The Beautiful Uniqueness of Belly Dance

I'm sitting here in front of my computer listening to a motivational tape and all of sudden I felt compelled to write about the how unique belly dance is.

What makes it so different from other dances?

Here's one of the things that make it unique:  Many of the movements of belly dance emanate from the torso.  Dances such as ballet, jazz, modern dance, many ethnic dances... most of the movements emanate from the legs.

Since the movements of belly dancing come from the torso this is what makes it a uniquely feminine and also a sensual dance. Belly dance costumes are specifically designed to show off the unique movements of the dance.

We don't know exactly who coined the term "belly dance".  We think it was mistaken for the term "baladi".  But the term "belly dance" isn't too far off for what it is.  And like it or not that name stuck.

Suzy Evans
Visit our Website:
BellyDance.org

You Can't Practice Enough

I'm not sure if I really need to say more than that.  If you want to be a great dancer, you know, the kind that you admire, like Aziza or Sadie, or Kaya, Ava Fleming, or whoever it is,,, then you have to practice a lot!

Take belly dance classes
Take belly dance workshops
Practice in front of a mirror
Video tape yourself, play it back, and look at yourself with a critical eye
Schedule time at least 5 days a week to practice
Make belly dance your obsession

And you will reap the rewards!

Suzy Evans
BellyDance.org

Belly Dancer Souheir Zaki

There are many lovely video clips on YouTube of Egyptian dancer Souheir Zaki.
Here's one of them:
Souheir Zaki

BellyDance.org

Belly Dance Costumes

We now have a costume section in our store at BellyDance.org.  Take a look at our great costumes!
Click Here

Get Your Hair Out of Your Face

Yeah, I know you've seen it too and maybe even guilty of it yourself.  You're watching a belly dancer at a restaurant or a belly dance show case or on stage and hair gets in her face.  Nothing wrong with that, unless of course it stays there.  Then its just darn annoying.

Funny, I always know when my hair is in my face and I brush it away.  And that's exactly what you should do when you are belly dancing.  Gently and in a feminine way, just brush it away from your face.  Make it as though its part of your performance.  Be creative.

Take precautions before performing and "secure" your hair.  "Secure" is kind of odd word for it, but that's what you need to do.  Make sure that lovely hair of yours is pinned properly to insure that it's not likely that it will fly into your face.  Test it before performing.

If your hair does get in your face, even if its multiple times while you are belly dancing,  brush it away from your face.  Because if you don't the only thing your audience will notice is your hair stuck to your face.  You could do the most incredible Turkish drop ever seen by mankind and your audience will be thinking "Girl....Get that hair out of your face!"

Suzy Evans
BellyDance.org

Click Here to Visit our Website

We Always Have Specials

There's always a sale going on at BellyDance.org.  Belly dance videos / DVDs, costumes, music CDs, hip scarves, finger cymbals, skirts, belts, bras, accessories.... you name it.  If it's belly dance we got it.

Click Here to view our specials.

A Night in Irvine

I spent a wonderful (and unplanned) evening in Irvine Sunday night.  Leyla and Roland are on tour in North America.  Right now they are in Mexico.

Sunday night Dilek presented them in a show along with local and not so local belly dancers. Leyla and Roland performed twice. They had a Turkish band.  A nice change of pace since its usually an Egyptian band.  Angelika Nemeth and Dilek and her dancers performed.  And the food was great too.  It was good to catch up with Leyla and Roland since its been a long time since I have seen them.  Meet some new dancers and talked to Angelika and Lilla Varese too.  Even though we are all connected in belly dance we just don't get to see each other enough.

At the end we all got up and danced to live music.  A great evening, and it was worth giving up my tickets to the Hollywood Bowl to see and visit with my belly dance sisters.

Click Here for Leyla & Roland DVDs

Spins & Turns with Marguerite

Spins and Turns with Marguerite was produced several years ago.  It was shot at Panavision Studios in Woodland Hills, California.  Needless to say they were thrilled to have something completely different and exotic as belly dance taped at their studios.

I was just thinking of the video and how much work was put into it how much fun we had.  One of the funnier stories was the naming of the video.  Of course from the beginning it was going to be named Spins and Turns, but we had alternate names for the video.  Most notably was "Whirling without Hurling".  Certainly a nice ring to it, but we thought it might frighten people away.  :)

At this particular shoot the teachers were wearing a mike on their bodies. And it always on except when we on break.  This can make for some interesting conversation from the teacher, including when they are whispering, or having a personal conversation, forgetting that the tech people can hear everything. Sometimes its too much information!

We also shot the Classic Cabaret Floor Work video with Anaheed during that time frame too.  I'll discuss that on a future post.

Click Here to learn more about Spins and Turns

Life Coach

Life coaches seem to be multiplying like rabbits.  Unfortunately most of them can't manage their own lives and careers let alone tell you what to do.  It's just another way to relieve you of your hard earned dollars.

As I am writing this I am on a telephone conference call listening to one of them.  The conference call was free (I certainly would never pay for it).  In this case its someone who reads your hands and then tells you how you should run your life.  Sorry, not buying it.  Some of these aren't even worth the time you would spend on it. 

I know this has nothing to do with belly dance but I just wanted to put it out there that if you are paying money for any of these "life couches" make sure they are experts in their field and will give you real value for your money.  Tony Robbins is good or someone on that level. 

Suzy Evans

BellyDance.org

This photo has nothing to do with life couches,
I just thought you'd like to see a picture of one of my dogs.
And I think my dog is more important than most life couches.