threaded | unthreaded | newest first

Now, when you're REALLY just starting out...

topic posted Mon, September 14, 2009 - 9:10 PM by  Kathryn 		Share/Save/Bookmark
Advertisement
I just read this post: tribalbellydance.tribe.net/thre...72ef9

I'm a dancer fetus, on the cusp of my birth, but I'm still months away from delivery!

It's been a year since I first discovered bellydance. I'm nowhere near what I thought I'd be by this time. Mostly due to my own fault, and getting married, but I suppose it's also because I never really took the time to figure all of this out. (BTW, this is my first post on tribe.net!) I just climbed out of bed today, and knew that it was time. I've bought the videos, a few books, and I'm about to splurge on a simple outfit from GeishaMoth that I've been oogling for the past two months. Fortune must be on my side, because I just moved to Okinawa and have already found a new teacher. I won't see her until Thursday, so I thought I'd do a little pre-class homework. Now, the question is:

Where do I seriously begin?

I've started with yoga, searching for the best DVDs and gym class listings out there. I've read numerous articles and watched over a 100 dance videos on youtube easily. I've gone though the DVDs I already have at least 50 times each, but I still feel as if I haven't really started... Is there anything I'm missing?

Help!
posted by:
Kathryn
offline Kathryn
Japan
11 friends
join to post
Advertisement
Advertisement
  • Kaleena
    Kaleena
    online 59

    Re: Now, when you're REALLY just starting out...

    Mon, September 14, 2009 - 9:58 PM
    Practice. I don't mean to sound trite, but practice. Use all of those DVDs you've got. Switch them out day by day so you don't get bored. It's great that you've gotten yourself real live instruction. DVDs make great supplementary instruction.

    Keep exposing yourself to different dancers. Be careful that you don't come up with "Envy" syndrome. Where you're enjoyment of another person's dance turns you into a creature that covets what they have. I'm an expert on that because I've been there. Allow yourself to be inspired by others but don't turn into them. Since you're starting, it's inevitable that you will mimic another's style to a certain extent but please know that you will begin reaching greatness only when you truly begin to express yourself. Keep practicing.

    Learn the history. If you're immediately drawn to tribal, that's great. However, don't get so caught up in the coolness that you neglect where the dance came from. Embrace the avant garde as well as zills and 9/8. Don't be the dancer who claims to have studied for several years and then realizes she can't tell a beladi from a chiftitelli. That happened to me. Makes you feel ridiculous, it does. Learn the basics. Can't run before you can walk and as someone much wiser then me said, "You can't break the rules until you learn them".

    Don't allow studying to get in the way of practice. Create a balance. I know that I can't be the only person who's allowed her love of Tribe.net to conspire with her innate talent for procrastination, thereby preventing me from practice. Likewise for Youtube vids. Limit your intake to a healthy amount. Keep practicing.

    Learn the movements properly, but make sure to put on music and just dance too. This is also part of practicing. This along with prolonged study will enable you to get in touch with your innate style.

    Practice even when you don't feel like it. You'll feel better for it.

    Finally, remember to keep practicing. :)

    join to post
    • Kathryn
      Kathryn
      offline 11

      Re: Now, when you're REALLY just starting out...

      Tue, September 15, 2009 - 5:21 AM
      I can't begin to tell you how helpful that was, Kaleena. Thank you so much!

      Lately I've been pushing myself to go through at least 3 DVDs a day, then do some research in the afternoon to settle down before bed. Now, if I only I could tear myself away from the computer to actually get the rest I need for the next day!

      But.. what helps you to FEEL like a dancer? Besides the practicing? Are there any rituals or customs that helped you when you first started? I've recently started to rethink my house to give it a more earthy and natured feel, which always inspires me to dance or meditate. This might sound really silly, but I've been following Neena and Veena's "Way of the Belly" to really get myself in the mind set.

      I feel as if I haven't made that transition from human to dancer yet, and it's really eating at me. Just wiggling a body the right way can't be all that's to it. Maybe I'm digging too deep for something that really isn't there, but my journey of soul-searching has led me to dance, so I'd really like to make the best of my time here in this world.

      What am I missing?
      join to post
      • Kaleena
        Kaleena
        online 59

        Re: Now, when you're REALLY just starting out...

