I have a request, if you don't mind. - Page 2

Zorba · 05-01-2008, 03:03 PM

The executive summary:

I was teaching Greek Folk dancing to a small group once a week at noon where I work. One of my students was/is a Belly Dancer. One day, she asked me to meet her 30 minutes before our Greek Dance class as she wanted me to watch/critique a Belly Dance choreography she was putting together.

"Uh, I don't know anything about Belly Dance!" was my somewhat bewildered response. "That's fine", came the rejoinder, "you are a *dancer*, that's good enough!".

Ok, so fine. I watched her dance this routine 4 or 5 times, trying different things at different points. The more I watched, the more enraptured I became. "I *must* do this" thought I.

The rest, as they say, was history!

Oh, and let me warn you - if I had a nickel for every time I heard someone say "I just want to learn the dance, I don't want to perform it!", I'd be richer than Bill Gates. My own wife was one of these - the same woman who told me just last nite "I'm *really* having problems figuring out what music I want to use for my solo Friday nite!"

Oh, and as style goes, I'm definitely an American Cabaret kind of guy. Glitz and glamour baby!

P.S. Welcome to the forum!

Reen.Blom · 05-01-2008, 07:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Aniseteph

And all the glitter and gorgeousness

I love the way you put it!!!!

Filly · 05-01-2008, 09:42 PM

Hello everybody!!!! I've been gone all day...busy with helping hubby and all.

I am so excited that y'all have been so kind as to reply for me. I have read each and every word, and I promise, I'll be re-reading them again and again!

I wanted to let you know that yesterday, I emailed the studio where the Bellydance is taught, and I left my cell number as well.

The lady called me within an hour, and was so nice!!! She told me that they are midway through the beginners class, so I wouldn't be able to sign up right now. She has my email, and will send me the "Mail out" in a couple of weeks, along with the registration instructions. I won't be able to start until the next set of Beginners classes start, and that will be in June.

I asked her if it would be wise for me to purchase and instruction DVD about Bellydance, and she said it certainly would be wise...and to get one that shows technique and movements.

I didn't have the chance to stop and look for one today, but I will this weekend!!!

As for reading the comments on the youtube videos, I haven't, and won't do that. I have simply been clicking on different ones and watching them! Last night I had hubby watching some of them with me, and I said "Do you think I'll be able to learn to move my hips like that"? He said "He didn't doubt that I could learn it at all"!!!

Thanks so much, again, for your replies!!!

(I'm all excited that a man replied for me too! I love all perspectives, viewpoints, etc.....but I ain't gonna be performin') LMBO!!! Well....'cept for my hubby!

jenc · 05-02-2008, 07:52 AM

Once you get really hooked your hubby may regret getting you interested!!!!

Reen.Blom · 05-02-2008, 09:40 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jenc

Once you get really hooked your hubby may regret getting you interested!!!!

Ha ha ha, maybe a bit jealous cos it will be a big part of your life, but hey they get hooked too, you can try and persuade him learn doumbek!!

(My sweetie asked me to get him doumbek DVD when I was odering my dance DVDs...LOL) Just need to save up for doumbek now.....

Zurah · 05-03-2008, 12:00 PM

Hi Filly, welcome to your new addictions (that is, bellydance and the Forum)!

Good questions! You're bound to come up with all sort of interesting replies from this group. Right now I'm taking up a new, non-bellydance related activity (that hopefully will help me get better at dance), and I can relate to the feeling kind of overwhelmed at the amount of things to be learned. It's all part of the fun.

Anyway, I first came into contact with Oriental dance when I was little, and got to see live bellydancers in weddings and other events I attended (there was a largish Arab community in my hometown, mostly from Levant countries). I thought bellydancers were just the loveliest, most graceful creatures ever, and I still do. I didn't actually set out to learn Cabaret style, which is what I'm doing, but it's what was available to me, and fortunately I find that it suits me. I'm a toddler, btw, only over three years of learning (started on November '04). Whenever I have the chance, I take workshops in whatever is offered: Egyptian cane, veil, Egyptian baladi, even unrelated dances like Bollywood (have a workshop on this coming up this month, yay!). Now if I could only find a good Turkish Oryantal class, a style I'm very curious about, my life would be perfect

. Also, even though it isn't really me, I dig a lot of Tribal, and I think I'd enjoy taking lessons of this style, but unfortunately it's still a rather green style here in Spain, and practically nonexistent in my neck of the woods... oh well. I too love the music, the history and cultural aspects involved - you could spend a lifetime just trying to grasp the essentials of one or a few of these, and many members of this forum have done just that.

I'm with what Reen and Anisetheph said about dance skill and knowledge. I'm also not interested in going pro ever, nor on anything more serious than the occassional student recital - I have a job I love, and I suffer from stage fright, but I have to justify buying all those sparklies somehow.

Filly · 05-03-2008, 12:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Zurah

Hi Filly, welcome to your new addictions (that is, bellydance and the Forum)!

