Announce Soon....

Woke up early found myself feeling unrefreshed this morning, so I indulged myself with a ‘small sleep’ during work time to recharge, hehehe…..

In Studio, we started to solve out the date close down for Chinese New Year Celebration. I know some of them running around just trying to get everything done in time, some just want to continue until the last week of CNY. And I still have items on the List that I haven't yet done, (as usual, always at the very last minute) Few more weeks to go and my office got a one week break for CNY , will see how and announce the date for close & open for dancing class soon.

WOOOOOO.... Shimmy Shimmy

Ouch! I did choo choo shimmy, choo choo step more last night. The good news is that my calf muscles heal much more quickly this time. I still avoiding impact activity and wearing flat to work, so I look short with flat shoe, fine for me during the recovering process.

Choo Choo shimmy, as far as I know is also known as the Tahitian shimmy. It is perform on our toes, and is a calf killer if you haven't worked up the strength and stamina. To practice, keep a soft knee (bend knee), make sure you're in correct posture! The balls of your feet stay on the ground, step right - push right hip up, step left - push left hip up, the push is from hamstring, start slowly and speed up, when you choo choo, every time you step your hip goes up. I know it's hard and this is a bit messy to explain without a visual, but hopefully this will help out my students.

Flutter shimmies (Abs shimmies) are what is killing me right now! For a long time I have been trying to learn this wonderful abs muscle control in hopes of being able to layer belly rolls with shimmies. I was lying in bed to go to sleep last night and practiced a little. I put hands on my stomach, pant and try to feel muscles use, then exhale let my tummy hang out. Then without inhaling, suck my stomach back in. Then let it out, suck it, suck it, suck it… OMG, I was like my over heated dog trying to cool down, the poor thing is that the diaphragm moving around my belly really made disgusting squishy noises, end up I get hungry and get some biscuits to fill my stomach. It was fun :)

WOOOOOO Shimmy Shimmy… WOOOOOO Bellydancing love it lol.

Do What I LOVE, Love What I DO

Last weekends was a bit hectic with yucky house work. I have to do a lot more but I am happy doing so. I love my house being clean and I absolutely can't stand clutter and messes. Without maid my money is saved, each maid cost a lot monthly salary, agency fee and makan too. But for me, I think I move about more, so I did keep slim rather than eat, sit and not move. I do some ironing, bring in clothes, take from washing machine and hang, clean the floor, wash my car, etc. Still a lot not done yet, I just take it easy and think that something won't be done today can do it tomorrow. Like what my best friend said, do it slowly and do it with love, you will feel happy to do it. Ya happy… happy till I got backache lo!! Also, he said, do what you love, love what you do!

Of course, doing what I love make learning a pleasure, and if I curious and love figuring things out, almost everything becomes an opportunity to learn. I agreed! If I don’t love what I do (I work to live), there’s a different situation. Ideally, at least I am doing something I prefer, and I tap into the elements I like as motivation. And more, I’m also trying to relate them to learning and to things that affect my dance journey, “dance to learn, learn to dance” this is how I tap to continue to learn and it should be ‘hard fun’.

I recalled several days before, my new student requested me for private class to teach her the basic steps which we are doing in the class right now. Honestly I am glad, though, seems the least I passed along a few good tweets for them to enjoy! In helping her to practice and learn, I told her to come early for half an hour before the class start - the ‘hard’ part of the fun is Work!

And I do believe passionately in self-learning; if I’m not learning, I may as well be dead, hahaha.....I intend to keep learning, and continually challenge myself with new tasks, take responsibility for making it hard fun! This is what I LOVE to Do!

Start Zill, Do The Drills

My job is keeping me incredibly busy and there’s a bunch of personal projects that are taking up a lot of my time, so not much blogging time left. First off, I start with the serious stuff. I zill quite decently already, hmmm… but not perfect!

