The China Press Interview

Well, woke up by a phone called from The China Press advertising agent. I was told that my free newspaper interview ads published today. This interview was conducted and arranged with the help of friends in China Press, a leading Mandarin language daily newspaper based in Alor Setar. To help win friends and garner support in the advertising industry, I signed up the - The Smart Zone Advertising magazine and I get free of half page ‘about me’ in today Newspaper local news and information. Of course I have to pay the full page amount of advertising fee at Smart Zone!!

The half page was a good looking marketing mix. Woohoo… I am moving into brand marketing. When I read the whole scripts, I felt I am a super hero right now!! Yes, I agreed that newspapers have a unique talent for aggregating both the content and the sources for that content in ways that best meet consumers needs.

Anyway, the bottom line is that I am in the business of selling good feelings through dance. Beside observing my student’s progress in class, I am happy with my current level of business engagements and feel no need for additional advertising. I have met many dance teachers who are nice, competent dancers, with good technique and a business attitude. Some of dance teacher I communicated through email (3A Gurl Singapore), These people are willing to share information freely, they are friendly and pleasant. These people are successful. This is reminder that it’s easier to get a customer than it is to solicit new business.

Pesta Tanlung - Kids Show Talent

The Pesta Tanglung is organised by the Young Malaysians Movement (YMM) Jalan Putra in Alor Setar Mall last night. Kids love to show off, another chance for their talent show!! The show began at 6.30pm. Six of my belly kids joined the talent show. Wow…when I arrived, I saw many little belly dancers lineup in this event. Yea,,, a kiss for belly dancers!
Tonight, Kher Ting did the cane dance! It was her first solo cane dance. Thanks God her cane didn't fall on the floor when she danced. Haha… she worried too much and keep falling when practice in studio. She was much less nervous when she moves with the belly dance cane. Again Grace dance to Ana Yalli Bahebak. And she does a good job!
4 of my little girls were dancing to the same dance to show off their talents. The audience seems to sense that – BORING!! Boring to the same steps and same track!. As a teacher, how can I stop the student if they want to dance? This time, I would say they were just being brave to go on stage, and I felt they really dancing and looking good. I posted some pictures here. Be sure to take a look!

Busy with Computer

Writing Blogs - I am not a real blogger but it might be my favorite thing to blog about belly dance.

I’ve realized that way back when I started this blog the intent was for it to be mostly about writing my belly dance story, my experiences and my thoughts on dance, travel, story, costume, characters and etc. And now it’s become mostly about everything, including editing video, music, convert video/music to different format. Not only I expected to post my profile and work schedules, I realized that I need to be more tech-savvy because there are now technological expectations. Example : When I have to edit the music, or upload videos to appear on youtube. I want to update or change my website. Even more, I want to pick from around the web or even a creative work of my own. oh...oh.... I have so much things I didn’t expect to learn as a dancer. Just today I spent few hours trying out different programs to get our performance dance photos/videos convert different format and get it organize… Oh my goodness, that was the longest hours I've ever spent, so many hours have been wasted!! To bad I am non-technical background!

Selamat Hari Raya Aidilfitri

I announced in the class that the studio is closing on 20th till 24th. (Sun - Thur) . Means that 1 whole week no dancing class. Wishing all my muslim students “Selamat Hari Raya Aidilfitri”. Those of you already stopped dancing for a month, remember to come back to practice and get ready to go on the stage.
Yea...Yea... I actually take this apportunity to do my own things – solo choreography, otherwise my student will complain if I don't dance on that night. I prefer to improvise.
My opening dance for 3rd anniversary is Candle Dance. The candle dance I wanted to do long time ago. This time I must create a fun movement on different levels, so every one can learn and challenging each other with our new dance moves and gestures.
One of my friend in K/L called me about the performance & the hafla event. Her new student never attend hafla before, she would like to join. I welcome her to join and dance together with us. She asked me what candle I use for the candle dance. Oh… this will surprise you on that hafla night. Counting down A very enjoying enening start now.

