Shut Up and Shimmy - Featuring Carmen!

Our very own Carmen Bellotti was the featured guest on the local podcast, Shut Up and Shimmy. Give it a listen and hear what it's like to go from student, to performer, to teacher, and all the challenges and joys it brings to grow in this dance. WAY TO GO CARMEN! Lelelelelelele!

CLICKY CLICK

Respect and the Tribal Code

Jenn Lemaire Kasper posted a fantastic blog entry devoted to the idea of Respect in our dance community. Give it a read!


"The Tribal Code: Respect
I feel that respect can be divided into two levels. One sits at the surface and is what we call "common courtesy". But I would like to talk about taking our respect a bit deeper than common courtesy. I would like to think there is more to respect than that. What I am talking about is a deep respect for who we are and what we do that can (and sometimes does) border on reverence."

http://sacredmovement.blogspot.com/2014/05/the-tribal-code-respect.html

Your Reflection - Guest Post by Carmen Bellotti

Welcome back! Glad to see you again.

I want to talk about a common thought in all student’s minds – “These moves don’t look the same on me as they do on _________. I will never be able to dance like ________ does”. Comparison happens all the time in the classroom and is a self-defeating thought to have, especially when you are just beginning. No matter how effortless a move may look, others are still working to improve upon it. I write this blog as a way to motivate and inspire you to continue down your path, and not to let those negative thoughts hinder or stop your growth.

The key is to focus only on yourself, which I know is easier said than done. I was guilty of mirror watching others in my baby dancer days. I remember many times I left class frustrated after spending most of my time staring at my classmates. Why didn’t I look like them? I didn’t think it possible for me to have the control and flow that the other dancers did. I tried to force my body to move like the others but to no avail. However, once my sights were focused on MY path and MY progress I finally became the dancer I had envisioned. Try to look only to you during class and when learning or relearning a concept, find one thing to praise about your growth. It could be as big as finally mastering a concept or simply feeling stronger in your posture. Both are great milestones and you should be proud of your progress no matter how small of a step it may seem.

Many think once you have a concept, you are done learning – WRONG. I remember feeling so discouraged when I began advanced classes and saw how far behind I was all the other students in the room. At this point I did not have a shimmy and wanted nothing more than to have the others' perfectly timed hips. What I realized soon after was that they all too were still working on their technique. Refinements can be made to any and all movements, and without consistent practice we cannot maintain our technique.

Writing this makes me recall a moment I hold onto from my Bohemian days (Ed. - the troupe Carmen performed with in CO). We were preparing for a performance when after a run through my troupe-mate, Suzie, said “There is always an aspect of failure in my dance”. I turned to her and said “That just means there is room for growth”. Growth is growth – all of it equal in weight. Acknowledge it and praise yourself for your accomplishments.

So don’t worry about the others in the mirror, they are not you! Keep working on your path and soon enough you will be the dancer of your dreams. All of you have the ability to be great but you must be
patient. This is a long journey but know that around the bend lies another milestone. Remember to not
get discouraged by the beautiful people around you, and stay focused on your reflection. In due time, I know you will accomplish all of your goals.

Deep Roots Dance's Newest Instructor - Carmen!

Deep Roots Dance is proud to introduce you to our beautiful new instructor, Carmen. She will also be guest-blogging here at DeepRootsDance.com, and not coincidentally here is her first post:

Why, hello and welcome to my first blog post! I wanted to take the time to help you learn a little more about where this dance has taken me. I share these experience as a way to inspire and encourage you wherever you may be on your journey. As I ready myself to begin this new chapter in my dance journey, I have been reflecting on my beginning years and can’t believe where my path has lead me. I began classes simply as a way to exercise with no thoughts of performing and didn’t think about troupes.

After over a year of classes I moved to Colorado for school and found Nancy Montgomery of Bohemian Caravan. My first performance was her semi-annual student recital and now only realize that I have been performing since. I loved being able to share this art and having a group of women to support me on and off the stage. Once I was done with school I returned to Seattle and Deep Roots. I was humbled and honored when invited into Nomaditude, Shay’s student troupe. I had admired them from day one for their grace and confidence, thinking I didn’t have their ability. When you’re on the road for some time it’s easy to forget how far you have traveled.

