Hipcheck Bellydance

Spring Schedule March-April 2012

2012-03-09T09:47:00.001-08:00

Here's the spring schedule. Let me know if you want to sign up :)

hipcheckbellydance@rogers.com

Monday
March 19-April 23 - 6 weeks - $60
6:30-7:30 pm Intermediate
7:30-8:30 pm Beginner Belly

Tuesday
March 20-April 10 - 4 weeks - $40
7:15-8:15 pm Beginner Belly

Wednesday
March 21st- April 25 - 6 weeks - $60
12 - 1pm Beginner Belly
6:30 - 7:30 Intermediate Belly
7:30 - 8:30 Hatha-Vinyasa yoga -gentle level 6/$40

Class Agenda
Technique and Creative Combos
Week One: Lines and Angles
Week Two: Circles
Week Three: Snakes
Week Four: Shimmy
Week Five : Floor Work-Intermediate Level / Travels-Beginner Level
Week Six : Review
*beginner cymbals drills included in Intermediate Class

Intermediate Students should be able to do vertical drops and mayas with heels down and 3/4 shimmy

Develop a Stretch Routine

2012-02-06T14:01:00.000-08:00

Developing a regular stretch routine is an easy way to improve as a dancer. Our body is our medium and we want to be able to move through a full range of motion with ease in order to express our ideas clearly. A flexible body can prevent injuries, creates more fluid and efficient muscular movements, and can improve structural problems.

Here's an example of a basic stretch routine I do:

Gentle Warm Up:
It's important to warm up the body before going into a stretch. I begin with 5 minutes worth of slower tempo music and move my body through a full range of motion including hip circles, shoulder rolls and full body roll much like the warm ups we use in class.

Static Stretches - hold for 8-10 long breaths/side and if you have extra time repeat.
Neck

Shoulder

Back

Hips Flexors

Hips

Twist

Tips For Comfortable Stretching

If you find it hard to keep a lengthened spine in seated stretches sit on a block, cushion or hard chair.
Have some sort of cushioning such as a mat or carpet for kneeling stretches
Move slowly into each posture stopping at the first sensation of the stretch (sometimes described as a light pain). When the sensation dissipates you may exhale into a deeper stretch if needed.

Mood Music http://8tracks.com/hipcheckbellydance/stretch-it-out#mix_set_id=15481908

Maxximum Tuesday Class - Enjoy!

2011-11-10T03:32:00.000-08:00

“Chicky” by Oojami - can be found on itunes or on Bellydance Superstars cd compilation

www.hipcheckbellydance.com

*Feel free to take combos and mix and match with your warm up dance!! Get creative!

A. Hip Slide walk in + arm circle

Hip Bumps 8x turning

Basic Egyptian 4x

Basic Egyptian with ½ turn

Repeat

Hip Bumps Right 4x, traveling hip bumps 4x

Bump 2x front, 2x back

Cross Right over Left and turn 180

Repeat on Left side

Back triple step walk (drop arms, lift arms)

4x walking circles to face back

Shimmy hips + arm circle

Hip Circle Right to turn to Left profile, Left hip Roll (circle on wall)

Hip Circle Right to turn front, 2x pelvic circles

Shoulder Rolls

Chest circle, shoulder shimmy

Chest circle, lift and drop chest

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

B. Up up double down hips (footwork is RLR + unweighted drop L-rpt LRL + unweighted drop R

Shoulder shimmy + mambo step turning in 1/4s

Drops 6x Right and change sides

Drops 6x and change sides

Drops 8x to turn to back

Shimmy and arm circles facing back

Shimmy and arm circles facing front

C. Basic Egyptian (step, hip bump) 4x

3 step turn R and L

Rpt 2x more travelling the stage

D. Sway, low arabesque to hip roll

2x undulate

Repeat

Double hip Rolls R

Double hip rolls L

Pelvic circles 8x + reverse arm circle

Running shimmy and snake arms to R

Running shimmy and snake arms to L

Barrel turn

Fig 8 hip RLR + twist hips

Fig 8 hip LRL + twist hips

E. Rpt Section B

Up up down down hips

Shoulder shimmy and mambo

Drops and change

End to front and Sway torso

F. Basic Egyptian 4x

Basic Egyptian with ½ turn

Repeat

Hip Bumps Right 4x, traveling hip bumps 4x

Bump 2x front, 2x back

Cross Right over Left and turn 180

Repeat on Left side

Basic Egyptian 4x

Basic Egyptian with ½ turn

Repeat

G. Finish with snake arms, figure 8 hips and then arm circle up to pose.

Practice Practice Practice...