China Press - My Very 1st Advertiser!.

Ms Teh, my aerobics dance teacher recommended to share the advertisement. We discussed and finally signed up for 2 full pages. Yesterday the advertisement magazine published. I don’t have chance to read the magazine because I am in Ipoh now. Here is the advertisement softcopy I received from the China Press when I called them up.

Belly dancing is considered part of my work. So even though I feel like I ‘work’ about 18-20 hours a day now, much of the work is fuelled by passion, fun and creativity. The fantastic thing about being a Belly Dancer is that a lot of the work is creative, energizing and great exercise for my body and mind. It came to a point where I had to make some big choices about how to balance my life. The crazy number of hours spent in front of my computer formulating class plans, event ideas, creating new opportunities, organizing schedule, confirming reservations, doing paperwork, promoting belly dance, updating website, replying emails, blogging… …etc & etc (haha.. really a joke! Everyone is doing such a thing)

Another Jam-packed Weekend..

This week I was packed with work and am bracing myself for another jam-packed weekend...private class & rehearsal... rehearsal... And working for 8 hours straight on a rushing for hari raya festival shut down, I didn't even have the time to drink water... my lips were as dry as the Sahara desert by the time I was done!
Competition... Competition...My kids are going to the talent show competition! Mummies also busy let her daughters a slot in. In fact, the kids put themselves through so much stress to beat other dancers for a trophy? Pity them, I saw them already full of sweat. Why are dances going this far?
I found it delightful to watch a little girl get up and dance. In family parties, wedding dinner, there is always a ‘little bright star’ that just loves to dance. The adults encourage her and everyone becomes totally inspired, whatever their style!
I would rather go to the dancers’ showcases or concerts that highlight excellent dancing, too, to have the influence of the great choreographers. Also, I can't stand to watch trick after trick.. Argh! I want to see real creativity! I want to see artistic choreography! Dance is not all about the tricks...just because someone has mastered the tricks, doesn’t mean they can DANCE!

Tribal Belly Dance Workshop

Nanci Traynor is offering Tribal Belly Dance workshops. These workshops are teach in a series in Alor Star town, start from November 22, 2009 to March 28, 2010. The workshop will be taught in 30 hours. Wow, you are really getting a deal! This is a great opportunity for tribal lover. And just to remind you that there is Tribal belly dance competition coming on the way soon.

Tribal Style Belly Dance originated in San Francisco in the 1960’s. The movements of this style are based on traditional dance from North Africa, India and Eastern Europe.

Extra words in class:

Foundation movements of American Tribal Style Belly Dance and Tribal Folk Dance are taught in class. The student has to rebuild the muscle memory the correct way by drilling the 8 basic movements. The body remembers the right or wrong way to do things, so the student must correct the body. Nanci wishes to inspire the student to dance for the rest of their life. Movements that are executed incorrectly will eventually lead to long-term injury.

Extra words About Nanci:

Nanci’s personal study of Primitive Mythology and how it relates to Belly Dance has opened a lot of understanding of community, feminine power and self-improvement. Belly Dance is the foundation of all creation Myths.

You have seen her smile, move and close her eyes, but you don’t know the story behind the ‘Nan-i-mal’. Guaranteed, this story is best told sitting outside, enjoying the breeze over a cup of tea. Written words will not give justice to the experience of leaving everything to go to the home ground (India), with no way back and $100 in Nanci’s pocket.

Hurry! Plan ahead for the workshop coming soon! Read above for more details or just call me to sign up.

3rd Annual Hafla - Moon Goddess

Hi all, our 3^rd Annual Hafla of 2009 is on 14^th November 2009. Come to join our Belly Dance Hafla and Showcase to support and enjoy our local Belly Dance community! Show will include Tribal Belly Dance performance by Nanci Traynor & others dance troupes.