Zills in Turkish, (sagat in Arabic) are small cymbals that are attached to the fingers and played either within a musical group or while dancing. To me learning zills is one of the hardest parts because, we as a dancer need to coordinate with the movement and playing the zills and dancing at the same time. I've got a couple sets of zills. This is the set I actually use - more expensive is so much better. Mine “ring” when clicked together quickly. Lovely sounding. One set that I never use - lightweight set of less expensive zills.

Dum-es-tek ….dum-es-tek…, RLR or 123? I actually found dum-es-tek-es-tek dum-tek-es-tek tek es worked best for me rather that RLR… I ended up getting my Right & Left all mixed up. Very noisy! I am sure people thought I was completely mad last night. Believe it or not, I don’t like zills, I don’t teach zills at the moment. During the limited time I have, I feel it is more important for me to teach on body technique than the finer points of zills syncopation. I used to play it because it was expected, and like it or not I have to learn them to move on to any of my Advanced class later. Apart from when my middle fingers and thumb turn blue, I hated the sound in my ears and I hated the way they compromised my hand movements.

Every time I practice, my dog bark, my cat run away, my mom either hide in the room or ‘throw me out’. I remembered while in my 1st zills workshop, the teacher told me to use a baby sock idea put them on and practice. I laughed at the idea, but they really do help keep the noise down so I can practice with my zills and not give myself a headache. Another idea is zill mufflers. Some people make little mufflers for their zills. I found mufflers patterns crochet from Shira website: http://www.shira.net/zillmufflers.htm. I have never tried this, I have not learn how to crochet zill muffles, I really need to make some, especially if I actually wanted to practice with anyone in earshot in the late night.

Yes, it's hard and practice is the key to learning. Now, time to start Zill, do the Drills. Anyway, I should be off to bed now – it’s 1am and I have to get up early. Goodnight everyone!

ARRRGH....calf muscle hurt again!

What a day............. so sad that my calf muscle injured again last night. Not sure why, while we were practiced our fusion choreography, and all of a sudden it started hurting, I felt awful pain on my calf muscle and I had to stop, all students came closer to me, one quickly stopped the music, one pulled the chair for me, I started having difficulty to stand, I felt painful to a touch though. I told them my calf muscle hurt!

The rest of 15 minutes the students continue practice without me, and I sat down taking their videos until the class over. For the next class, I got to stand up to show, teach, point, I know if I don't get out there for this new beginner class, they definitely would just stand there. The dancing cane in the studio was my walking stick last night. Luckily with the help of Albee , I counted the beat they do, I shouted out loud go forward, backward, change and go Right/Left and etc….Thankfully they can copied every move when Albee did. Eh, so much fun to see Albee was a bit ‘kan cheong’ (panic) and keep scratching her head. It seemed everyone had a fabulous time, myself included. =D

Finished class and the muscle is tight and sore. I also feel a small soft pea sized bump in the middle of my calf . I have a history of torn calf muscles, last year Nov I tore mine twice in 2 months. It took few weeks off and have been OK since then. This time, I do not want to go to the doctor, the very reason that all they do is give me pain medication. Instead of going to the doctor I went to a senior Chinese Physician today. ARRRGH..... Only I know when it is right to go back to dancing :(

Well, cancel my evening class and etc, spend my time sorting my music, let my fingers dance - just have my zills place in my hands and play R L R R L R not to master the steps.

Tribal Style Belly Dance - Cues, Transition & Formations

Woke up at 6am and went all the way to Penang to fetch Nanci. Almost reaching Penang bridge, Nanci called and told me she missed her 7am flight. So she took the next flight to Penang. The workshop was delayed for half and hour to start. Thanks God, the participants won't have to wait too long.

In the past few months Tribal Belly Dance workshops series with Nanci Traynor, we focus on culture, clothing, theory, music history, drilling and dance the 8 basic movement, all of this is enrich my experience. And now, I don’t need to take my best guess what is exactly under the big old tribal umbrella. To me, tribal style is about community, a group improvisational style, a distinct type of dress, and attitude.

