more poppy earthy tribal stuff.

So when did you decide which was your style and was it a complete personal decision or did your teacher and classmates etc tell you which you was best at?

I think you need a good base first. So you need to have the technique under control and have spent a lot of time watching a range of styles. It also depends what is available. The first teacher around here taught an Egyptian flavoured style and had a strong (non-ME) folkloric background.

I think I settled into my "major" - as in working on specifically Egyptian styles - after about 6 or 7 years. I do take other workshops - depending on cost and availability - but time and money go into Egyptian - or at least Arabic - workshops first.

Farasha Hanem · 06-23-2008, 01:51 AM

I suspect that my teacher is also more folkloric and not as much ME in her style of dancing, but she has been teaching us basic bellydance moves. I'm leaning in two ways: Egyptian caberet and Tribal Fusion. I'm also leaning towards bhangra, which I realize is not bellydance at all, but I love the music and the movements. I wanted to buy a couple of Bollywood movies at an Indian shop, but my husband discouraged me and told me they were probably bootlegged (he's SUCH a killjoy).

The cultures of India and the Middle East have always fascinated me; I'd love to learn more about their history, their food, their customs, etc.

Mark_Balahadia · 06-23-2008, 03:53 AM

My first teacher, Artemis is an expert in the Turkish style. However, I ended up doing all Arabic style, especially Lebanese although I throw in some Egyptian for some variety. I still love to watch Turkish but I could never be good since I concentrate more on the Arab dances.

A beginning belly dance class should be about building a soild foundation although a good teacher should be able to differentiate between styles. By the way, Ozgen is in London...he does Turkish style

jenc · 06-23-2008, 06:36 AM

IMO it's not unusual for beginners even to realise that there are different styles, or for teachers to mention it.
If you have a good teacher should spend at least the first year, probably more getting the basic moves as taught, and even after that it's good to drill them. In the meantime, there are plenty of examples of different styles and discussions about them on this forum.

06-22-2008, 03:14 PM	#1 (permalink)
fatinah Member Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Liverpool Posts: 52	When do you major?? If you ever do.... Hi guys, I have noticed on alot of forums people say that they are a turkish belly dancer or an egyptian bellydancer or that they do tribal. In most classes Im assuming people do a little bit of everything or specialise in one form but when do you decide what style you want to "major" in if you like. I have only been to 3 classes but already I know that I prefer doing Egyptian. I prefer watching tribal but I think I am better suited with a ballet abckground to the more floaty and graceful egyptian movements rather than the more poppy earthy tribal stuff. So when did you decide which was your style and was it a complete personal decision or did your teacher and classmates etc tell you which you was best at?

06-23-2008, 03:53 AM	#9 (permalink)
Mark_Balahadia Member Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: balad ra'eesa Posts: 204	My first teacher, Artemis is an expert in the Turkish style. However, I ended up doing all Arabic style, especially Lebanese although I throw in some Egyptian for some variety. I still love to watch Turkish but I could never be good since I concentrate more on the Arab dances. A beginning belly dance class should be about building a soild foundation although a good teacher should be able to differentiate between styles. By the way, Ozgen is in London...he does Turkish style __________________ badde 3eish!!! www.markbalahadia.com

06-22-2008, 08:05 PM	#3 (permalink)
fatinah Member Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Liverpool Posts: 52	with Liz Jarret who is brilliant!! I am very lucky to go to a class where I am shown great technique but someone who is a fab dancer. I think its too early for me to ask her what style I am best suited to as I really am just a beginner and I have so much more basic training to learn. I was just wondering when other dancers knew what style they wanted to follow.

06-22-2008, 08:18 PM	#4 (permalink)
Caroline_afifi V.I.P. Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Liverpool UK Posts: 1,378	Yes, I know Liz! She will also have passed on the info about the Arab arts etc. I do mostly Egyptian and that is my strength although I do dance other styles. I cant actually pin piont when and why I was drawn to it more than say Tribal, Turkish etc. I will go and have a think about that one....

06-22-2008, 10:16 PM	#6 (permalink)
lizaj Moderator Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: UK Posts: 1,288	Dear me I'm blushing.. You're only going to learn Egyptian style and ATS with perhaps a little folklore with me..I can't cope with anything else. Egyptian style you can be a solo diva as well as team player..for ATS, it's all a troupe thang. I've been doing my best to dance (something) like an Egyptian for over 10 years and 3-4 years later discovered tribal and 5 years ago started dancing in a troupe. I prefer ATS styling to any kind of fusion as we seem to like the dynamics and I carry that over to my class. I leave Rachel Brice type fusion to the younger and funkier as I do leave to experts Turkish, Lebanese etc along with the myriad of dances being fused these days..now you know what to expect and what limitations there are to my curriculum. Egyptian is my first love but I like troupe dancing be it Egyptian or ATS more than solo dancing these days. As a spectator I love to watch it all..Turkish, Persian, Contemporary..I am even being converted to the truly weird and wonderful!

06-23-2008, 01:51 AM	#8 (permalink)
Farasha Hanem Moderator Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: In the heartland of the USA Posts: 615	I suspect that my teacher is also more folkloric and not as much ME in her style of dancing, but she has been teaching us basic bellydance moves. I'm leaning in two ways: Egyptian caberet and Tribal Fusion. I'm also leaning towards bhangra, which I realize is not bellydance at all, but I love the music and the movements. I wanted to buy a couple of Bollywood movies at an Indian shop, but my husband discouraged me and told me they were probably bootlegged (he's SUCH a killjoy). The cultures of India and the Middle East have always fascinated me; I'd love to learn more about their history, their food, their customs, etc.

06-23-2008, 06:36 AM	#10 (permalink)
jenc V.I.P. Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Colchester UK Posts: 1,050	IMO it's not unusual for beginners even to realise that there are different styles, or for teachers to mention it. If you have a good teacher should spend at least the first year, probably more getting the basic moves as taught, and even after that it's good to drill them. In the meantime, there are plenty of examples of different styles and discussions about them on this forum.