Now my path has led me to the role of teacher, a position I never thought was for me. How then did I arrive to this crossroad you may ask? On those college nights where I had papers due or tests to study for, dance allowed me to remove myself from all my stress and worries and give me a moment to breathe. The worst of days would be made right once I danced and always left feeling revitalized. What I have been given because of this dance has inspired me to be there as others begin their own unique journeys. This is why I refer to dance as a journey – as with all paths, many twists and turns lay ahead that you aren’t expecting.

No two paths are the same, and that is okay. Each person gets something different out of dance. I hope to be able to help you along your journey and help you find the magic hidden in this dance. I so look forward to meeting you and beginning this new path together!

The REAL 10 Golden Rules of Dance Class Ettiquette

 Early last year I posted a set of dance class etiquette rules I found on another bellydance website. I didn't add much detail or express my personal opinion on then, I simply put it out there for discussion. Quite a bit of discussion ensued on the Deep Roots Dance Facebook page, and then later it was brought up on Yip! Podcast as well, generating still more discussion.

What I didn't mention at the time was that I actually had seen the original page many years ago and posted it over on my troupe website at the time (inFusion Tribal), and it made some rounds back then. The original being a 1997 article by Miramar from Jareeda Magazine. I should also take this opportunity to mention that in the original post, the author's name appeared to be removed by me. I did not remove it; actually the site from which I took the edited rules had removed it--that was just cut and pasted verbatim. I felt this version as it was edited was thought-provoking and worthy of discussion.  

The Wasted Energy in Comparing Ourselves to Others

The very first night of our six week series at Deep Roots Dance, we have about a 10 minute orientation. During this orientation, we cover the practicalities such as how to check in for classes, the lay of the land (restrooms, parking, water fountains, etc), and class ettiquette (no shoes in the studio, being on time). We also cover some other important topics, such as how they will need to repeat Level 1 multiple times to reach a level of competency and comfort before moving to Level 2, how practicing at home and/or taking more than one class a week will reinforce and accelerate their learning, and one of my personal most important notes: one should never compare themselves to others in the class.

It's so easy to do, and a very human instinct, to look at others we perceive to be doing the same thing as us and make little assessments, even harsh judgements, about ourselves and our progress. I remind them that Level 1 is called "Foundations" not "Beginner", as the skills we learn in Level 1 are not just for beginner dancers--they truly comprise the foundations of all our future work. Because of this, not only do students work at this level for several months to a year or more, but consider that students of all levels return to Level 1 to reinforce their skillset throughout their dance life. So walking into a room of "Level 1 dancers" can mean you are observing dancers of all levels, from students taking their first bellydance class to semi-pro and professional dancers refining their foundations or exploring their dance roots.

Ze Frank - Thoughts on the Creative Career

Ze Frank is some kinda genius, and you know I have linked up several of his videos on this blog in the past (um, even just this past Monday folks!). This video blog is about pursuing a creative career, and touches on some amazing points Ze says he wishes someone had said to him when he was starting out.

I love every little thing about this, but here were some particularly poignant parts I think students of the dance will appreciate and relate to, and hopefully Ze passes on to you (all of us!) that wisdom he so wished he had when he was at the start of his creative journey:

"(it helps) to realize that when I am in the beginning of learning something (and the beginning can last a couple years, by the way, not just a couple weeks or months), in that time you don't really have to worry about finding your own voice. In fact, that kind of gets in the way. You can copy people--sometimes that comes naturally when you just read someone, for example, you just start using their voice. Try reading Voorhees, for example, and not writing like him for the next two days.

The Language of Bellydance - Another Take

We often liken our dance to a language. In class, we explore the idea that we are learning individual letters when we drill, individual words when we learn moves, and then as we learn to dance we are stringing those words together into sentences, and finally as a group we learn to tell a story or sing a song together.

The gorgeous Shems (pic right) wrote a wonderfully detailed article exploring this common dance metaphor, digging deeply into the evolution of a dancer throughout their studies. Over on Gilded Serpent you can read the full article. Some meaty tasters:

"Executing each movement properly is like pronouncing a word properly. Like some words are more difficult to pronounce than others, some movements in dance are more difficult to execute.

