My New Warm Up Excercise!

Last two week, I have back ache when I got out of bed in the morning. After sitting over for too long, I felt pain in my right hip, I could barely walk or stand. The pain in my low back was so severe that I could not even begin to do my warm up routine that I had done in the past. My entire experience was a pressure.  It was unusual for me. I went to the doctor, after injection and taking pain medication for a week, I felt some relief. The relief got better after every day.

Now here’s the thing, during my warm up session, I do different exercises depending on what I feel I need the most. Obviously, I need to adjust my routine, I don't want more damage but I do need to exercise my back regularly. In order to warm properly and to avoid to curl my back forward, I started with standing exercise mostly stretching before I did the aerobic dance for my warm-up! Of course, I probably knew what is aerobic activity. I did all these moves in my aerobics class for the past ten years. Once I do, my mind connected while getting the aerobics dance moves put into different sequences and combinations. I did a lot of the step-touch in different directions for variation too, it was much more fun and we were sweating at the end!

Well, I was surprised my students love it! And they wanted more! Oh, my goodness, they made me proud. I have to fit an exercise routine into my already busy schedule, I'm not sure I could do it two times a week. And I know that I definitely prefer belly dancing. I would missed that when teaching fitness, but being a good workout/sport, I will think about it.

Right Track From The Beginning

Let  me hit the highlights of what I actually did this week.  I was pretty much off work on Thursday and Friday, so I had a relaxing WoW time visit my friend in Ipoh,  I enjoyed my favorite food, chat and sleep a lot!!   

And back here  I am start a new beginner choreography for my private class tomorrow!  My mind went blank. Hahaha! Not kidding!! I would say the hardest thing is to choose the music for a student who  is  never attend my technique class before. I watched her dance movement  in my studio  before she committed  my choreography class.  I would say, the most important part is the foundation work.  Like anything that I learn, If  I learn it right then I’ll on the right track from the beginning.  

And now, I am going to have a tough time in my teaching - I’ve to think how to approaches on helping her  up correctly, that’s the hardest thing I’ve found. That’s probably the most important thing to start a student off correctly in their knowledge, and, of course, to really, if anything, know the  proper technique, learn how to do that well.

Nothing is impossible. But really, if you love what you love too to do,  it will come. I found the music,  I finished the whole 3.30 minutes choreography. Been exhausted after two hours practice!  I keep the steps  very simple, not too complicated as she  is getting through the foundation work, so I would say the beginning part starts with her commitment and dedication… So that’s very important!

Yay,  Way of experiment to create a good student!  I am sure I have a certain  thing that I do to  bring  her  along and make her  somebody who wants to learn. 

Chinese Folks Dance Competition

吉北華小中華民間舞蹈觀摩賽 

It's amazing when  the Persatuan Guru-Guru Sekolah Cina Kedah Utara North Kedah (Chinese School Teachers Association 吉北华校教师公会/吉北华小發展工委會) arranged the Chinese folk dance competition on 8 Oct 2010.  The competition is designed to improve public awareness and raise the performing standard of Chinese dance through friendly competition and meaningful adjudication.

The Competition is focuses strictly on Chinese folk dance and is judged by three adjudicators. And I was one the adjudicator and the other two  are famous in  teaching  Chinese dance teacher.  Our job is to provide meaningful written adjudication so that students  will leave this event with a better understanding of how and where they can improve as individual dancers, and as a group.

For Chinese dance competition, the emphasis is on presentation and choreography. There is less emphasis on technique. The adjudicators' will score the four regular categories on the basis of costume, props, presentation, expression and choreography. Scores are out of 100 and the average score is the one that counts.

I was touched when during judging. I really seen the students quality and spiritual aspects. The purpose of the competition is returning to pure truth and kindness of  Chinese traditional dance. Their style is very elegant and they successfully show pure Chinese folk dance. A big THANKS to all  the teachers!! At the end of judging, adjudicators  marking results were visual. I was amazed that we judge honestly no matter what you may think. Every one were happy, and of course I seen some of the students were crying too. I just think you should trust us judges to make the right decision. Generally the right dancer will win, and if you have a problem with the competition/markings speak to your teacher.

After the competition, we went for dinner together with the organisation team. I told them “All the students in the competition have a good understanding of Chinese dance and strong ability to display it. I love it and wish they continue to learn  in the future as modern day people are no longer as good and pure as those gods cherished in the past”  

The four team finally won and  currently scheduled to participate  in  Sg. Petani/Kulim soon. Wish them good luck!!      

The Champion - Kota Sarang Semut School

2nd  Placing

 

  

3rd Placing 

4th Placing

Chinese Folks Dance Competition - I've been already excited to see how it'll grow and develop in the coming decade.

New Choreography - Tribal Solo

Malaysia Tribal Festival on 9 Oct - I bought the ticket  but I am not going because I am exhausted! The exciting things that is my lovely kid belly dancer Grace Heng will perform  a Tribal Fusion Solo. 

I just choreographed my new tribal solo after Taiping competition. Good thing Grace had learned  the fundamentals of tribal style steps, foot and arm in Nanci Traynor workshop, so It is easier part for me to brush up on technique with body awareness, example the Flamenco posture, make sure  my little tribal dancer wont lost it when she dance fusion. I know it's a small point, but it makes a big difference to the authentic flamenco look. And  I  am  proud and confidence that I always  respect the genre I am  fusing with. 

Grace in Tribal Costume

I am sure Nanci Traynor will be happy when she watch Grace perform a Tribal Solo. I wish she can go shine on the stage tonight!  So if you see her, please help me to give some courage to her, her parents and her friends (6 of them) will be there with her too. Thanks a lot! 

Grace had costume rehearsal last night, I laughed so much when she said  this to me "Teacher, my head is so heavy with all the stuff on my head" :D:D:D

How I wish I can be there tonight .....

My Bellydance Photo of the Year 2010 Contest!

Hi everyone, I am in the middle of a online photography competition and I'm excited to see what I  get to do with my photo. Of course I wish to have the chance to win some prizes. I really want to win, and all I need are votes from my family and friends. You simply need to click on the link, view my photo, and vote it. If I get enough votes, I win. It’s that easy! Please use the link below  to vote for my photo. I am at my Contestant No  #3 

http://www.bellydance.com.sg/
 

www.bellydance.com.sg

Bellydance Photo of the Year 2010

Please forward this to anyone else you know that could help me out. 

Thank you very much for your vote. I will keep you posted as to what is happening with the Contest. Wish me luck!

Sahara - Lebanese Style Workshop in K/L

It was fantastic Lebanese workshop with Sahara on Saturday & Sunday! Sahara is a gorgeous dancer! First time in my life I saw a belly dancer teaching with her sport shoe on! It seems like different style of dance master makes a big difference in the experience. The workshops were totally new for me! The workshop I attended :

Modern Choreography Lebanese Style

Balady

Drum Solo

Arabic Interpretation and Culture

The workshop was scheduled to run for two hours and we would be learning a (+-) 2 minute choreography. Woohoo! The music tends to be faster than oriental music. My back has been aching work on the shimmy, cant felt my legs at all! The fast spin, hip movements are more crisp than Egyptian style. And at the end I was exhausted but happy!! I love her choreographies, it was such a FUN to learn and do the movements.

I don't know much about Lebanese style, and Sahara explanation of the nuanced differences in Western styling in Lebanese vs. Egyptian raqs sharqi, Turkish helped me to understand much more. I believe that knowing the history behind it can change the way we dance and the way we think about it. Amazing that something is so small can have such an impact on my dancing too. Shukran for the notes and no regret I went for all the workshop!

Sahara, I cant wait to see u again!!