2011-10-27T10:58:00.000-07:00

Need some fun music to work your wiggle at home? Here are some of the great music mixes I've been using in class.
http://8tracks.com/hipcheckbellydance

Hints for practice

Start with slow fluid movements to warm up the body
Pick a shape and a bodypart. You can create any dance by picking a shape or motif and drawing that shape with a body part - shoulder figure 8's anyone?
Vary your dance by adding travels and turns and by drawing your shapes on the floor or on the wall. Try a travel step following the shape you've chosen on the floor.
Use a mirror for a song and then practice away from the mirror for a song.

Want a more meditative practice?

Don't worry about timing or counts..just move to whatever the music tells you to do.
Try staying with one movement for longer periods of time.
Don't use a mirror for your entire practice
Synch your breath with your movement- ie inhale on expanding moves (opening arms), exhale on contracting moves (closing arms)

Video Nut Part 2: Autumn Ward "Bellydance: Beautiful Technique From Step One"

2011-10-06T13:26:00.000-07:00

This month I took on Autumn Ward's dvd entitled "Bellydance Beautiful Technique From Step One".

What a treat and I'm not just saying that because I'm a huge Autumn Ward fan. The cover describes this dvd as "the beginner's path to flawless artistry". Don't let the word beginner sway you. I found this dvd to contain tons of information useful to dancers of all levels. There is over 2 hours worth of lessons on body alignment, movement technique, practice drills and choreography.

What I liked:

Warm Up
I loved Autumn's warm up. It's a wonderful dancer's warm up not a speedy yoga exercise drill that I find in many bellydance dvds. All body parts are covered right down to the fingers.

Technique Section:
The lessons in body alignment and how to alter alignment while doing base moves are fantastic for giving basic movements a different look. The awareness of breath in relation to movement lets you dance with a true mind body connection.

Vocabulary:
I also like how Autumn categorizes her movements. For example arms are separated in oriental or folkloric, strong or soft, or broken lines. Movement names are basically movement descriptions such as the twist,shift, pull in. This is very helpful when it comes to writing out choreography or combos.

Workout Wear
I know it's an odd thing to put in a review but I really feel it's worth mentioning. Autumn teaches in a bikini style outfit with a hip wrap. This allows you to see exactly what her body is doing without being disguised by dark pants or loose fabric. I mean who really goes to a dance class in full costume. I also feel that seeing a fit and curvy woman who is confident and grounded in her body sends a wonderful message about body image.

What I Learned
I am fully extending and straightening my legs now in undulations and my hip circles have an added muscular contraction on the back half. I am slowly getting rid of unflattering arm positions and angles that creep in when I don't pay attention.

So-so Stuff
Learning a new vocabulary for dance movements can be confusing. Practice sessions are danced to the music instead of count combos so voice instruction is needed until you commit the flow to memory. Music used in the choreography section is not to everyone's taste although I find it is a good comprimise for dancers of different styles.

You can Learn more about Autumn Ward and purchase this dvd at http://www.autumnward.com/

More Than Just a Figure 8

2011-09-10T13:30:00.000-07:00

Create an Entire Dance With Only 1 Movement

New dancers sometimes get frustrated with only having a limited movement vocabulary. There is always an urge to have more steps, more combinations. Dancing the same old movement, the same old way to the same time creating the same look will aways have the same outcome. Boredom.

In your next practice sesion workshop the many ways you can manipulate one of your standard movements. Let's take the fluid hip movement Figure 8 (front to back).

Reverse It
Dance your figure 8 backwards. Or upside down. Or both.

Change your body position in your dance space
In relation to your audience face them at different angles or don't face them at all. Dance closer or dance further away.

Level Change
Move it up, move it down. Dance it while seated on the floor or dance it on your toes. Have one hip lift higher than the other.