Often dancers who master some difficult movements begin to think of themselves as very advanced dancers, but like a child who has learned some complex adult words; these dancers may not yet understand how to use them properly in a dance sentence. Moreover, they are even further from creating a truly meaningful dialogue."

Do More With Less - The Power in Simplicity

I have been thinking a lot lately about the phenomenon in the bellydance world of favoring volume over quality. Teachers are pushing students through levels (Six weeks in the beginner level? Welcome to intermediate!) or constantly introducing new concepts in lieu of polishing current skills (because they are bored themselves? are afraid of not being relevant?); and in turn instilling in their students the perceived higher value of lots and lots of movement and variety above the value of honing a manageable set of skills before adding on new things. I am seeing a lack of emphasis on repetition, control, discipline, and intention over flash. In doing so, we undermine a strong work ethic and diminish a sense of pride in the fundamental elements of Good Dance.

At the risk of sounding curmudgeonly and over-dramatic, at the center of it all I think we are failing as a community to nurture a mindful generation of dancers. What we need to make our mantra in this day and age of "sensory overload and on-demand streaming video constantly pumping overwhelming amounts of data into our skulls in a world which honors style-over-substance" is this powerful idea: "Do more with less."

Does Your Teacher Have Your Best Interests at Heart?

Gilded Serpent posted a link to their article recently, and it was very timely. I have been working on a blog post about a very similar topic. I enjoyed this one very much. Some highlights include:

"Is your teacher qualified to give you a proper foundation for technique as well as cultural references?
When searching out a Belly Dance teacher, don’t be shy about asking for the teacher’s credentials. If you are going to spend time and money learning to Belly dance, make sure you start the journey off with the right teacher so you won’t have to back-track later."

and

"Are your teacher’s classes and troupe a positive and healthy environment?
Most teachers of Belly Dance truly love to teach so they can pass their knowledge on to others. However, teachers exist who thrive on belittling and controlling their students. This type of environment may not be apparent at first glance, which is why it is important to occasionally take the time to analyze your dance classes and troupe experience."

The only ones I don't entirely agree with are the "develop your own style"--for ATS dancers, it is important to concentrate on a collective style, so it doesn't always apply to all teachers of all styles--and the 'performance opportunities' segment. I don't feel performing is a forgone conclusion for everyone. I think dance is a performance art, yes, but many seek it for reasons other than performing, and those motivations should be honored.

In fact, I think some teachers stress performance much too much, rushing students through the basics and trying to get them into troupes and on stage quickly, to the detriment of strong technique. 

I believe students should feel they have been prepared to perform--groomed for success!--and when they do perform it is earned through hard work and proven skill.

So read this brief article and see what you think!
http://www.gildedserpent.com/cms/2013/02/18/does-your-teacher-have-your-best-interest-at-heart/#

What I mean when I say "Good!"

Anyone who has been in my classes for any length of time is very familiar with a common exclamation I make during drills or at the end of class: "Good! Really good job, guys!"

I say it so much, perhaps it has seemed to lose its meaning. I wonder sometimes if students think I just say it to "be nice" or as a wrote form of encouragement, which is not actually a reflection of what I think is capital G "Good".  But if one pays close attention, you will see that while it is true I say it often, I don't say it every time, and that I do in fact use it only when I think it is warranted.  So let me explain what I mean (and don't mean) when I say "Good!"

Good is not a reflection of perfection. I don't say "Good" because everyone has gotten all the details perfectly right. Good is a combination of factors I see displayed, such as:

• posture
• confidence
• doing the right thing even if it's not quite "there" yet
• error recovery
• smiles
• gaze
• awareness
• joy

All of these things, individually and in combination, are strong and important steps in your growth in the dance. When I tell you what you have done is good, I am telling you that you are on the right path, that you are progressing in the way I hope for you to progress, that you are demonstrating improvement in the skills I am trying to push you toward improving.  Good really DOES mean GOOD!

So rest assured, students, that I am not just blowing smoke and rainbows around when I say encouraging things frequently. It is because you are so frequently meeting or exceeding my expectations, it warrants a verbal pat on the back to let you know you are on track and that I see your efforts paying off. Trust in the word "Good"--when it comes from me, it's for real!

The Five P's of (Bellydance) Hooping!

