Mm Mm Monday - Zafira

Ah, darling Zafira. Sadly, the group disbanded at the end of 2011 in order to pursue solo projects, but their legacy lives on. I was a fan of some of these ladies from their baby dancer days, back in a group called Ghawazee. I know you kids don't remember this, but there was a time when the internet was still pretty new, and not many people had their own websites. Ghawazee had one...and it had PICTURES of beautiful dancers in Ghawazee coats striking gorgeous poses. I was smitten. Well, some of those ladies went on to become Zafira, so I have been a fan for as long as their was a Zafira. Here is a performance from Tribal Fest 7 I adore.

Mm Mm Monday - Alicia of BellyCraft

You want some shimmy inspiration? Look no further!! I was exhausted just watching, and it inspired me to say "Hey! I need to work on my shimmies!!"

Mm Mm Monday - Alex Wong & Twitch

Today's Mm Mm Monday video is from Season 7 of So You think You Can Dance. It remains one of my favorites. This collection of video footage is a great way to lead in to the video I wanted to share today, because it showcases both Alex's typical skillset, and then goes into the Mm Mm Monday clip of the day.

The first three clips in the video show you Alex performing ballet solos--he is a classically trained ballet dancer working with a Florida ballet company. Then around 3:00 we get into the hip hop piece he had to perform as part of the competition. In the hip hop piece, Alex is dancing with All-Star Twitch, a hip hop dancer who was a contestant on a previous season of the show returned to partner with contestants this season. And as we have established from the previous clips, and confirmed in the package before the hip hop routine is performed, Alex is NOT a hip hop dancer. Never done it before. That is what makes it so mind blowing. Enjoy!

(Unfortunately this video cannot be embedded, but check it out here:)
http://youtu.be/4IjP9IV2S7g

FYI, Alex did not end up making it to the end of the show due to rupturing his left achilles during rehearsals. It is commonly believed he would have swept right into a win. He was invited to come on as an All-Star in 2011, but unfortunately he blew his RIGHT achilles at a Step Up 4 audition, and so did not return. He remains among the favorite performers of all time on SYTYCD!

Mm Mm Monday - Iron & Wine

This is a video shared with me by a student last year, and it continues to roll around in my mind months later. The music is beautiful, and the flamenco dancing is stunning!

The song is called Boy With a Coin by Iron & Wine. I hope you enjoy it as much as I do.

Mm Mm Monday - Kalbelia Music & Dance in Rajasthan India

An incredibly beautiful, inspiring, and educational video!! Not only is there lots of amazing costuming to look at, music to listen to, dance to be moved by, but there are snippets of cultural information presented in subtitles throughout, giving greater context to what you are viewing. What a find!

"Description: Songs and dances are an expression of the Kalbelia community's traditional way of life. Once professional snake handlers, Kalbelia today evoke their former occupation in music and dance that is evolving in new and creative ways. Today, women in flowing black skirts dance and swirl, replicating the movements of a serpent, while men accompany them on the ''khanjari'' percussion instrument and the ''poongi,'' a woodwind instrument traditionally played to capture snakes. The dancers wear traditional tattoo designs, jewellery and garments richly embroidered with small mirrors and silver thread. Kalbelia songs disseminate mythological knowledge through stories, while special traditional dances are performed during Holi, the festival of colours. The songs also demonstrate the poetic acumen of the Kalbelia, who are reputed to compose lyrics spontaneously and improvise songs during performances. Transmitted from generation to generation, the songs and dances form part of an oral tradition for which no texts or training manuals exist. Song and dance are a matter of pride for the Kalbelia community, and a marker of their identity at a time when their traditional travelling lifestyle and role in rural society are diminishing. They demonstrate their community's attempt to revitalize its cultural heritage and adapt it to changing socioeconomic conditions."

Mm Mm Monday - Jill Parker Solo

Jill Parker was one of the original members of FatChance Bellydance. She went on to form the pivotal tribal fusion group Ultra Gypsy (disbanded in 2009), and then Foxglove Sweethearts. Here is some lovely solo footage of Jill doing what she does best: charm our socks off.

Mm Mm Monday - Hips & Bellies (FCBD)

One of my favorite videos of FC of all time, largely due to Wendy and Sandi's gorgeous duet to a flamenco guitar. The way they flow through the moves is incomparable. Remember that blog post about impulses from last year? This is the epitome of master level dancing, where they choose where to put the impulses to best suit their presentation.

Mm Mm Monday - John Compton's Tray Dance

A quintessential, genuine American bellydance gem, John Compton and Hahbi Ru never fail to incite us to riotous cheers and zaghareets, and John's famous tray dance never disappoints. There are many videos from various years of this same dance, but this is one of my favorites. I was with my inFusion Tribal family that year, teaching and performing, and cheering and zaghareeting right along with everyone else. The video quality isn't as great as some of the newer footage, but I can honestly say that it's not just because I was in the audience at this performance that I like this one best. Though the dance is "the same", there are nuances to it which change with every performance, including the audience reactions and John's interaction with them. This one is my fave.