Add a Travel
Not just walking with it of course! Turn with it, run with it, bounce or jump with it.

Change the Rythm or the Time
Dance faster or slower or with pauses. Try playing with the rhythm completing a figure 8 in 4 beats but giving the right hip 3 beats to move and the left hip only 1 beat.

Feel free to mix and match ideas for a unique look. For example try a reverse figure 8 while travelling and lowering at the same time facing your audience at an angle. How cool does that look! Or simply do your figure 8 unaltered. Sometimes that will be all you need. Have fun!

Beginner Bellydance Fall 2011 Registration

2011-08-29T14:56:00.001-07:00

Registration for the following fall classes are now open.

Tuesday 7pm Beginner Bellydance (starts September 27)

www.newmarket.ca Register online or in person at Ray Twinney Complex or Magna Center

Thursday Beginner Bellydance (time and start date unconfirmed)

www.amdanceforce.com

Can't wait to dance with you!

It's A Snap!

2011-08-08T09:43:00.000-07:00

It's a Snap!

Follow the steps to do a Two Handed Finger Snap.

Step 1.
Slide your right hand halfway down your left. Wrap your right thumb around your left thumb.

Step 2 -Optional Step
Interlace the last 3 fingers of your right hand with the last 2 fingers of your left.

Step 3.
Separate your index finger and middle finger on the left hand. Bring your right index finger to the outside of the left index finger.

Step 4

Using your left thumb, push the right index finger across the flesh below the first knuckle of your left index finger into the left middle finger. SNAP!

Check out Arabesque Dance Company doing the two handed snap (starts at 40sec)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TLCmCwIgWz0

Video Nut Part One

2011-08-03T04:00:00.000-07:00

   I have a growing fascination with dancing other people's choreography. I love to see how people interpret different pieces of music and how they move to it.   Somehow just watching a really good dancer isn't enough for me. I want to dance with them and experience what they are feeling in my own body.

Now there is many ways I could go about doing this. There are workshops almost every weekend and I can find classes just about anywhere I go. My preference is the video route.

Videos are awesome because you can rewind and repeat. Retaining choreography from workshops can be hard for me and unless I take extremely detailed notes there is no way I'd remember it when I get home. They are much less expensive than workshops and there are hundreds of videos to choose from.   Learning and rehearsing is set at your own pace and with all the top dancers putting out videos now you are learning from the best.

   On the downside there is no one to help you correct technique. It's so easy to be sloppy and lazy in dancing. What feels good isn't always what looks good.   Students might find regular classes for technique a necessity and use choreography dvds to supplement their dance classes. Dvds also give an edited version of the choreographers personality. Personality is something that you can only get in a workshop environment and is also what starstruck students (myself included) would hate missing out on.

Please remember if you choose to perform choreography that is not your own to give credit where it's due.   Support the artist.

In this series I will be learning from and reviewing different dvds.   This month I took on Jillina's Entrance Choreography to the music "Ancient Ruins".

This dvd contains a warm-up, movement lessons which bridge nicely into the choreography sections. Choreography is taught so you can see Jillina from the back and front by way of a mirror...just like a class in a dance studio. The dance is upbeat with lots of turns and travels that will keep your audience interested. There are also two bonus performances by her to keep you inspired.
The one thing I didn't like was that each choreography section was run through only once before you are to practice to music and move on. This is where that handy rewind button comes in.

Music is available on Jillina's companion cd which is available through her shop website. Dvd is available here too.
http://jillinashop.com/index.html

You can also download an extended version of "Ancient Ruins" on the album Wassan Pharaoun by Issam Houshan on itunes. If you choose this version be prepared to have some wiggle room for improvising.

Here I am running through a bit of the choreography with a little improv as well..

Beautiful Bellydance Hands in 4 Easy Steps

2011-07-24T16:13:00.000-07:00

Creating beautiful flowing hands is easy. Follow these four steps in your home practice to increase energy flow and expression in your dance.

Step One: Become aware of the Energy in Your Hands

1. Seated or standing tall with a lengthened spine, let your body relax and your breath slow into deep, slow inhales and exhales. Open and close your hands stretching through the fingers.
2. Hold your hands palms toward each other with one above the other. Leave about an inch between your palms.
3.Become aware of energy build up in between your palms. Imagine it as a ball of light becoming stronger and more powerful with every breath. Start rolling the ball of light around in your palms.
4. Practice for 3-5 minutes.