Shea Brock is a hooper extraordinaire, and wrote a great blog post about "The Five P's of Hooping". Everything about it could be easily translated into bellydance. (Note: I take exception to the "Pass It On", only inasmuch as I think students should go to qualified teachers to learn good technique--students should not teach students, as it perpetuates bad habits. Jamming together for outside of class time, however, can be a great way to get in some extra practice!) Here are a couple snippets from the post, and then the link to the full post is at the bottom of this post. (Pst, the photo to the right is local Seattle bellydancer, Leslie Rosen, who is also a fab hooper and circus arts goddess!)

"1. Practice. I tell my hoopers all the time that hooping is probably 10% talent and 90% repetition. There are very few people I have come across who pick up every move or trick without any problems. You might not land it the first five or fifty tries, but then you will suddenly nail it. Your flow will get smoother the more you hoop. I know it’s hard to believe, but even the pros were clunky and awkward when they began...

2. Patience. It breaks my heart when I see someone pick up a hoop, spin it once and when it falls, storm off declaring “See I can’t hoop!” Learning to hoop is a process. It is a process you are not going to get all at once. You’re not going to learn every trick right away, and most things you’re not going to get on the first try..."


http://www.hooping.org/2012/07/the-5-ps-of-hooping-for-newbies/

"OH MY GOD, I'M DOING IT!"

I recently read a blog post on Portland Flamenco Events entitled "Do you know what just happened?" and it reminds me of a little anecdote I relate to my students when I am teaching them shimmies.

Taking a trip into the way-back machine, there was a time when I was a baby dancer and was struggling mightily with my 3/4 shimmy--specifically my bicycle shimmy. I had some friends I danced and rehearsed with outside of classes, and one evening as we were warming up, I looked around and saw all the other ladies shimmying around the room like it was nothing. Every one of them had their shimmy down. I had been working really hard on my shimmy, and not just in class. I was practicing my shimmy in elevators, in line for coffee, vacuuming, walking the aisles of the video store...basically every little chance I got I was trying so hard to get my shimmy down. It was really demoralizing to look around and see my fellow students doing it so effortlessly (like the beautiful Mimi Fontana of Manhattan Tribal in the photo right).

Fear of Group Improv - It Gets Better

Recently in class a student asked me how long it took me to feel proficient at tribal group improvisation.  I told her it would be wildly different from person-to-person, depending on previous dance/movement experience, mind-body connection, home practice, etc.  But most important of all? Showing up. Which leads me to a little anecdote about my baby dancer days...

My introduction to tribal style bellydance (live, not the FatChance® videos I had watched avidly) was via Paulette Rees-Denis of Gypsy Caravan.  Up here in Seattle, a gal was hosting monthly workshops with Paulette, where we would get a blissful two or three hours of dancey goodness every 30 days (I was still taking my Am Cab classes weekly, but tribal was my calling!).  I looked forward to it every month. You bellydance whippersnappers growing up in the community today don't know what it was like back then--no tribal for as far as the eye could see. Most people had no idea what it was, and there were only a handful of VHS tapes on the market which taught the basics. We walked uphill both ways in the snow... well, anyway...

An ATS Bellydance Quiz - Level 1

First let me say, HAPPY 4th OF JULY to all my American readers. I hope this holiday finds you enjoying all the many freedoms and joys our country affords us. Let's celebrate the truly positive today! Now, on to today's post:

In a previous post (A Thousand Words - Body Lines in ATS) we had a  quiz to match up photos with movements in the ATS vocabulary. It was a very popular post, so it looks like we have some dance trivia geeks out there who enjoy a little game from time to time. So here is a Level 1 ATS Quiz for anyone who wants to play along.

This is not meant to be a quiz to determine eligibility of a student to move on to upper levels, or be a comprehensive view of what one should learn from taking Level 1. Instead, it is a cross-section of the kind of information I personally feel is valuable for students to know after a few sessions of Level 1 when studying with me (I will note that some specific terminology may not be what your teacher uses in your class). And if you find you don’t know the answers, I hope you are curious to learn them, and more!   
If you are a teacher and want to share this quiz with your students, please ask permission first, and make sure to link back to *Deep Roots Dance - www.deeprootsdance.com* on any printed materials.

Watching and Learning in the Dance Studio

The "Taking Correction" portion of this anonymous handout has been making the rounds on Facebook. I wanted to share it in its entirety, because the entire thing is just so awesome. Enjoy!

