Belly Dancing at Pacific Alor Star Mall

Yesterday afternoon, Pacific Alor Star Mall called me to bring my junior kids to perform belly dance on 29 & 30 May in conjunction with their anniversary event. Walao....they called me last minute during the school holiday, some of them already went on vacation and Jie Ying got family wedding dinner. Luckily I manage to get 3 of them, Sin Nee, Xin Jou and Kher Thing to perform tonight.
We have had some preparation through practice classes - Not so bad for the show tonight and a fun evening for the kids and their mommies. Another show on tomorrow night!

Workshops Add Spice To Belly Dance

When I look at all the workshops listed in my calendar, it is amazing to see so many opportunities right here in surrounding area. Wow…this is very interesting. I wish I could sign up for all…. But it is impossible for me to attend every one because of my time constraints, my current skill level (because every instructor’s personality and teaching style is different) and hmmmm…. money can sometime be an issue too. Have to take into consideration not only the cost of the workshop itself, but also travel costs!!

With so many workshops available in June & July, Nigma’s ATS workshops is now clash with Paola workshop in my diary. it can be daunting trying to decide which ones to attend. Nigma and Paola were my highly respected dance teachers. They are dedicated to authenticity, ongoing professional self-development, and appreciation for the cultural background of the dance. So I am happily to book myself for their workshops. But I’m now scratching my brains for more good points to pick and choose the ones that are the most I want to attend. Oh Yes…my brain crack…wahaha…it is good to let my brain crack every once and a while.

My 1st American Tribal Style Belly Dance Workshop

I’m glad to spread the Tribal magic in my own little way and express my feelings of the ATS journey.
I learned my 1^st ATS Tribal workshop with Iara Kendrik (Samra) USA in Apr 2006. It wasn't long after I began my journey down the road of belly dance. The workshop was organized by Paola Blanton, and was held in The Dance Space in Kuala Lumpur. At that time I was so damn obessed with Egyptian style dance.
The workshop introduced to the ATS format and tribal technique through drills, the chorus line improvisation and a little of it's history. Oh my goshhh! I knew nothing about Tribal style belly dance. I was not really feeling the dance during the 3 hours workshop. I have hesitation in my movement, one thing I realized I actually made the mistake of ignoring my movement for quite sometime. But I felt there were something magical about Tribal style. I need a lot of hard work and training to fall naturally for this art. Since then, I started to research the subject on-line, watch the video clips as well many other instructions to recognized some ATS & Triabl movement. However, the more I look at videos, the more I like tribal dance.
The 2^nd time I met Samra in Sept 2006, She brought me an instructional DVDs by Kajira Djoumahna American Tribal Style Belly Dance Vol. 2 as a gift to surprise me (A big Hug to Samra). The very next day I went to practice the moves. but I missed out some basic step in Vol. 1 (this is the only one ATS DVD in my library).

Then by chance, I studied American Tribal Style belly dance (FatChanceBellyDance) with Nigma last year. This is so exciting, and there’s so much to practice and so much to learn in Level I that everything seemed back to the roots. I agree it is really important to know what the roots and fundamentals of the dance. If you are considering yourself American Tribal Style then you should know the core elements of that (Carolena Nericcio-FCBD) style, the same format and the same cues, then you can dance together the same way when you walk into any ATS group.
Another thing I like the Tribal style of costuming. I made many of these costume elements, designing and sewing on the fly, stuff made with cowrie shells & etc. I will keep on learning and learning more. I never got tired of learning belly dancing.

Update Venue of American Tribal Style (ATS) with Nigma

Latest News! Venue of Nigma American Tribal Style (ATS) workshop will be held on 13 June to 5 July in Kuala Lumpur Malaysia at KL Pac www.klpac.org not in Arabesque Belly Dance Centre Alor Star. Nigma will be teaching ATS for Level I & Tribal Fusion for Level II. Visit www.nigmabellydance.com for workshop details.

More news to come…..

Pirated DVDs-Superstars Instructional Belly Dance with Jillina.