Goddesses come in all shapes & styles! We have Cabaret, Saidi, Classic, American Tribal, Fusion, Solos, Troupes & etc. Invite your friends and families join us for a wonderful evening. All welcome! Call me to book your ticket now!

Music Count & Steps

When it come to dancing, we all learn in different ways. Some of us are fast learner, visual learner, some of learn by just doing...etc. Seems like common sense doesn't it?
DRUMBEATS are the HEARTBEATS of belly dance music. A dancer must understand the rhythm to dance well. When I started belly dance, I had no idea learning about belly dance rhythm. I remember I had the experience in my 1st class of thinking “Oh, this looked easy, but it is really HARD”. I still remember the feelings of being lost as a beginner, standing motionless on the floor like a statue.
I remember the very first time I ever heard the structure of music counted with the help of my dance teacher. I found it extremely hard to count steps while dancing. She told me we need to connect to the music through the count. She then demonstrated the sets of 8 - 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8....
So I COUNTED the beats in the class. If I don’t count out loud, my student cant really find the beat on their own. I always start a count of 1 or a “five, six, seven, eight” in my beginner class. I emphasized each count of the music. I found it interesting that when I start the count, I could confirm that I was on the beat and so do my student.
Not long ago I took the oriental dance teacher training, I was told “DON’T COUNT, JUST LISTEN TO THE MUSIC, FEEL TO THE MUSIC, DANCE TO THE MUSIC, NO 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8...Without feeling you cant dance!” I know she was trying to make everyone understand that the music needs to be felt.
That being said, most good dancers probably don't "Count" while dancing? But counting can be a useful tool while learning, and I'm sure. Long ago, I spent at least some time counting beats and counting steps LOL!.
I try not to be a fan of counting and dancing as much nowadays, I want to dance "only" by feeling" the music...I don't like counting beat because it pulls my emotions from the song. And YES! My music is heard and felt as much by my heart and soul as by my ears.
Belly dance requires musicality, coordination, grace and presentation. Till today, I will say the same thing, it is really HARD, it's take time to learn! How about you? Count or not count?

Nath Keo Rocks!!!

I went to a .famous male belly dancer workshop hosted by Conny Lim yesterday. I took an afternoon Oriental Bliss workshop. It was a classic songs ‘Zeina’ which I taught to my student in May. Wow...I had so much fun to this great pieces of oriental dance, and felt really creatively inspired.
Nath Keo - Originally from Cambodia. He is an AMAZING and fantastic teacher. The choreograph combinations suitable for intermediate dancers and Nath Keo repeated them often enough for everyone to learn them. The great thing was he allowed workshop participants to take video when he dance.
I really am glad I went. I wish I could have attended all his workshop. A great experience!
My camera suck! Photo with Nath Keo come later.

Saidi Rhythm - Dum Tek Dum Dum Tek

I remember when I did the cane dance choreograph for my student in recent competition, she refused to use the cane because trawling the cane caused pain in her wrist. She told me she don’t like the cane dance since she learned once in my previous lesson - that was Yaho by Hakim.

She want to dance Saidi without cane. I understand that a cane is an optional prop for Saidi-style. But that is nothing wrong dancing saidi without cane because the organiser don’t bother what we are gonna to dance. As a teacher, I insisted include cane in my Saidi because of the Step-hops to this music. I explained cane are fun to dance with, end up she practiced a lot! Haha…she is always lovely.

If the competition is Rakset Assaya or Raks Al Assaya, then you must dance with cane/stick because Rakset Assaya is actually means "stick dance" which I learned from workshop. You can dance Saidi without cane as long as there is a saidi rhythm. Maybe I am wrong, hopefully one day I can ask more when I go to the cane workshop.

I love saidi rhythm ' Dum Tek Dum Dum Tek….' I just Love it Love it lo….And I love cane dance. The 1^st workshop I hosted was Saidi cane dance in 2006 and I have only 5-6 participants (too bad no supporter want to come). I love most of MED songs and rhythm. To me, MED rhythms are so great, either 'Dum Tek Dum Dum Tek' or 'Dum Tek Tek Dum Tek... ' Well, .enough with my 'thoughts out loud' here.