Step Two: Practice Your Movement Vocabulary
1. Ripples starting from the base of the palm going up, then from the fingers going down
2. Circles outward and then circles inward
3. Mimic Gestures you witness in daily conversation between people to display emotion.
4. Tap out some finger cymbal patterns.

Step Three: Increase Flexibility
1. Kneel on the floor with your palms touching or facing the floor.
2. Imagine a dial under each palm.
3. Turn the dials toward each other and hold for 8 breaths.
4. Turn the dials away from each other and hold for 8 breaths.
*Note: the closer the hands are to the body, the closer the palms will be to the floor. The further away from the body the more intense the stretch. Do only the intensity of the stretch that your body requires that day.

Step Four: Pamper
1. Treat yourself to a manicure
2. No funds for a manicure? Give yourself a home treatment Home Manicure
3. Start wearing your jewelery more
4. Buy yourself some new polish

Weekend Warriors!

2011-07-10T10:15:00.000-07:00

This weekend I participated in Warrior Dash 2011. There was lots of muddy hill running, rope climbing and even jumping over fire. Costumes were encouraged so of course we went as "BellyDashers".

This is the before picture. Here is the after!! We so earned those medals.

Stand Up Straight!

2011-06-30T07:36:00.000-07:00

Stand up Straight
Your mother was right. There is a lot to be said for maintaining correct posture. Let's have a quick word about it now and give mom a day off.

Aesthetics
Aesthetically having good posture will make you look taller and slimmer. It also portrays confidence. One of the most notable differences between a great dancer and a not so great dancer is how they hold their body. Rounded shoulders and a slumped spine will prevent your movements from flowing seamlessly between transitions and can be very distacting for an audience to watch.

Physically
Having back pain? What about shortness of breath or an irritable bowel? Incorrect posture could be contributing to these ailments. A lopsided stance creates an imbalance in the body by weakening some muscles and overusing others. It can constrict the diaphram and compress internal organs and not let your body function the best it can.

Building From The Ground Up
Follow these cues to have a "stand proud" posture.

Feet
Inner edges of feet should be lined up with toes going forward. Arches of the feet lift while the soles press down.

Legs
Knees should be soft and not locked. Turn your thighbones forward by letting your inner thighs spiral inward towards the midline of the body and out the back.

Pelvis
Level out your hipbones. Let you tailbone drop and let your hipbones move upwards. Hold a slight abdominal lock with the lower belly to maintain this position.

Torso and Shoulders
Open your chest and lift your sternum. Let your spine lengthen. Shoulders should pull back and down. Let your back broaden and your collarbones widen. Feel like you are growing wider and taller at the same time.

Head
Make sure there is equal distance between your ears and your shoulders and that your chin is level with the foor and not jutting forward.

Overall you should feel like the front of your body is lifting while the back of your body is grounding down. You should feel strong and open. Practice and remind yourself everyday. My favorite way to practice is to make a grand entrance wherever I go. Everytime I enter a different room, building or a new conversation I remind myself to stand tall. Try it out for yourself and show mom you were listening.

Zyll Drills

2011-06-22T17:18:00.000-07:00

Let's use our magic numbers 3 and 7 for today's finger cymbal practice. Find music with a steady moderate tempo or use a metronome. Remember to move while playing.   If you find yourself going offbeat then practice with arm positions and basic stationary hip movements. Have fun!

R= Right Hand   L=Left Hand

A: 3-3 for 8 sets
     RLR RLR = 1 set

B: 3-3-7 for 4 sets
      RLR RLR   RLRLRLR = 1 set

C:  3-3 for 8 sets

D: 3-7-3 for 4 sets
     RLR RLRLRLR   RLR

Shake it Up

2011-06-17T11:19:00.000-07:00

The first thing people do when I mention I'm a bellydancer is to throw their hands in the air and start shaking their bodies. Little do they know how much control and technique there is in the shimmy.

Here's a list of different shimmies you might want to try:

Piston Hips:
Alternate knee bends quickly while keeping your heels on the floor. Movement is driven by the knees and can be done slowly or fast.