Mm Mm Monday - Wild Card Bellydance

The founding members of Wild Card were members of Kajira Djoumahna's Black Sheep Bellydance back in the day, and over the years have taken their work with the BlackSheep style and molded it into a spirited improvisational tribal expression all their own. Their color and energy really resonates with me, and I love their creativity! Bonus, they will be teaching at Cues & Tattoos this year! Yehaw!!

Mm Mm Monday - Gypsy Fire Bellydance

Happy New Year everyone!! More Mm Mm Monday inspiration comin' atcha.

Kickin' the year off right by showcasing my beloved sisters in the dance, Gypsy Fire Bellydance of Bend Oregon, performing at Tribal Fest 2010. They always have some of my favorite music, and perform beautiful unique moves and combos they have created over their years together! It doesn't hurt that every one of them is a kick-ass human being: kind, generous, and freaking hilarious.

Mm Mm Monday - Awalim

There are many videos of Awalim I love, and this is definitely among them. From Tribal Fest 2009. Mm Mm Mmmmmmmmm!

Mm Mm Monday - Aziza!

This video is of one of my all-time-favorite dancers in the universe: Aziza!  I can still remember the first video I saw of her, a VHS tape of an IAMED show she was featured in.  I was breathless. I couldn't wait to roll it back and see it again.  Each year at Rakassah, she was on my list of Must Sees--I would even close my vending booth if I had to in order to catch a glimpse of her incredible dancing.

I wish I could share that first video clip with you, but sadly I cannot find it anyplace on line in its entirety, and the snippets I found are low quality. So the next best thing is this fantastic drum solo from her Ultimate Practice Companion Video (one of my go-to drill practice videos, I HIGHLY recommend), which showcases so much of what I love about Aziza.  Enjoy!

Mm Mm Monday - A new video spotlight!

Hello lovely dancers!

Mondays are far too dreary, don't you agree? We could all use a little inspiration, a little pick me up, a little kick in the tushies to get our week started right.  So I am instituting "Mm Mm Mondays", a new weekly installment which will be a video for us to watch and get our creative juices flowing.  A chance to say "Hell yeah!" or "Woah!" or "ZOMG!", and be moved to go a little further, make a little extra effort in our week ahead. Sometimes it will be bellydance, sometimes other dance styles, and maybe sometimes not even dance at all but still containing images, sounds, and ideas I find inspirational and think you might, too. You with me? Let's do this!

What better place to start than at the beginning? I actually had another video lined up to kick off Mm Mm Monday, but then yesterday Suhaila Salimpour posted the latest in a line of archive footage and it seemed a perfect fit for the first installment.

Here is Jamila Salimpour's Bal Anat filmed in a studio in the early 1970s! It is a full 30 minutes long, so you may want to get it loaded and queued up, and set aside some time in your day to watch it all the way through. I share this not as necessarily an example of amazing dancing or staging, but as a snippet of history that is important to see and know. And I love looking at all the costuming and thinking of what it was like before the days of the internet to acquire jewelry and textiles such as those. In short: HARD!

Fabulous Friday, meet Bohemian Wednesday from Minas Decor

Talk about some inspiring images. Mina's blog "Bohemian Vintage" has some fantastic eye candy including home decor and fashion. Feast your eyes!

 For you dance Mommas out there:

Lots more at http://minasdecorandfashion.blogspot.com/search/label/bohemian%20wednesdays

More trio goodness: Silver Wolf Clan

All the way from Italy, this beautiful ATS troupe is the fist Sister Studio in that country! Their dedication to the form shows in this video. While they are backed by a chorus, the trio in front stay out front the entire time, and save for a few fades here and there, even the leader stays the same throughout as well. I thought it still stood as a great example for the potential power in small-group ATS.

They clearly know their music to a T and use it to great effect, creating dynamic shapes with their formations and movement choices throughout. Enjoy!

Inspirational Troupe - Persephone Dance Co.

Sometimes we feel our wind is taken from our sails when we don't have a hearty group of dancers to stage.  Less bodies on stage translates into less staging options, less sound, less color, and sometimes less energy.  If you want to see a troupe that really knows how to rock a stage with only a few dancers--three in this performance at Tribal Fest last year--then look no further than Persephone Dance Company out of San Jose, CA!  In this performance, they showcase both the "dynamic simplicity" of ATS movement and the variety of interpretation and staging that a trio can use on stage to great effect.
(Shay's cautionary note: The Turkish drops in the first part of this performance, while stunning, are *extremely dangerous* and take a lot of strength, flexibility, and preparation to learn. If you wish to learn this move, please do so under the supervision of a trusted instructor.)