WATCHING & LEARNING IN THE DANCE STUDIO

Watching your fellow dancers

Technique, timing, corrections, there is so much going through your mind; it's so much to take in!

Stop and look at the OTHER dancers in your class. Taking note of what is happening around you can actually help you learn and improve yourself.

Six Steps to Becoming a Great Dancer (no, really!)

If you have been reading my blog for even a short time, you have likely come across the popular "Four Steps to Becoming a Great Dancer" article I posted in late 2011.  That article stands as the first and most important list of "to do's" to improve your dancing, period.  BUT!  We all know there are a few more steps we can take, which can support those first four magical steps, and push us on to becoming stronger and more confident in our dance.  So here they are, Six Steps to Becoming a Great Dancer, coming atcha!

1. New dancers should diversify.

When a dancer is first dipping her toe into a new genre of dance, in this case bellydance, it is vital that she explore many facets of the dance in those tender first months and years.  Take classes from different teachers and take workshops as they are available to you--even ones you fear might be over your head, or below your notice--take them, the bellydance world is your smorgasbord!  Watch lots of professional videos.  By professional videos I mean professionally produced DVD's and online videos with established professional dancers. (While YouTube can be a great resource, for new dancers who don't know how to discern the great stuff from the terrible stuff, it can sidetrack you. Just be aware of that as you troll around for inspiration.)

New Year Tuition Changes

I want to let my weekly students know that class prices are going up in 2012 to reflect market-rate pricing for our area.  Drop-ins will now be $15 per class; pre-registration will continue to be equivalent to getting six classes for the price of five at $75 per session. This is the first raise in class prices I have instituted since 2005, despite my rent and expenses going up each year.

My goal is to always provide the very best instruction at accessible prices, as I want everyone who wants to dance to be able to afford it!  I have strongly resisted raising prices, specifically in the past two years due to the financial belt-tightening many of us have experienced in the economic slump. However, inflation of costs has become too great to continue to absorb with my outdated tuition rates which were set over 7 years ago, a decision which I hope my students will understand and support. 

In the past few years, I have expanded my scholarship and work-trade program, and will continue to provide opportunities for full and partial scholarships to ensure that those who could benefit from a boost are able to keep doing what they love.  If this change in price in any way effects your ability to continue to dance with Deep Roots, please get in touch with me to discuss options which may be available to you.  I promise you that I will always do whatever I can to help my students and sisters in the community to dance as much and as long as their hearts' desire. 

Thank you so much for your understanding, and as always if you have any questions or thoughts to share, get in touch anytime at info@deeprootsdance.com  Happy holidays and I look forward to seeing you all in the new year!!

Class Holiday Get Together this Thursday

Hello lovelies,

This Thursday night, December 15th, we are having an informal all-class holiday get-together at In The Red Wine Bar at 65th and Phinney, just two blocks south of PNA. Level 2.5ers and myself won't arrive until 9:15ish. You are welcome to gather earlier, just tell them you are with the large group with Shay Moore. Hope you can make it!


http://intheredwinebar.com/

Teacher Loyalty - a dying virtue?

I have written in the past of teacher loyalty, both in the "Teacher Loyalty Redux" as well as expressed my own homage to my dance Mommas in the lengthily named post "Sharon has two mommies...no, wait...four...no" The former is an expression of the business/consumer aspect of teaching--students pay for classes, we teach them, and that is all that can really be expected of anyone; that is, a good faith fulfillment of your "product" to the customer.  The latter being a loving, grateful homage to the teachers who have molded me into the dancer I am today.

This is a complex issue--entire dissertations have been written about the student/teacher relationship, what it is, how it develops, what are the boundaries, etc.  But aside from a scholarly discussion, there is an undeniable emotional aspect which is important to look within ourselves to work out... As you can see from my caveat in the first blog post, and the subsequent bloggy homage to my Mommies, I have personally always felt that my teachers are my mentors, my inspirations, my family tree.  I feel deeply rooted to their influences and energies (the recent name change being an outward reflection of that conviction).  And now being a teacher on the other end of the equation, I can attest that there are unique and powerful emotions we teachers experience which we have to deal with on our own, particularly at times when we feel more invested in a student than they may feel in us...