Pirated DVDs and CDs are very rampant nowadays! I used to buy them for the simple reason that pirated DVDs and CDs are a lot cheaper in our country, you can get pirated ones cheaper and easier than original ones. I personally do. Yeah I’m not so ashamed to admit because I think almost everybody is doing it. I've been really enjoying some DVDs/CDs for quite a while but it doesn't mean that I have no respect to the creators or artist and authors. I would buy original stuff once in a while if I really want it or when I have the budget.
Something I just discovered today, one of my student passed me the pirated 3-DVD set of Superstars Instructional Belly Dance with Jillina. My student told me she bought it at RM50! That is Level 1, 2 & 3 complete with all the special features. I took home to review. The DVD is designed to teach the belly dance movement and Jillina put together some very nice combinations with almost upbeat music. Her 3-DVD set of performances on the DVD are amazing.
There's no end to piracy, the next question that comes to my mind is, how many more others pirated Superstar DVDs offered for sale by vendors locally?

2nd World Belly Dance Day Charity Show

I went to attend the 2^nd World Belly Dance Day in Penang on Saturday with my student and my mom. Although we were sitting nearly all the way up in the back, it was still fantastic!

I finally got to see Sadie in live. She was Hottest on that night. Not much else to say here - She is great at drum solos. I really loved it! A lot of performer have shown up. The show was again full of varied styles of belly dancing, bringing together all levels of dancers with a variety of dance backgrounds. The performer from Philippine is gorgeous as ever with her Wing of Isis. Love it!

Overall, I had a wonderful evening. It was so great to be just an audience and enjoy the show. Looking forward to the 3rd World Belly Dance Day - Featuring Aziza in 2010! (Aziza is one of my favorite dancers!)

Go to More Workshop

Well, the workshop I've been talking about this whole time is quickly approaching, so I thought I should start telling you all the workshops I’m aiming to go. I missed out on some good opportunities, Not that I'm complaining, because I was too late to signup and it was sold out. And the reason is my budget and time restraints will be an issue. Here are the workshops I’d like to attend :
1) Paola Blanton’s workshop - Poala is back after her long time traveled and performed abroad. I am remembering the nice time we had together in Cairo last year...(the moment we discussed the project of pomelo certification). This time, she is back and will be teaching 2 workshop in Kuala Lumpur & Penang. Most likely I’ll attend the fusion oriental.
2) Samra Workshop in Aug - This is my 4th time taking a workshop with her. I loved the last workshops I had done with Samra in Bali so I’m excited about this workshop.

Please visit the website to learn more about Samra. I urge you all to sign up, even if just for one of the two days. No matter what style you study. The best way to grow as a dancer is by experiencing other teachers and other styles, and getting yourself out there and learning more, and they have a LOT to offer!

Weekend with Pole Dance ?

What a weekend!! A friend from K/L visited me and suddenly we decided to visit Ipoh. So we drove all the way to Ipoh this morning to eat “Ipoh Sar Hor Fun” then met Wendy at famous dim sum restaurant after her morning class. So I continue my 2^nd round breakfast with my favorites dim sum. Then we chatted about Samra workshop and I confirmed my space for the double veils workshop.

After breakfast, we went to Wendy studio. Wendy & I were met in 2006 during the A-Z Teacher Training. She was a jazz instructor before she started her belly dance. After years of belly dancing and now she has become a pole dance instructor. Wendy show me a few basic step, walk around the pole, then wrap herself around the pole, spin around it at the same time and bring her second leg up underneath, stunts and pose and etc…I did followed to do a few basic at the end I was in pain on the way out and it’s only gotten worse. Yet the dance is not easy. Anyway, I am already a very busy person, it’s not my motive for learning pole dance right now.. It's that time to start getting ready for the annual Hafla show. Planning on my end begins way before the show. Yalla Dance!

Trying Retrieve My Youtube Account

I did it again…forgot my password on youtube. Finally I can retrieve it. I think I have to use the same password so easy to remember all my internet password and user name. Whenever I choose different password, I forget the pass the other day ……I have been stopped for uploading since I last uplooded in 2007. Am trying to upload another video : Khai Shin practicing belly dance to song "Zeina".

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vlIrebN953s&feature=channel_page

NEW A-Z Assessment

Hey! A-Z Sister, there is a cheaper, easier way sending your A-Z dvd assessments on Youtube, I just got email from Keti Sharif today! In a way to protects A-Z privacy, you need to set private on Keti YouTube address for the submission. So that Keti is the ONLY one to assess your dance. I love the idea so much that I'm going to try it for my A-Z assessment.