Twisting Shimmy:
Imagine you are in the spin cycle of a washing machine. Alternate twisting your hips forward and back and build up speed. Try walking when you do this.

Glute Shimmy:
Contract your right glute, relax, contract your left glute, relax.   Work up speed. Try with a right- left- right- pause, left-right-left pause.   Try seated or in the side splits.

Bouncing Shimmy:
Ground both heels and bounce using small quick knee bends.  Easy and always a big hit.

Running Shimmy:
pretend your a ballerina and get up on your toes! Small quick fast steps combined with knee bends like the piston shimmy will move your booty anywhere on the floor.   Great with turns, chest isolations and snakey arms.

Pelvic Shimmy:
A combination of pelvic lock and pelvic drop done very quickly by tucking and releasing the tailbone.

3/4 Shimmy:
A weighted right leg pushes the right hip up-down-up on a count of 1-2-3. Repeat with the Left hip. Looks great layered with hip circles, arabic walks, and floor figure 8's.

Here is a clip of the shimmy queen Ansuya:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HxRkt14sEec

Remember the key is to relax your lower body with these shimmies.  Have fun!
Ilona

Make your Dance Pants Fancy!

2011-05-13T14:21:00.000-07:00

Tired of boring stretch pants and loose t-shirts? Wanna look the part of an awesome Hipcheck Bellydance girl and save money at the same time?
If you think paying over $100 for dance pants is crazy and borderline “lulu” then here's some ideas to "Hip Up" your duds.

Really Cute Ruffles

You need:
1.Capri length Stretch Pants or long stretch pants you are willing to cut.
2. Old t-shirt
3. Scissors, needle, thread, pins and all that jazz.

· From the bottom of your t-shirt cut 4-6 two inch wide strips (makes 2-3 ruffles/pant leg)

· Use a basting stitch along the length of your strips and then gather into pretty ruffles

· Pin your ruffles to bottom of your capris, stitch, and then move on up to the next one

· Dance around in your new fancy bloomer style capris!

Remember to overlap your ruffles so you only see the top seam. Also take into account that t-shirt material will roll so you will need to overlap even more.

The lovely Ms. Brice

2011-05-02T11:17:00.000-07:00

Rachel Brice. Always a favorite. Her arms are sooo long and beautiful.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KGsVqyIo_vs

Male Bellydancers

2011-04-25T13:17:00.000-07:00

For those of you who think men can't bellydance, think again. Check out some clips of famous male bellydancers.

Tito: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5_dMJwG4jR0&feature=related

Jamil: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gcdk2HhiNHU

Nath Keo: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XNNgGQhLa9s&feature=related *one of my faves!

Viraj from the documentary "Bellydance Man: From Canada to Cairo"
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u9vd1rL2Aqk

Front Splits in 6 weeks

2011-04-10T09:32:00.000-07:00

Front splits is a great move to add drama to your dance vocabulary. Even if you don't make it to the front splits these are great stretches to loosen up tight muscles in the legs.

http://www.unique-bodyweight-exercises.com/splits.html

Free Concert June 18

2011-04-08T13:45:00.000-07:00

I regularly use music from these artists in Class.

http://www.luminato.com/2011/june18

Luminato's celebration of contemporary Arabic music continues with a special focus on artists from Egypt.

2:00 PM
Minor Empire (Toronto)
World music ensemble Minor Empire brings a unique mix of traditional East and modern West to the stage. Guitarist and composer Ozan Boz teams up with some of the most sought-after players in Canada's world music and jazz scenes.

Natacha Atlas (UK)
One of the leading female voices in contemporary Arabic culture, this Anglo-Egyptian singer has collaborated with such stars as Sinead O'Connor, Sarah Brightman, and Nitin Sawhney in work that fuses electronic beats with North African and Arabic music.

8:00 PM
George Sawa (Toronto)
An expert in medieval and modern Arabic music, Sawa is a master of the zither-like instrument known as the qanun. He has performed around the world, and has recorded with Maureen Forrester, Raffi, Bram Morrisson, and R. Murray Schafer.

