Last Wednesday night, a group of enthusiastic BellyUp students participated in our first audition to create a brand new student performance troupe. We started with a one hour choreography class to "Move Your Belly" which the girls loved. They worked so hard, asked good questions and were absolutely focused. After the first hour, we took a break and then got back to work to finish the choreography. I chose this song as it's got a great rhythm...not too fast....not real slow but has a wonderful groove that I thought the girls would enjoy. Plus it's a piece I use in class frequently so I knew they'd be familiar with it. Most of the technique was from the Level 2 vocabulary and I threw in a few new steps that they had to quickly master. OK so there was a bit of fear in the room when I brought those moves out! lol. But they soon nailed the steps, determined to learn. I saw plenty of grace, rockin' undulations, poise, some good stage projection (but I nagged them I wanted still more!). Overall, I was really excited to see some strong potential in this group...ok I'll admit, I was visualizing them in fabulous Sahar Okasha costumes from Egypt. But those of us performers know, it takes alot more than a gorgeous costume to make a good dancer. I really wanted all the girls to have a chance to put their best foot forward (figuratively and literally) so I decided to give them an extra week to practice the choreography and we'll do the videotaping next week. Lou Lou was leaving on vacation so she decided to do her audition right after rehearsal. Now she's on vacation biting her finger nails. lol.
We also got a chance to sit and discuss what they could expect from the audition and what life would be like as a troupe member. I emphasized that I consider troupe members to be BellyUp Ambassadors. Our student performers inspire many women to try bellydance and it's important that we're aware of how important our role is in presenting bellydance as an art form and also as a dance form that is accessible to all women of any age, shape and size. That has always been a very important message for me to communicate. Also our student performers must have a passion for this dance form and a hunger to learn all they can about it, its culture, history, the famous dancers and musicians, and importantly the music - because as dancers the two are intertwined completely. Being a troupe dancer, is more than showing up every week for rehearsal and a lot more than just having an opportunity to wear a beautiful costume. We are each responsible for working hard at our craft and improving our technique so that we give this dance form and those who created it the respect it deserves. And as Jim Boz put it, Western dancers must look at this dance through Eastern eyes.
Life as a troupe member is busy and there are quite honestly sacrifices that often have to be made. There's at least one long rehearsal each week and more if we're preparing for a show. On top of that, students have to keep up with their own class time which is mandatory as well as at-home practice to rehearse choreography. Each member is responsible for being fully prepared for weekly rehearsals otherwise teammates are let down. And multiple absenteeism is grounds for dismissal. At the end of the day, a troupe is a team. Some people and some dancers work better as soloists. Some people work better as a team. And as part of a team, you need to leave your ego at the door because there's no room for an "all about me" attitude. So troupe life definitely requires commitment and a particular mind set and openess to feedback in order to get better. Those who can make the commitment, will enjoy a sisterhood that's hard to match and a wonderful life experience. Your dance learning curve is quickly accelerated by the additional class time, rehearsals and coaching. You benefit from an enormous amount of dance instruction above and beyond your class time which is at no charge.
I've always been willing to invest a great deal of time and passion in developing dancers and helping those who really want to perform and excel at it, do so. In turn I ask for their dedication and commitment to work hard and do their best! Like anything, motivation comes from within, all I can do is help provide the tools and foundation to help you do it well! Some women see bellydancing as a hobby and come and go from the dance. But many and more and more often, women realize that bellydancing is something they cannot do without in their lives...because it's in their blood.
As for the audition next week, I'm looking for each girl to simply SELL ME!! To show me what they've got through their enthusiasm, emotion, and attitude in their performance. And you don't have to be a professional to show that you love what you do. Raks Sharqi is a form of entertainment and as dancers that perform, we owe it to our audience to give them more than what they expected to see. Audiences want to be transported to another time, another era, and be entertained if only for a few minutes. BellyUp's mantra has always been dance from the heart and that's what I look for in our troupe members....the ability to smile and have fun and share that with those we're fortunate enough to perform for.
So please wish our BellyUp girls the very best of luck next week as they perform their routine for the final audition. I'm so excited to see them dance and shine and look forward to presenting you with what I believe will be a knock-out student troupe in the very near future. A very special thanks to all the girls who participated last week. And I can't wait to see you next Wednesday!