During the Cues and Transition, Formation workshop yesterday, Nanci want us "put it all together" to dance and lead. She cued the music with her voice “Yip” when is dancers turn to lead and it turned out great! We didn’t discuss what we would do and then let instinct take over. Yea…It was so much fun. We used this same technique practice non stop we love it.

I noticed that all the workshop participants know how to follow that troupe format. I am glad that they (including my little girl Grace) do not intend on this being the only format they follow, but they do understand number of moves and lead. And we mirror each other from across the room without losing the connection. There is something in our spirit open enough to let any dancers in. See, we know the cues, transition and formation but for the most part we go by instinct to follow each other when we dance. This is the best high!

I felt part of tribe. I am familiar with their style, I only need a small amount of time to click or connect with tribe dancers. I can greet them, and I can have a conversation through dance. I don't need to spend a lot of time on repertoire for this dance, I am now part of a community in Tribal Style Belly Dance Malaysia. Hurray!

Spending all day doing this is exhausting, but I love it. Lalalalalalalalala…..Yip!

Oh and something different....

Over the weekend, my neighbour Kang, who is also my schoolmate, has been living in K/L for more than 20 years, came back and invited me for his daughter’s wedding dinner on Friday night. Wow… I met so many of my classmates that night. But truth is, about half of them were from my primary-secondary school and I usually forget that we were primary classmates… I was invisible to them and they were too ‘advanced’ for me (my mum didn’t allow me to hang out or catch a movie or go out last time) so we never really knew each other after I left the school. I was surprise only 2 ladies on that dinner table. Kang told me that others girls he invited did not turn up.

We talked a lot. Although this gathering is last minute planned by Kang, I was glad that we get along well and have a long laugh with. Also surprised and sad to hear 3 of my classmates sudden passed away. My prayers go to his young family. I hope god gives them strength and courage to navigate through these rough seas of life.

Yeah, long story short. After dinner, we hung out in the karaOk café near my house. I never been there before - its a private members club... but very nice!!! A great place to hang out! Later, I don’t know who put up the tunes of Indian music, everyone, I mean everyone - the guests and staff were clapping and singing along and gave me a very warm welcome. It was very strange to me when they pulled me to the dance floor. As not to disappoint everyone, I did belly dancing and I felt completely lost in the music and the everyone was lost in there with me. Haha…One of my all time favourite dance moments so far, powerful and moving. I wouldn't normally dream of such a thing and was still very strange I belly dance in my jeans!

Alright, I’m done with the mildly interesting thoughts I had floating around my head for a bit. Time to go back to work. Oh, before I go, just one little bit more: And some friends, you just lose touch with when you grow up

Haida & Caroline Workshop

Finally, the workshop I mentioned before has already rescheduled. Caroline workshop, the same date on 17th and 18th with Hadia, Caroline workshop details will be up soon. Check out http://medaze.blogspot.com/.

Click here http://www.arabesquebellydance.com.my/hadia2010.html for Hadia workshop writeup.

Registration is open. Hope to see you there!

Drills, Skills and Improvising

Review my beginner class on Thursday night. This class is not similar to my others. Before I started this class, I got headache on how to teach this mixed level class. The students in this class – some are with me for 3 to 10 months, some have been dancing with me for years, some have not taken belly dance at all, I found this is very interesting and make me step back from my own teaching style.

Example I taught a “step-touch” forward and backward and added challenge to a “step-touch”. I’ve become more aware of how I am teaching students, inspiring them, and motivating them to look at belly dance as more than exercise or something fun to do, but also as an art form that can change lives.