Hakim (Egypt)
In his electronica-infused brand of sha'abi—a popular urban genre rooted in traditional Egyptian folk music—the "Lion of Egypt's" powerful vocals mesh with rock and techno beats in songs that capture the tumultuous essence of life on the street.
.

Beginners Spring Session 2011

2011-03-29T10:34:00.000-07:00

Hi everyone,
Reminder that Spring Bellydance sessions begin next week. Please register soon to avoid class cancellations.

Beginner Bellydance

Tuesday 7pm - Newmarket Parks and Recreation

Thursday 7pm - Peter Stanton School of Dance

Thursday 8pm - Peter Stanton School of Dance

Register at http://www.peterstanton.com/ or call 905-853-5699

Classes are held in a fun, relaxed environment. New class every week with no pressure to perform. Meet new friends while working your wiggle.

In other news I will be performing for the York Region Arts Conference this Saturday. For information please go to http://www.artsexposed.ca/

Vintage Bellydance

2011-03-27T14:32:00.000-07:00

Here's a fun clip. Vintage bellydance set to modern music. Enjoy!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ko1FsDGO_G8

Relax and Breathe.

2011-03-24T12:33:00.000-07:00

This website was recommended to me by my friend Nadia. Free downloadable meditations. Take 10 minutes for yourself.

www.fragrantheart.com

Alex Grey

Learning Undulations and Bodywaves (Reverse Unduation)

2011-03-21T13:26:00.000-07:00

One of the easiest ways to learn and perfect your undulations and bodywaves is to bring them down to the floor. By doing a dynamic bridge pose like the one you do in your yoga class you will inrease your flexibility and strengthen your abdomen and thighs all while creating that snake wave up and down your spine.

1. Lie on your back with feet flat on the floor and palms pressing down beside your hips. Your Knees should be pointing straight up, neither in nor out

2. Draw your belly button in and curl your tailbone under. Press into your heels and palms as you peel your spine off the floor one vertabra at a time. End the movement when you have reached the vertabra in between your shoulder blades. Make sure you are not jamming your chin into your chest. This is your bodywave.

3. Roll down your spine slowly to end in your start position. This is your undulation.

Arts Exposed

2011-03-18T16:33:00.000-07:00

I'll be performing early afternoon April 2nd for the first York Region Arts Conference. Check out their schedule of workshops here....
http://www.artsexposed.ca/Default.aspx

Intermediate Thursday Choreography- Mabeyarafsh

2011-03-17T15:04:00.000-07:00

“Mabeyarafsh”

Artist: Saad

Album : Dance of my Heart

You can find the music on itunes

Intermediate Choreography by Ilona Muraca

Start at 20sec in

8-twist step R L // twist R + turn back, twist L + turn front

8- rpt above

Accent R (L-arm) Accent L, pelvic Lock (hold belly), shoulder shim (offer arms)

Part 1.

8-hipkick R 4x

8-hipkick corner, center // weighted twist R 4x

8-und 4x to face back

8- accent hip back RLRL

8-und walk RLR to face front //jack in box turn

8-shim walk (raise arms) // fig 8 (hold hair)

Music

8- fish walk 2x R // alternate LR

8- rpt to L

8-double drop turning ccw ¼ turns

8- ...cont

8- fish 2x R, 2x L

Part 2

8- Dina hip cir // sh shim

8-step twist R L // fall back und RLR ,prepare to turn

8-3 step turn R, twist high, low, high

8- rpt to R

8-heel bounce to forward fold (twist on teks)

8-shim to rise // bw + backbend

8- sway L // bw +backbend

8- Mambo leading L to corners + shoulder shimmy

8- rpt + hip accent

8- push step 4x downstage L

8-push step 2x downstage R // pivot turn

8- Dina circle and hip down up to accent

8- alternate undulations RLRL

Music

8- Walk 4 // triple step

8- step turn 2x, walk 4

8- on toes vertical drop R , pelvic drop // vertical drop L, chest drop R L

8- rpt

8- triple step back

Part 3

8-Walking cir 2x R // undulate walk 2x L

8- Walking cir 2x R turning cw // reverse circle

8- 2x und L // 2x bodywave R

8- sway // maya

8- heel bounce pull across R // alternate und L R

8- rpt to L

8- big hip circle // fold over circle

8- Run downstage L // shim

8- Run downstage R // shim

8- triple step undulations travelling backwards

8- rpt

8- sway // whip around circle (end arms up)

