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| Claudette Colbert as Cleopatra |
Tuesday, March 12, 2013
Claudette Colbert as Cleopatra
In 1934 Claudette Colbert played starred in the title role of Cleopatra. I thought you would enjoy this stunning photo of her. Ms Colbert had an amazing face.
Monday, March 4, 2013
The 2 Speed Belly Dancer
Yes, I know you've seen it too. Too many times. Generally it's a symptom of an inexperienced dancer. What are the 2 speeds? Fast and faster.
So you're sitting in the audience at a belly dance event and you're watching one dancer after another. A belly dancer comes out on stage and frantically runs through the first part of her routine. Then the slow music comes up and what's supposed to be the slow sensuous part of the dance, the dancer instead moves faster than the music. Sometimes she whips out her veil and almost uses it as a weapon on the audience. Then the drum solo music comes up and she seems to be doing double time even on the fast music. She ends her routine and runs off stage. I often wonder if she falls over from exhaustion then drinks a gallon of water. Then you realize that you're exhausted from watching her too.
Well, there's a simple cure for the 2 speed dancer.
1. Practice the routine a lot before performing it in public. This will give you confidence in the dance and slow you down.
2. Breathe. Be sure you are breathing properly through out the routine. Don't be afraid to take a slow deep breath during the performance.
I hope this cures all future 2 speed dancers.
Suzy Evans
Please support us and visit us at BellyDance.org
So you're sitting in the audience at a belly dance event and you're watching one dancer after another. A belly dancer comes out on stage and frantically runs through the first part of her routine. Then the slow music comes up and what's supposed to be the slow sensuous part of the dance, the dancer instead moves faster than the music. Sometimes she whips out her veil and almost uses it as a weapon on the audience. Then the drum solo music comes up and she seems to be doing double time even on the fast music. She ends her routine and runs off stage. I often wonder if she falls over from exhaustion then drinks a gallon of water. Then you realize that you're exhausted from watching her too.
Well, there's a simple cure for the 2 speed dancer.
1. Practice the routine a lot before performing it in public. This will give you confidence in the dance and slow you down.
2. Breathe. Be sure you are breathing properly through out the routine. Don't be afraid to take a slow deep breath during the performance.
I hope this cures all future 2 speed dancers.
Suzy Evans
Please support us and visit us at BellyDance.org
Monday, February 4, 2013
The Complete Belly Dance Routine
If you took belly dance classes back in 60s and 70s you became familiar with what was called the complete belly dance routine. This was typically 7 parts although some dancers would cut it down to 5 parts. Routines could be 20 minutes or longer and I remember that you really had to build up your stamina to perform this long. If you were dancing to live music, you sometimes didn't know how long they were going to play and you just had to go with the whatever parts the musicians would play for you. I also recall a story from one of the Hollywood belly dance greats Marie Silva on how once and a while they would play a double set and she would have to perform for 30 to 40 minutes. Heck, in my hay day I couldn't have performed that long! There was no costume change like some dancers do now, the cabaret dancer stayed on stage throughout the performance.
Typically the parts of dance were as follows:
1. Medium to Fast Entrance: This is an intro or greeting of the audience. The belly dancer would be draped in one or sometimes multiple veils and keep them on through the introduction. Usually the dancer would show off your finger cymbals playing talent during the intro.
2. Slow music either Chifi Telli or Rhumba: This is where the dancer would show off her veil work. At the end of music she discards her veil.
3. Medium to Fast music: This part picks up the speed and energy of the dance. She continues to play finger cymbals.
4. Taxseem, Chifi Telli, slow music: Floor work, sometimes sword work along with slow moves. This is one of my favorite parts of the dance. There is usually a solo instrument playing like a violin or flute. Beautiful time to improv your slow technique.
5. Fast or medium music: Picking up the pace again. The belly dancer will sometimes work the audience for tips during this part of the routine smiling and playing finger cymbals.
6. Fast: The drum solo.
7. Finale - Medium/Fast tempo: The farewell to the audience. The finale tends to be short and sweet. She thanks the audience and the band (if there is one).
These days belly dancers usually do 3 part routines; an intro, slow and drum solo. Sometimes if time is tight it's only a 1 part routine.
Here are some suggested DVDs that will help you with various parts of the routine. Click on the links below.