We drills and skills some basic step for a number of times, I want them understanding of the power of music. Not just the ability to move their body. For those ladies had been dancing with me, I also want them to feel the music that stir the soul. I want them to hear the music, feel the music, and be moved by music. I put on the music without me dancing, I told them to improvising to music, expresses their personality, add their arms movement and I stick to certain ‘safe’ step traveling around. You know what? They were shy and afraid to look silly when learning to improvise dance, particularly it is new to them. I replay the music 3 times push them continue to make it interesting.

After the class over, the ladies realized that drillings is one skill all dancer can improve on and is essential to them. Seeing them beings understanding my movement creation gave me a mental high for the rest of the weekend.

Our next lesson is challenge yourself by changing the musical styles, travel around creating interesting and varied dance movements, whatever your style as a dancer, put on the music and see where it takes you, be true to yourself and to the way the music makes you feel.

So true! Practice and learn good technique, and let your style come though on its own. Don't skip fundamental skills.

They Would Never Skip A Warm Up

Last night, we had belly dance fusion class with lots of arabesque step which requires the extension of the leg behind the body., I took extra time to stretch my calf muscles before I dance to it. I still can felt my calf muscle ache when I speed up the step, I slow down more and remember I'm not going to injure myself again. But also remember that, I must take care of myself, then I can help to take care of others.

I have a group of young teenagers in my new beginner class, some of them might be tempted to simply skip my warm up session or tend to ‘sembang’. I noticed couple of time they will often not move to the floor while others are doing the warm-up drills. While warming up is a simple thing, it is often neglected by young teenagers, especially those who are less experienced and those who always have to rush to class by their parents. It would pain me when they shortcuts my warm up session.

I raised up my voice by calling them to move to the floor for whole warm up session. I told them to remember Warm up Results “If you don't adequately and properly warm up, you are not experiencing the gains you could, and you're definitely increase your risk of injury. And would get hurt and be out of action for months, my warming up is only 5-6 minutes long, for the best results, it is important to warm up every time you start dancing with me!”

Wakaka….they would never skip a warm up again. It is amazing...sometimes the "teacher voice" is class management. This also make me in love with teaching and I'm having a lot of fun!!

My Mind Is On Fire!!!

Sipping on my coffee in a beautiful Thursday morning. So many thoughts going through my brain suddenly…. So many things to do, so many people I want to see…In life, I meet people. Some I never think about again. Some, I wonder what happened to them. There are some that I wonder if they ever think about me? And then there are some I wish I never had to think about again. But I do.

Well, I am making my lists for the day, and the week, with plans for 2010. What do I want from my dance in this year? First, I have been wanting a change, though, and decided it should be on my blog. I think it is time to remember that everything we do makes a difference, some good, some bad. Everything…. I am seriously thinking of either moving my blog to somewhere that I can control the CSS, its still in the air but in the mean time the look of this site will be changing over the next little while. Therefore be patient as I try out a few new templates.

Lots to do in office. I'm gearing up for a bit of time off work, so there's lots to finish up and put together so I can be gone and not worry about things. I have a meeting after work tonight and tomorrow too - ugh. Oh well...better get on it all.

Things are madness as of now at my house with my maid is leaving. I bet you can imagine my stress with the problem maid! I am sending her back to the agent tomorrow! Ahhhhhh….

Conflict...

I just realized that there is another workshop on April 17 & 18, 2009 which is also clash with Hadia workshop. Hadia entire Asian schedule (Singapore/Bali/Jakarta/Hong Kong/Malaysia) is set and has been for months, the flights are all purchased and therefore can not be changed at this point. This conflict definitely will result in having both of the workshops loose student.

I am amazed when someone bringing in a foreign instructor, I am so grateful to have chance to learn the biggest or littlest things in my dancing life. There are tons of workshops around in Malaysia, I think we, organizer should get in touch to review the exact workshop publicity so that people in around Malaysia would know about the dates of workshop!!!! I also missed out numbers of workshop during last year’s conflict! Many thanks in advance if the organizer for understanding and willing to share the dates.

All in all, though, Hadia's workshop will go ahead as planned and keep the publicity rolling.