Performance prep class and more....

Summer is here (mostly), and it's time to kick up our heels and DANCE!!

If you have been putting off coming to a class, now is the perfect time. A new six week session of fun and challenging tribal bellydance classes with Shay Moore begin this week. And we want to see you there--no more excuses!

Also, a new performance prep class has begun on Tuesday nights, which will culminate in a student recital at the end (optional!). All levels are welcome.

See the full details at
http://www.doubletakebellydance.com
Click on Classes or Workshops to get the details on these exciting opportunities.

Looking forward to dancing with you!
-Shay
http://www.doubletakebellydance.com

Skillz & Drillz! Mapping Your Music

If I haven't said it enough before, I'll say it again: ya gotta know your music! But other than listening to it over and over again, what else can you do to get intimate with your tunes? Music mapping is a fantastic tool to find new ways to visualize your music's structure, so you can use it to maximum effect. There are many different ways to map your music, such as dividing out the 8-counts in each verse and chorus, noting time signatures of major changes throughout the song, drawing pictures to illustrate the feel of each part of the music ("this part is swirly, this part is sharp and jaggy, this is a slightly wavy line"), and there is also the ever-beloved Excel spreadhseet for those so organizationally inclined (I don't know what you're talking about...).

This month, it's time to make your own music map. Find a piece of music you would like to know better (if you don't have one in mind, check out Luxor Baladna from the Suggested Music List) and sit down with it. Listen through it a couple of times, until you feel you are starting to hear patterns emerge. For instance, think in terms of what instruments, sounds, or feelings come through, and when they repeat: "here the drums seem to come forward more, here the mizmar is really pushing to the top of the pile, then back to the drums." Or "this part is more quiet, this part is rambunctious, this part sounds really happy, then back to quieter," etc. Then select a method of choice to give each section a delineation, be it by counts, times, imagery, or whatever other way you would like to try. Maybe try a couple methods to see which one is the most useful to you. Once you have your map, consider what movements or movement families seem to best reflect each section of your music. Then put your feet to floor and see how it feels. Let me know how it goes, guys--I love to hear feedback on your Skillz & Drillz! work.

Tribal Bellydance Boot Camp - THIS SATURDAY!

The whole enchilada, all in one workshop! (or two, if you're up for a workout!!)

Join us for two challenging and inspiring workshops, which review 6 to 12 weeks of information in each workshop, giving students a big picture look at the tribal bellydance format as taught by Shay Moore.
 
Intended as a supplement to regular tribal bellydance studies, these workshops are particularly timely for students preparing for summer performances, who want to refresh their repertoire before hitting the stage.  Students will be challenged in mind and body, and at the end will walk away with a rejuvenated palette of movements and concepts, as well as a comprehensive list of movements and skills broken down by level.

One Hour Level 1 ATS Boot Camp: $15
One Hour 45 Minute Level 2 Boot Camp: $25
The Full Meal Deal: $35 (save $5)

Register online at http://www.doubletakebellydance.com/p/workshops.html


LOCATION AND TIMES:

m'illumino
6921 Roosevelt Way NE
just north of Seattle's U-District in the Roosevelt neighborhood
Doors open at 12:30pm for sign-in

1-2pm Level 1 Boot Camp - every move and concept in ATS Level 1 broken down and drilled for an hour. The ultimate jam to solidify your Level 1 vocabulary. All levels welcome.

2:15-4pm Level 2 Boot Camp - the Level 2 body of movement is expansive, but we'll tackle it all in a mere hour-n'-fourty-five.  Vocabulary is based heavily in ATS, but includes inspirations from Gypsy Caravan, inFusion Tribal, and other creative tribal bellydance troupes.  Every move will get a very brief breakdown and will be drilled in combination with other moves and concepts from this level.  This is a chance to fill in any gaps in your notes from Level 2 classes, or for Level 1 students to try the Level 2 moves on for a couple of hours in preparation for moving up.  This workshop will be very fast paced and definitely a fun challenge for all levels. Minimum 6-months ATS experience recommended.

Hope to see you there!
-Shay

Tomboy to Tribal Diva? A workshop review...

Hair n' Make-Up Workshop Review
or How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Glam
by Rebecca Slingwine

As you probably know, Shay held a performance hair and makeup workshop a week ago! The focus was on getting students familiar with ATS hair and makeup appropriate for a variety of settings, from the stage to the up-close-and-personal. We didn’t leave the workshop experts, but the point was to give us familiarity with the big ideas so we could go play with them and find our own style on our own.

To put it mildly, I am not a makeup girl. To demonstrate how much of a not-a-makeup-girl I am, I will show you a picture of me in my natural habitat:

(Picture courtesy of my awesome bench partner, Eunice Lau.)

 
No makeup, hair in a ponytail, and yes, what I’m doing to Mocha’s forelock is the extent of everyday hairstyling skillz.

I showed up at the workshop pretty nervous, but I was armed with my notebook for note-taking, and my camera for picture-taking when words failed me! BRING IT ON, HAIR AND MAKEUP!

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!