Friday, May 15, 2009
Student Troupe Auditions
Last Wednesday night, a group of enthusiastic BellyUp students participated in our first audition to create a brand new student performance troupe. We started with a one hour choreography class to "Move Your Belly" which the girls loved. They worked so hard, asked good questions and were absolutely focused. After the first hour, we took a break and then got back to work to finish the choreography. I chose this song as it's got a great rhythm...not too fast....not real slow but has a wonderful groove that I thought the girls would enjoy. Plus it's a piece I use in class frequently so I knew they'd be familiar with it. Most of the technique was from the Level 2 vocabulary and I threw in a few new steps that they had to quickly master. OK so there was a bit of fear in the room when I brought those moves out! lol. But they soon nailed the steps, determined to learn. I saw plenty of grace, rockin' undulations, poise, some good stage projection (but I nagged them I wanted still more!). Overall, I was really excited to see some strong potential in this group...ok I'll admit, I was visualizing them in fabulous Sahar Okasha costumes from Egypt. But those of us performers know, it takes alot more than a gorgeous costume to make a good dancer. I really wanted all the girls to have a chance to put their best foot forward (figuratively and literally) so I decided to give them an extra week to practice the choreography and we'll do the videotaping next week. Lou Lou was leaving on vacation so she decided to do her audition right after rehearsal. Now she's on vacation biting her finger nails. lol.
We also got a chance to sit and discuss what they could expect from the audition and what life would be like as a troupe member. I emphasized that I consider troupe members to be BellyUp Ambassadors. Our student performers inspire many women to try bellydance and it's important that we're aware of how important our role is in presenting bellydance as an art form and also as a dance form that is accessible to all women of any age, shape and size. That has always been a very important message for me to communicate. Also our student performers must have a passion for this dance form and a hunger to learn all they can about it, its culture, history, the famous dancers and musicians, and importantly the music - because as dancers the two are intertwined completely. Being a troupe dancer, is more than showing up every week for rehearsal and a lot more than just having an opportunity to wear a beautiful costume. We are each responsible for working hard at our craft and improving our technique so that we give this dance form and those who created it the respect it deserves. And as Jim Boz put it, Western dancers must look at this dance through Eastern eyes.
Life as a troupe member is busy and there are quite honestly sacrifices that often have to be made. There's at least one long rehearsal each week and more if we're preparing for a show. On top of that, students have to keep up with their own class time which is mandatory as well as at-home practice to rehearse choreography. Each member is responsible for being fully prepared for weekly rehearsals otherwise teammates are let down. And multiple absenteeism is grounds for dismissal. At the end of the day, a troupe is a team. Some people and some dancers work better as soloists. Some people work better as a team. And as part of a team, you need to leave your ego at the door because there's no room for an "all about me" attitude. So troupe life definitely requires commitment and a particular mind set and openess to feedback in order to get better. Those who can make the commitment, will enjoy a sisterhood that's hard to match and a wonderful life experience. Your dance learning curve is quickly accelerated by the additional class time, rehearsals and coaching. You benefit from an enormous amount of dance instruction above and beyond your class time which is at no charge.
I've always been willing to invest a great deal of time and passion in developing dancers and helping those who really want to perform and excel at it, do so. In turn I ask for their dedication and commitment to work hard and do their best! Like anything, motivation comes from within, all I can do is help provide the tools and foundation to help you do it well! Some women see bellydancing as a hobby and come and go from the dance. But many and more and more often, women realize that bellydancing is something they cannot do without in their lives...because it's in their blood.
As for the audition next week, I'm looking for each girl to simply SELL ME!! To show me what they've got through their enthusiasm, emotion, and attitude in their performance. And you don't have to be a professional to show that you love what you do. Raks Sharqi is a form of entertainment and as dancers that perform, we owe it to our audience to give them more than what they expected to see. Audiences want to be transported to another time, another era, and be entertained if only for a few minutes. BellyUp's mantra has always been dance from the heart and that's what I look for in our troupe members....the ability to smile and have fun and share that with those we're fortunate enough to perform for.
So please wish our BellyUp girls the very best of luck next week as they perform their routine for the final audition. I'm so excited to see them dance and shine and look forward to presenting you with what I believe will be a knock-out student troupe in the very near future. A very special thanks to all the girls who participated last week. And I can't wait to see you next Wednesday!
Sunday, May 03, 2009
BellyUp in Belly Dance Magazine's June Issue
We're excited to announce that BellyUp and our dance troupes will be featured in the June issue of Belly Dance Magazine. BDM's publisher contacted us regarding the proposed feature and we couldn't have been more thrilled. What an honour to be featured in this prestigious and gorgeous magazine devoted entirely to all things Raks Sharqi. Tarab, Ma'ya Fire and Zanubiyah will be covered in the feature with editorial and photos of our hard working and dedicated troupe members.
Belly Dance Magazine is published out of California but covers Middle Eastern Dance and Music, events, news and performers internationally. You can visit their web site at http://www.bellydancemag.com/ to get more information on how to subscribe.
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