Good questions! You're bound to come up with all sort of interesting replies from this group. Right now I'm taking up a new, non-bellydance related activity (that hopefully will help me get better at dance), and I can relate to the feeling kind of overwhelmed at the amount of things to be learned. It's all part of the fun.

Anyway, I first came into contact with Oriental dance when I was little, and got to see live bellydancers in weddings and other events I attended (there was a largish Arab community in my hometown, mostly from Levant countries). I thought bellydancers were just the loveliest, most graceful creatures ever, and I still do. I didn't actually set out to learn Cabaret style, which is what I'm doing, but it's what was available to me, and fortunately I find that it suits me. I'm a toddler, btw, only over three years of learning (started on November '04). Whenever I have the chance, I take workshops in whatever is offered: Egyptian cane, veil, Egyptian baladi, even unrelated dances like Bollywood (have a workshop on this coming up this month, yay!). Now if I could only find a good Turkish Oryantal class, a style I'm very curious about, my life would be perfect

. Also, even though it isn't really me, I dig a lot of Tribal, and I think I'd enjoy taking lessons of this style, but unfortunately it's still a rather green style here in Spain, and practically nonexistent in my neck of the woods... oh well. I too love the music, the history and cultural aspects involved - you could spend a lifetime just trying to grasp the essentials of one or a few of these, and many members of this forum have done just that.

I'm with what Reen and Anisetheph said about dance skill and knowledge. I'm also not interested in going pro ever, nor on anything more serious than the occassional student recital - I have a job I love, and I suffer from stage fright, but I have to justify buying all those sparklies somehow.

Zurah, you live in Spain? I lived there for three and half years when dad was stationed there in the Navy. I went my first three years of school there!

Thanks so much for your input! I have a silly question....what is a workshop? I have read about people taking workshops in this forum. Is it a day long event? A few hours? What is it?

You've had a few years of dance, and I'm a bit envious. I wish I had that much time behind me in the learning process!!!

Zurah · 05-03-2008, 01:36 PM

Cool! Where exactly did you live? I'm in Murcia, in the southeast, a three-and-a-half hour drive from Madrid (and about 45 min. from the beach)

.

A workshop is a special class, usually covering subjects outside the usual taught in weekly lessons, such as folkloric dances, choreographies, use of props in the dance, costume-making, etc., and it can last from a couple hours, to a full day, or a weekend, or even an entire week. It can be offered by your teacher, or s/he can sponsor another instructor to come teach them, or it can be an outside event - good teachers encourage their students to seek outside instruction whenever possible. If you plan to learn from instructional DVD's while you wait for the next beginners' course to start, it might be a good idea to check your area for beginner-level workshops being taught, so you know what to expect from a class, and more important, have a live teacher correct your posture if necessary, to avoid getting into bad habits that might result in injuries over time or just look bad later on.

Filly · 05-03-2008, 01:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Zurah

Cool! Where exactly did you live? I'm in Murcia, in the southeast, a three-and-a-half hour drive from Madrid (and about 45 min. from the beach)

.

A workshop is a special class, usually covering subjects outside the usual taught in weekly lessons, such as folkloric dances, choreographies, use of props in the dance, costume-making, etc., and it can last from a couple hours, to a full day, or a weekend, or even an entire week. It can be offered by your teacher, or s/he can sponsor another instructor to come teach them, or it can be an outside event - good teachers encourage their students to seek outside instruction whenever possible. If you plan to learn from instructional DVD's while you wait for the next beginners' course to start, it might be a good idea to check your area for beginner-level workshops being taught, so you know what to expect from a class, and more important, have a live teacher correct your posture if necessary, to avoid getting into bad habits that might result in injuries over time or just look bad later on.

We lived in Rota Spain, in Navy housing for awhile. We also lived in Puerto Spain for a bit. We made two thirty days tours of Europe while we were there. I've been to Madrid!!!

Thank you so much for the explanation of the workshop, and you are correct...it wouldn't be a bad idea to look for beginner level workshops...I certainly wouldn't want to get bad habits started, before I even begin!

Reen.Blom · 05-03-2008, 02:38 PM

So have you looked at any DVDs yet?( Im the one who is outta class stuck with DVDs

)

05-01-2008, 03:03 PM	#11 (permalink)
Zorba Moderator Join Date: Jul 2006 Posts: 857	How I "got into" Belly Dancing... The executive summary: I was teaching Greek Folk dancing to a small group once a week at noon where I work. One of my students was/is a Belly Dancer. One day, she asked me to meet her 30 minutes before our Greek Dance class as she wanted me to watch/critique a Belly Dance choreography she was putting together. "Uh, I don't know anything about Belly Dance!" was my somewhat bewildered response. "That's fine", came the rejoinder, "you are a dancer, that's good enough!". Ok, so fine. I watched her dance this routine 4 or 5 times, trying different things at different points. The more I watched, the more enraptured I became. "I must do this" thought I. The rest, as they say, was history! Oh, and let me warn you - if I had a nickel for every time I heard someone say "I just want to learn the dance, I don't want to perform it!", I'd be richer than Bill Gates. My own wife was one of these - the same woman who told me just last nite "I'm really having problems figuring out what music I want to use for my solo Friday nite!" Oh, and as style goes, I'm definitely an American Cabaret kind of guy. Glitz and glamour baby! P.S. Welcome to the forum! __________________ -Zorba "The Veiled Male" http://www.doubleveil.net "There is nothing sadder than a veil, that is for sale."