Part 4

8- R hip to beledy beat

8- fig 8 to face back

8- look over L shoulder and 2 slow undulations

8- mambo 2x to face front

8- fig 8 + jewel

Accent R, L, arms up and quick shimmy

Part 5

Rpt Part 1 changing last hip accents back to hair swing

End:

Shim walk forward // Reach L, turn R and end with hands on hips

Project Bellydance

2011-03-17T13:48:00.000-07:00

Have you watched this yet? You should. The awesome Michelle Joyce is the co-creator.

http://topbellydancer.com/

Fun Podcasts

2011-03-10T14:42:00.000-08:00

Here's a Fun site...Interviews, Music, Downloads...
Have a listen!
http://www.yippodcast.com/

**Reminder that there will be NO Classes during March Break except for Tuesday Fit City Class.

Thanksgiving- Oct 31 2010

2011-02-18T11:13:00.000-08:00

Happy Thanksgiving!
This blog will be short and sweet today as I’m sure most of you are going to be very busy this weekend with family and friends.   Here is a simple healthy recipe for baked oatmeal from Tosca Reno’s Eat Clean Cookbook. Bring it tonight to the family dinner, I am. It is so yummy!
Ingredients:
·        2cps oats
·        2cps soymilk
·        ½ tsp vanilla
·        4 tbsp maple syrup
·        ½ cup slivered almonds
·        ½ cup dried cranberries
·        1 large grated apple
·        Cinnamon and nutmeg
Prep:
·        Oven at 400 degrees, Coat a large casserole dish with cooking spray
·        Combine ingredients
·        Place in casserole dish and bake uncovered for 45 minutes.
Enjoy your weekend!

Belly Dance Updates

Reminder: There will be NO belly dance or yoga classes this holiday Monday.
December 5th: I will be performing for Pandora's Box Salon in their "Around the World in 80 Minutes" show. For tickets and information please go to www.pandorasboxsalon.com or call 289-221-0229

Inspiration

I love FatChance Bellydance. They are such a great example of the bonding that goes on between fellow dancers. Here is a clip of them http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p2DalZdDDL8

Classroom Etiquette - Oct 3rd 2010

2011-02-18T11:10:00.000-08:00

Classes are back in full force. I'm going to dedicate this blog to the do's and don'ts of classroom etiquettes.

Do Arrive on Time
Don't Waltz in after Warm-ups.

Arriving to class on time allows the registration process to go more smoothly and gives you a few minutes to catch up and chat with your friends in class. Missing warm-ups is also the quickest way to injury. In a yoga class arriving late disrupts meditations and bothers others.

Do Come Prepared
Don't Leave Your Phone On

Being prepared is as simple as remembering your yoga mat or hipscarf. Create a bellydance bag to hold all your essentials for class. Items for your bag can be a bottle of wather, a veil, finger cymbals, a pen and notebook to write combos or choreography and of course a hipscarf. The thing to leave out of your bag (or at least turned off) would be your cell phone. Cell phones are a distraction to others and just plain rude to your teacher.

Do Dress Appropriately.
Don't Wear Perfume.

Loose Drawstring Pants or Shorts, stretch pants, tanks and fitting t-shirts are all great choices for your classroom look. Don't even bother with the shoes. Please don't wear perfume to class. Some of your classmates have allergies or other opinions on what a nice scent is.

Do Speak Up
Don't Bring Your Ego

Try not to be shy in class. If you have questions about a movement or choreography, speak up. Chances are someone in the room has the same question as you. Expect in class that some movements will be more challenging than others. I remember someone once saying "Be willing to show up and suck until you can show up and shine." Don't let your ego get in the way of trying something new and always work at your own pace. There is no competition in my classes.

Bellydance Updates
Pandora's Box Salon Dec 5th contact: www.pandorasboxsalon.com or 289-221-0229

Inspiration: When I first started dancing i had a vhs tape given to me by my teacher of this woman. I would rewind and watch and then rewind and watch again. She is so awesome!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CxDYlsXTQ30

September 26 2010

2011-02-18T11:01:00.000-08:00

Autumn is officially here and I wish a very happy Equinox to you all. To me Fall is much like New Year's to others. It is the perfect time to start fresh and build new healthy routines into your life. For some that could mean eating healthier or beginning a workout program. For others it can mean working on bringing balance to their lives. I like to do a bit of both.