Video

This is the original cane dance choreography for Malaysian Open Dance Fest 09 Competition. But for competition I was told that the music has been edited to 2.3 minutes. So my ori and the competition piece was slightly different.
Grace made her costume in Penang. I told Grace to remove her veil, not practical when the veil blocking her full body. I cant see her ‘choo choo shimmy’ lor !
We don’t have any video on the competition day. That’s because I was not able to take the video. I am uploading our practice video and will upload the competition one once I receive the video from the organiser. In the meantime, take a look at the video here!

World of Competition - Final

Move to final..

The semi final music given by the organiser was Saharani of Najiwa Karam. This is modern saidi so I did the cane choreography. And it was by a breath's width from the entry daedline that I finished to teach the whole choreography.

The final song Modnaka Gafa of Bassam Ayob. Classical Orchestral, all about drama and emotion, most people dont enjoy it. Thanks God she moved her body, moved it....moved it...

Costume - I get the design for her.
Costume made & beading - Mother (great job)
Head band, copied from Samra.
Cane - Khai Shin decorated.

Fabric- Kamdar Textile.

Midnight Chereography

The intermediate individual competition was a bit challenging. All the contester receive the final piece of song on Saturday. The song was used in Prof Hassan Khalil workshop I took in Singapore last time. But I cant’ remember the whole choreography he taught.

After the TTDI event over, we went to dinner with my students. Came back home already 11.30pm. I sat down and listen to the CD but I cant stay awake to do the choreography. I know the feeling. My mind doesn’t work at all at that moment. Stayed up too late the night before caused me sooooo sleepy!! In this situation I know I need to sleep. So immediately I fell asleep while Khai Shin still practice her cane dance.

I was waken up at around 2.30am. I am pleased to say that I slept well for 2 hours, and its so wonderful to get up in the midnight. Again I listen to the music and I did manage to note down the choreography for the 2.3 minutes of the music. Then I went back to sleep at 3.30am.

Waken up at 8am and sent 2 of my students to Pudu bus station. Both of them wanted to go back to Alor Setar early. It was already 12pm after I sent them off. Khai Shin only have 2 hours to practice the whole choreography I did last night. Good thing she is fast learners student, but this time she just aren't inspired by the choreography and music selection, I think the "noise" was in her head that keeps her from concentrating on the steps to the dance.

Time’s up!! We need to shower and make up! She recorded the whole dance in her hand phone and play it non stop....Stay tune, next is the result of the competition..

Hot! Hot! Hot!

I forgot to mention the worst thing at TTDI hall, I was told by the organiser that the air-conditioning system broke down when I arrived. I thought it would be an hour long while getting the expert technicians to check or repair.

The hall was extremely hot and stuffy... No air conditioning, no fan! I don’t know whether it was the management tend to turn a blind eye to this sort of problem. Yes, I have often commented on this as where I work gets very stuffy.

I get very hot, sweaty and uncomfortable and so do my students. They suffer discomfort and vomit while waiting in the hall. Outside the hall, which was ‘a bit cooler', boys and girls were playing there because they want to avoid in very hot conditions. I heard from my friend that his 7 years old hip hop boy fell down while playing, he was then sent to hospital. I don’t understand and I have no time to ask why the management did nothing while the hall was crowded by over 300 contesters & supporter till the event over!

Dancing on another part of the World

Dancing on another part of the World - my bedroom!

Came back from TTDI hall, took out costume, shower, get ready for practice. See Khai Shin struggled with the limited space practiced, kept trying the cane choreograph for next day competition while I was dreaming.

Competition World - Semi Final & Final

Arabesque Troupe (4th placing) - Kind of like my baby. The team is considered relatively brand-new accept Khai Shin competed before.