05-01-2008, 09:42 PM	#13 (permalink)
Filly Junior Member Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Texas Posts: 28	Hello everybody!!!! I've been gone all day...busy with helping hubby and all. I am so excited that y'all have been so kind as to reply for me. I have read each and every word, and I promise, I'll be re-reading them again and again! I wanted to let you know that yesterday, I emailed the studio where the Bellydance is taught, and I left my cell number as well. The lady called me within an hour, and was so nice!!! She told me that they are midway through the beginners class, so I wouldn't be able to sign up right now. She has my email, and will send me the "Mail out" in a couple of weeks, along with the registration instructions. I won't be able to start until the next set of Beginners classes start, and that will be in June. I asked her if it would be wise for me to purchase and instruction DVD about Bellydance, and she said it certainly would be wise...and to get one that shows technique and movements. I didn't have the chance to stop and look for one today, but I will this weekend!!! As for reading the comments on the youtube videos, I haven't, and won't do that. I have simply been clicking on different ones and watching them! Last night I had hubby watching some of them with me, and I said "Do you think I'll be able to learn to move my hips like that"? He said "He didn't doubt that I could learn it at all"!!! Thanks so much, again, for your replies!!! (I'm all excited that a man replied for me too! I love all perspectives, viewpoints, etc.....but I ain't gonna be performin') LMBO!!! Well....'cept for my hubby! __________________ You don't have to put someone else's light out just to make yours shine!

05-03-2008, 02:38 PM	#20 (permalink)
Reen.Blom V.I.P. Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Between Heaven and Earth Posts: 2,262	So have you looked at any DVDs yet?( Im the one who is outta class stuck with DVDs ) __________________ Join WORLD BELLY DANCE DAY! www.worldbellydanceday.com

05-02-2008, 07:52 AM	#14 (permalink)
jenc V.I.P. Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Colchester UK Posts: 1,025	Once you get really hooked your hubby may regret getting you interested!!!!

05-03-2008, 12:00 PM	#16 (permalink)
Zurah Moderator Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Spain Posts: 647	Hi Filly, welcome to your new addictions (that is, bellydance and the Forum)! Good questions! You're bound to come up with all sort of interesting replies from this group. Right now I'm taking up a new, non-bellydance related activity (that hopefully will help me get better at dance), and I can relate to the feeling kind of overwhelmed at the amount of things to be learned. It's all part of the fun. Anyway, I first came into contact with Oriental dance when I was little, and got to see live bellydancers in weddings and other events I attended (there was a largish Arab community in my hometown, mostly from Levant countries). I thought bellydancers were just the loveliest, most graceful creatures ever, and I still do. I didn't actually set out to learn Cabaret style, which is what I'm doing, but it's what was available to me, and fortunately I find that it suits me. I'm a toddler, btw, only over three years of learning (started on November '04). Whenever I have the chance, I take workshops in whatever is offered: Egyptian cane, veil, Egyptian baladi, even unrelated dances like Bollywood (have a workshop on this coming up this month, yay!). Now if I could only find a good Turkish Oryantal class, a style I'm very curious about, my life would be perfect . Also, even though it isn't really me, I dig a lot of Tribal, and I think I'd enjoy taking lessons of this style, but unfortunately it's still a rather green style here in Spain, and practically nonexistent in my neck of the woods... oh well. I too love the music, the history and cultural aspects involved - you could spend a lifetime just trying to grasp the essentials of one or a few of these, and many members of this forum have done just that. I'm with what Reen and Anisetheph said about dance skill and knowledge. I'm also not interested in going pro ever, nor on anything more serious than the occassional student recital - I have a job I love, and I suffer from stage fright, but I have to justify buying all those sparklies somehow.

05-03-2008, 01:36 PM	#18 (permalink)
Zurah Moderator Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Spain Posts: 647	Cool! Where exactly did you live? I'm in Murcia, in the southeast, a three-and-a-half hour drive from Madrid (and about 45 min. from the beach) . A workshop is a special class, usually covering subjects outside the usual taught in weekly lessons, such as folkloric dances, choreographies, use of props in the dance, costume-making, etc., and it can last from a couple hours, to a full day, or a weekend, or even an entire week. It can be offered by your teacher, or s/he can sponsor another instructor to come teach them, or it can be an outside event - good teachers encourage their students to seek outside instruction whenever possible. If you plan to learn from instructional DVD's while you wait for the next beginners' course to start, it might be a good idea to check your area for beginner-level workshops being taught, so you know what to expect from a class, and more important, have a live teacher correct your posture if necessary, to avoid getting into bad habits that might result in injuries over time or just look bad later on.