My whole exercise routine usually gets an overhaul at this time of year. I pitch the exercises my body has gotten used to over the summer and replace it with exercises that challenge me. My new program is very heavy on weight training that has me progressively lifting heavier over 12 weeks. It is also very light on cardio which is a change for me. I'm so used to running 5x a week that it has actually been a struggle for me to dump a couple of cardio sessions. I do realize it will be beneficial to my energy levels in the end but I've been very comfortable being a cardio queen for a long time. Working towards balance (even in your workouts) isn't always easy. It involves trust and a willingness to change.

Sometimes just a small change can make a difference in balancing your life. One of the best desicions I've ever made was to tailor my lifestyle to my body's natural rhythm or menstrual cycle. When I'm entering a lunar cycle I allow myself to take naps when needed and increase my food intake without guilt. I will splurge on things that make me feel beautiful. I strive to do more creative things during this period and often am able to without creativity blocks. During my solar cycle I do more logical tasks and the grunt work that comes with creative ideas. I also tend to increase the intensity of my activities as my energy levels are usually soaring during this period. Life seems so much easier when I go with the flow of my body and not what the world demands of us. We don't have to go at 100 at all times. We aren't designed that way.
Time for change! Ask yourself what are some things you can do to bring balance to your life. What challenges do you want to conquer this fall? Decide and then go for it.

Bellydance
December 5th: I will be performing for Pandora's Box Salon in their "Around the World in 80 Minutes" show. For tickets and information please go to www.pandorasboxsalon.com or call 289-221-0229

Some Dance Inspiration
This is one of my favorite dancers Autumn Ward. I absolutely love this piece! Bellydance as a Panda Bear would do it...Curious?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ucgKk-JnlaY

Work Your Wiggle!
Ilona

Introductions From Sept 19 2010

2011-02-18T10:55:00.000-08:00

Welcome to my blog!
Here you will find updates on bellydance shows and classes, fitness and nutrition tips and random rants and nonsense that my husband doesn't care to listen to during football season.
I am also using this blog to help myself become more organized with my thoughts. Creativity takes over logic most days for me. There is something about writing things down that increases my motivation to get creative ideas into action.   Please don't expect proper grammer here, however I do know the difference between they're, their and there if it really matters about such things. I often muss up my sentences in conversation so I don't expect it to be any different here and I don't have an editor or an edit button on myself (I've looked)

Bellydance
Let me tell you a bit about myself by answering the questions I most often get from students...
"How did you get into bellydance?"
I was young, bored and needed a hobby. Jogging just wasn't cutting it as I couln't run all day. I had been watching a rerun of Three's Company . It was the episode when Larry (professional creeper) convinced everyone to go to lunch at a greek restaurant so he could gawk at the bellydancer. I remember being much more interested in the dancer's performance than in Jack and Larry's antics and decided that should be my new hobby. I went to the library, got out a couple of really old, worn bellydance books written in the 1970's and did my best to decipher their instructions without any visual help.   I must have looked pretty interesting. I soon found local classes and experience working as a dancer in restaurants, weddings and on stage. Dancing is still my favorite thing to do.

Inspiration: Check out the author of one of the original library books I mentioned teaching a 9/8 rhythm
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KB76_4rSDS8

Fitness
Other than dancing, one of my other passions is health and fitness. It always surprises me when people have no concept on how their body works but knows every function their fancy phone can do. I sometimes get into shouting matches with the audience from the Dr. Oz show when he dedicates an entire segment to the importance of whole foods and exercise and they get his game show questions wrong. I mean "duh?"   Shouldn't this be common knowledge? (*side note: I do realize the tv doesn't shout back).

Fitness Tip #1 Learn about your body! Every Friday I go to the library and take out at least a couple Fitness/Health related books. It's free. No excuse.
Fitness Tip #2 Read the book! Even if you just skim through it. Don't just leave it on the coffee table under a pile of mail.

Work Your Wiggle,
Ilona :)