Sultry Slow Moves with Sadie
Spins and Turns with Marguerite
Classic Cabaret Floor Work with Anaheed
Veil with Aziza
Smooth as Silk Veil with Katia
Drum Solo Set
Entrances and Exits with Dondi
Finger Cymbals with Ansuya
Typically the parts of dance were as follows:
1. Medium to Fast Entrance: This is an intro or greeting of the audience. The belly dancer would be draped in one or sometimes multiple veils and keep them on through the introduction. Usually the dancer would show off your finger cymbals playing talent during the intro.
2. Slow music either Chifi Telli or Rhumba: This is where the dancer would show off her veil work. At the end of music she discards her veil.
3. Medium to Fast music: This part picks up the speed and energy of the dance. She continues to play finger cymbals.
4. Taxseem, Chifi Telli, slow music: Floor work, sometimes sword work along with slow moves. This is one of my favorite parts of the dance. There is usually a solo instrument playing like a violin or flute. Beautiful time to improv your slow technique.
5. Fast or medium music: Picking up the pace again. The belly dancer will sometimes work the audience for tips during this part of the routine smiling and playing finger cymbals.
6. Fast: The drum solo.
7. Finale - Medium/Fast tempo: The farewell to the audience. The finale tends to be short and sweet. She thanks the audience and the band (if there is one).
These days belly dancers usually do 3 part routines; an intro, slow and drum solo. Sometimes if time is tight it's only a 1 part routine.
Here are some suggested DVDs that will help you with various parts of the routine. Click on the links below.
Sultry Slow Moves with Sadie
Spins and Turns with Marguerite
Classic Cabaret Floor Work with Anaheed
Veil with Aziza
Smooth as Silk Veil with Katia
Entrances and Exits with Dondi
Finger Cymbals with Ansuya
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| Ansuya Photo by Keith Drosin |
Monday, November 19, 2012
Be Easy To Work With
Speaking as a presenter and producer it is important for you as a performer and teacher to be easy to work with.
If you have reached the point in your belly dance career that you are now being hired for teaching and/or performing it's extremely important to act like a professional and one of the hallmarks of a pro is to be easy to work with. What does that mean?
No drama
Be prepared
Don't constantly call the employer and bug them
Don't be demanding
Roll with the punches
Offer to help
Send a thank you note
Be nice and friendly to everyone at the event
Don't bug the employer/presenter at the event about little things.
(I really hate this! Belly dancers who bug me about small stuff when I'm already under stress at an event and dealing with staff and 50 dancers and last minute stuff and then they start pulling on me about how they can't find their shoe or something stupid like that... sorry, got carried away.)
If you do the above you will likely be hired back again.
If you don't do the above you will likely not hired again. And the presenter may tell others you were hard to work with. You don't want that.
This applies to stars and those that want to be stars. We as presenters of events have long memories. And trust me, we remember the easy people and the difficult people.
Be easy! (to work with that is...)
Suzy Evans
BellyDance.org
If you have reached the point in your belly dance career that you are now being hired for teaching and/or performing it's extremely important to act like a professional and one of the hallmarks of a pro is to be easy to work with. What does that mean?
No drama
Be prepared
Don't constantly call the employer and bug them
Don't be demanding
Roll with the punches
Offer to help
Send a thank you note
Be nice and friendly to everyone at the event
Don't bug the employer/presenter at the event about little things.
(I really hate this! Belly dancers who bug me about small stuff when I'm already under stress at an event and dealing with staff and 50 dancers and last minute stuff and then they start pulling on me about how they can't find their shoe or something stupid like that... sorry, got carried away.)
If you do the above you will likely be hired back again.
If you don't do the above you will likely not hired again. And the presenter may tell others you were hard to work with. You don't want that.
This applies to stars and those that want to be stars. We as presenters of events have long memories. And trust me, we remember the easy people and the difficult people.
Be easy! (to work with that is...)
Suzy Evans
BellyDance.org
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| Here's a photo of Sadie. Sadie is easy to work with. Be like Sadie! |
Monday, September 24, 2012
Developing Great Stage Presence
Developing great stage presence mostly comes with years of experience performing in front of an audience.
As I will say here and a million more times practice is what will give you confidence and confidence leads to a great stage persona.
One of the best things you can do to develop stage presence is to watch and study belly dancers that exude stage presence. Here are some to watch: Delilah, Dalia Carella, Amaya, Katia and Alexandra King.
You'll notice that they can make the most simple moves so amazingly interesting! You'll also notice it is their personality shining through their performance.
And this is one exercise you can work on... get your personality to show up in your performance.