My Double Veils

I am gonna to get my double veils painted with butterfly…this is the long story between me & Samra (www.samrasexpressions.com) Samra didn’t mean to get into the “butterfly” series actually, but I guess this is how it is turning out. She made a set of butterfly for a dancer in VA. Then, Samra liked them so much & didn’t want to sell. And the dancer in VA liked them so much, and begged her to sell. So Samra sold to her because she is very nice. But Samra really wanted a set of butterfly to match her pants costume that she will be wearing in Montreal, because it has butterflies on it. So, she made another set for her own. Her’s is Turquoise and Sienna (creamish brown) and it turned out very pretty.
Now I will have the third butterfly set :). So, the rule is: Only 3 of us have butterfly veils by Samra. I told Samra I want it because to match my butterfly tattoo. Thanks to Samra, she do hard for the painting art.. I am so touching and I misssssssssssssssssss you.

See my butterfly tatto on above photo…

Malaysian Open Dance Fest '09

Line Dance Individual
1. Junior
2. Newcomer
3. Open
4. Crystal
5. Diamond

Belly Dance Competition
1. Newcomer Song - Ana Yalli Bahebak by Nancy Ajram (No props)
2. Intermediate - Sahrani
3. Belly Dance Team - Your own music

Hip Hop Individual
1. 8 & Below
2. Junior Below 12
3. Beginners
4. Open

More details will be added later.

What are your thoughts on Belly dance competitions?

Latest news! Another belly dance competition again in August 2009 - Malaysian Open Dance Fest ’09. What are your thoughts on Belly dance competitions? Is there any way to know for sure what makes a champion? I was wondering how the judges will base their scores for all the contestants. Beside the costume and make up are part of it, but how about the rest?

We competed in a local national competition in 2007 – The 1^st Asia Pacific Master Dance Championship (Belly Dance Team Open) and recently we competed in The YMCAs Ballroom Dance. The main event was Ballroom dance, Hip Hop & Belly Dance Competition. Sad to say, the belly dance was only part of both events for business and not art, there were no detailed information on what is required and what is allowed. At the final part I have seen the ridiculous things that went on in the competition - wild acrobat moves, backbends all the way to the floor, impressively high flying leaps, etc.!!! IF I’m one of the judges in that competition, I will mark her down!!! Haha….I am sorry to say that (I would rather stay away from that embarrassing stuffs)

It did make me think about the competition again. A ballroom dance teacher was one of the belly dance judges during the competition. What happens if you are doing Egyptian style that the ballroom dance teacher doesn't recognize? This is one of the reasons I just don't "get" belly dance competitions. What are the criteria? How are they defined and who defines them, and do we really want the criteria defined anyway?

I have coached individuals and group for preparations for competitions. For me, it's the challenge of coming up with a new choreography in either competition, provide my students with a specific goal to work hard, practice, and improve their dancing skills.

When it come to organise belly dance competition, I hope the organizer must be careful about the term of BELLY DANCING. Bottom line, if you are determined to enter a belly dance competition, take the responsibility to ask in advance. READ THE RULES, READ THE CRITERIA, AND ASK FOR A JUDGING SHEET.

Why Competitions

My kids won the 1st Runner up in junior team. Probably the parents and kids love it. The most fun part of dance is gives kids the chance to see what else is out there, and really having the chance to show everyone what we're made of.
Khai Shin was in 2nd Runner up and Audrey was in the 6th place in intermediate category. Besides winning, the most fun thing is getting out there and mixing it up with friends, it's the competition. You win some & you lose some. My purpose is to help them learn how to improve themselves not just in dance but in their lives. To learn how to rely on themselves and learn that hard work will always pay off.

Lots of Fun To Watch..

This was an full-day event taking place on Saturday on 2 May 2009. The 1st National YMCAs International Ballroom, Hip Hop & Belly Dance Competition.
The dance competitions are becoming more and more popular recently! Lots of fun to watch, the competitor find a way to win, drive themselves crazy just that much harder i.e splitting leg, style of acrobatic trick, the audience mouths open, eyes wide and almost always forgetting to take that next breath….