Orientalist Art - bellydance costume inspiration

A lot of inspiration can be gleaned from looking at Orientalist paintings. While we know that these images were to a large degree a Western fantasy version of the culture, they can provide a lot of ideas about how to combine color and texture for powerful effects. Look at the color combinations, look at their jewelry--in short, look to the details!

Get the flash player here: http://www.adobe.com/flashplayer

A Thousand Words - Body Lines in ATS

In my classes, we talk a lot about the importance of body line American Tribal Style. In my experience, I find Carolena Nerriccio to be a visual artist of the human form--when developing moves over the years, every creative decision has been anchored in strong lines, presenting the body in the most flattering and powerful way.  It is these striking, editorial shapes which make tribal bellydance so uniquely riveting.

In class, we often discuss the moves as a smooth and seamless series of moving images.  We talk about the idea that a photographer snapping away should be able to capture the key shapes--those magic moments when we are expressing the innate power and grace of the movement.

So ya wanna play a little game with me? Let's play "What move is this?" Below are a series of ATS dancers and troupes performing, followed by a list of common ATS movement names.  You try to match the image with the move they are demonstrating.  Take a look and see how every movement has an iconic shape, body line, gaze, presentation--every element of the Classic and Modern ATS vocabulary considers the body line to suit the overall aesthetic.

For example, here's an easy one, from the lovely dancers of MOIRAI TRIBAL in London:

 

Anyone who knows their ATS from a hole in the wall recognizes this dramatic posture as part of the Camel or Camel Walk.  Look at the long line of their arms, mirroring the graceful angle of their extended legs, their gaze down and to the left, with the ribcage lifted and strong anchoring the lowered center of gravity.  

You ready to give it a go? Here are 10 images, so you can try to place the moves from the image alone.  Below those you will find the list of moves to choose from if you need a little nudge here or there (listed is what we call it in my classes, with the common usage name in official ATS parlance).  I have also included two bonus partner moves/combos not listed in the multiple choice--BONUS POINTS!  Comment with your answers.  I will list the answers in a future post.  After the break, here we go!

The Sound of Music: Fast Class Music

You have asked for it, and I am happy to be sharing with you more music suggestions for dancing and listening. This month we're looking at the common music we use in classes each week. The more familiar you are with these songs, the better you will be able to respond to it in the moment, and the better dancer you will be. Especially in the lead, timing your transitions thoughtfully around changes in the music is a key to gently bringing your followers along with you, making everyone look synchronous and confident.

And the more you listen to Middle Eastern music in general, the more you will begin to recognize common themes and patterns. Eventually, you develop an ear that can anticipate changes, even in music you may have never heard before, and be able to respond to them spontaneously. That's when the real magic strikes...and opens doors to dancing joyfully to live musicians!

So here is a list of fast songs we use in class, which has links to the album on either Amazon or iTunes where you can purchase the individual songs, or the entire album!


Baladi Unplugged (our zilling tune!) / Helm / Itneen

Abu Leila Dance Song / Hasan Abu Layla / Music of the Fellahin

Saidi Festival / Upper Egypt Ensemble / Egypt-A Musical Voyage

Bred Atay / Kasbah Rockers / Kasbah Rockers

Mazamir / BodyShock / The Bellydance Project

Saidi / Atef Mitkal Kenawy / Passion for Percussion*

Sout With Spice / FatChance Belly Dance / Itneen

Baladi We Hetta / Hossam Ramzy / Hafla Bellydance Party

Wuh Ya Booy (Oh Father) / Hossam Ramzy / Sabla Tolo III

Salam Salam / The Third Planet / The Third Planet

Entah / Helm /Itneen

Badass Baladi / Raquy and the Cavemen / Greatest Belly-Dance Hits Vol 2

*This is a legal, free download of this entire album. Just click "Slow Download" to start the transfer.

Passionate teachers...

I have been thinking a lot over my holiday break about what it means to be truly *passionate* about something, and in particular, what it means to be a passionate teacher. It is more than showing up and conveying material in a clear and professional manner. It is conveying an EMOTION, it is about building enthusiasm, and demonstrating that enthusiasm, in the work you do and share with your students. And they in turn reflect that joy and commitment in their expression of what you have taught them.

Greg Breniburg is such a teacher. "Mr. B" as he is called by his students at PS22, is a true inspiration not only to his students and fellow staff members, but to the world at large. And personally to me as a teacher, I find him an amazing example of the teacher I want to be. He has taught kids more than music, and demonstrated more than what it means to teach. He is an example of *passion at work*, and I am duly moved. Enjoy!

http://www.beyondtheordinary.net/greggbreinberg.shtml
http://ps22chorus.blogspot.com/