Practice "moods" for performances. Dynamic, shy, silly, seductive, aloof, charming, outrageous,,, you get the idea. Be sure to practice in front of a mirror or tape yourself. Often times you can practice a mood and find out it's not translating to what you thing it is. You don't want your audience to misinterpret your mood.
Be careful about that sexy or seductive look, often it just looks like you are pissed off. Practice that look in a mirror.
In all performances - smile! Unless of course you're doing a specific theater piece where it would break character. You can't beat your million dollar smile!
I would highly recommend Star Power with Amaya DVD to help with your stage presence. Click Here to check it out.
I'll write more about stage presence, as it is one of main factors to becoming a star in belly dance.
As I will say here and a million more times practice is what will give you confidence and confidence leads to a great stage persona.
One of the best things you can do to develop stage presence is to watch and study belly dancers that exude stage presence. Here are some to watch: Delilah, Dalia Carella, Amaya, Katia and Alexandra King.
You'll notice that they can make the most simple moves so amazingly interesting! You'll also notice it is their personality shining through their performance.
And this is one exercise you can work on... get your personality to show up in your performance.
Practice "moods" for performances. Dynamic, shy, silly, seductive, aloof, charming, outrageous,,, you get the idea. Be sure to practice in front of a mirror or tape yourself. Often times you can practice a mood and find out it's not translating to what you thing it is. You don't want your audience to misinterpret your mood.
Be careful about that sexy or seductive look, often it just looks like you are pissed off. Practice that look in a mirror.
In all performances - smile! Unless of course you're doing a specific theater piece where it would break character. You can't beat your million dollar smile!
I would highly recommend Star Power with Amaya DVD to help with your stage presence. Click Here to check it out.
I'll write more about stage presence, as it is one of main factors to becoming a star in belly dance.
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| Delilah defines great stage presence Photo from the 2nd Awards of Belly Dance |
Monday, July 9, 2012
Top 3 Tips for Belly Dancers
This month's top 3 tips for belly dancers:
1. Practice free style dance for 15 minutes 3 times a week. Dance alone and dance purely to the music. You want to get the music into your head and into your body.
2. Try a different hair style this month. It doesn't have to be dramatically different, just take some time and play with your hair. Add extensions, put a little curl, use a hair decoration, highlights,, you get the idea.
3. Your feet: Are your feet noticeable in your dance? Your feet are what grounds you in the dance but they should not draw attention. Practice this a few times this month: Think about how your movements are drawn up from the ground into your feet and then travel up threw your body.
Suzy Evans
Please pay a visit to our website BellyDance.org
1. Practice free style dance for 15 minutes 3 times a week. Dance alone and dance purely to the music. You want to get the music into your head and into your body.
2. Try a different hair style this month. It doesn't have to be dramatically different, just take some time and play with your hair. Add extensions, put a little curl, use a hair decoration, highlights,, you get the idea.
3. Your feet: Are your feet noticeable in your dance? Your feet are what grounds you in the dance but they should not draw attention. Practice this a few times this month: Think about how your movements are drawn up from the ground into your feet and then travel up threw your body.
Suzy Evans
Please pay a visit to our website BellyDance.org
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| Beautiful Photo of Mia by Michael Baxter |
Monday, July 2, 2012
Ultimate Belly Dancer Combination DVDs
Ultimate Belly Dance Combinations is a 5 DVD series - almost like a mini-series!
During a conversation with a friend, this unique concept and came to me. I had previously produced a couple of combination videos with Ansuya and Ava Fleming. Seeing how popular they were, why not have multiple instructors teach combinations on a single DVD? And why not make it a series? This would give students of belly dance a good variety of styles of combinations from different teachers. Some of these teachers had not previously taught on video before, so many students would be exposed to new teachers; an instructor they may have not been familiar with and would not normally would get a chance to take a class from. I called them Ultimate Combinations because... they were! The first 2 volumes were shot and edited. The teachers included Sadie, Ava Fleming, Aziza, Amaya, Fahtiem, Artemis, Celeste, Anaheed and Amara. These 2 videos were quickly best sellers. About 2 years later I added three more volumes with a new mix of dancers: Paulina, Zahra Zuhair, Katia, Aradia, Dondi, Ava Fleming, Celete, and Jamileh. These 3 new DVDs included new styles including some Turkish and some of that classic old-timey 1970s belly dance. Will there be more Ultimate Combinations? Maybe... we'll see. In the meantime, if you don't have these DVDs, please consider adding them to your collection. Here's some links to the DVDs:
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