        Tue, September 15, 2009 - 7:18 AM
        OOOHHHH......gotcha. I misunderstood. Allow me to be so bold as to take another crack at this.

        You know, I think just about every dancer struggles with this at some point. Going from someone who might simply have a passing interest in belly dance, to someone who has made it a part of his/her life has it's ups and downs. Sort of like the birthing process really. It's when you have your heart invested in something is when you start to get scared. You're probably a dancer when you feel like you have something to lose. Cold comfort when you're sitting in your room in a moment of dank depression that's doing it's best to make you feel like you can't possibly do this, give it all up and hey, think that carefully collected set of DVD's could create some kind of inferno? Let's find out!

        Oh. Is that just me? Sorry. I'll continue.

        I think it's mostly a matter of time. Feeling like a dancer and feeling like you earn the right to call yourself one will happen eventually. Know that you'll still be a plain ole human too. As spectacular as it all is, you will still have the same human condition. The difference being in that you will be a more improved version of yourself. You'll be improved because you had the guts to have a creative dream and go after it. You stopped wasting time saying that you'll get around to it one day. That in and of itself is a hell of an accomplishment.

        Get yourself into the mindset. Treat yourself like a goddess, but know that inside you will still be you. One day further down the road, you'll find the word "dancer" rolling right off your tongue, your initial lack of ease having ebbed away at this point.

        Alright, I've fizzled out a bit. More caffieine is necessary. I look forward to seeing the other kooky responses that end up here. :)
        join to post
        • Kathryn
          Kathryn
          offline 11

          Re: Now, when you're REALLY just starting out...

          Wed, September 16, 2009 - 3:42 AM
          It's not just you at all.

          I'm tired of being this person who lacks all passion for life. I have my passing fancies, commit half the effort for months at a time, and then burn out into nothing. I just float to whatever's there in front of me, only to get carried away by another current. But in the past two years I've been circling the dance drain, on the edge of taking that plunge off the deep end, but... yeah, I'm terrified. You can't fail at something if you don't try in the first place, right?

          Could it be that I'm dancing because I NEED to, and not because I HAVE to? Is there even a difference? Practice, and practice, and practicing till my legs hurt and I can't lock my hip to save my life - would it do just that?

          Oh, gosh, I'm babbling now. Well, you get the point! :]
          join to post
    • greer
      greer
      offline 16

      Re: Now, when you're REALLY just starting out...

      Tue, September 15, 2009 - 7:42 AM
      wow, i really appreciate this post a lot. i'm really just starting out too, and i really do love all the tribal stuff... but i think what would really make me "cool" is to know what i'm doing and have all the basics down. as much as i like all the tribal fusion stuff i just... don't want to end up looking like everyone else someday. i think i have my own unique style just waiting to blossom, and the spirit of this dance is burning in my soul. it's very primal.

      that being said, i have been drilling myself like crazy trying to keep the faith that this is what will make me a successful belly dancer. i am trying to work up to two hours of drilling a day... but is that crazy? i don't want to over-do it... but i love it so much and it feels so good to dance and i really want to start learning choreography in a year. does THAT sound crazy?
      join to post
      • Kathryn
        Kathryn
        offline 11

        Re: Now, when you're REALLY just starting out...

        Wed, September 16, 2009 - 3:45 AM
        In my year since I first started to actually drill the moves I have noticed a difference. I haven't committed myself hardcore in the past three months or so, but already I can tell that I do look somewhat less like a swan humping a doorknob! Teachers help loads, though. I'm thinking it may be worth to make a few videos of my practice sessions and then have someone correct what I'm doing via the web. Couldn't hurt to try, no?
        join to post
        • Anthea
          Anthea
          offline 170

          Re: Now, when you're REALLY just starting out...

          Wed, September 16, 2009 - 6:30 AM
          Great posts Kaleena -
          Kathryn it sounds like you're just in transition & that's why you feel so "itchy". You'll feel better once you get a regular schedule going. Regularity is much more important than it sounds. And then you develop patience to keep going until you really know you've made progress.

          What you might find interesting is taking videos every month or two of yourself dancing or practising, so you can see results better. Sometimes it's hard to gauge our development because it's so gradual.

          And since you already seem "poured out like water" all over the place - which can contribute to feeling like you're not "getting anywhere", why not cut back on your outside stimulus that's taking you in so many different directions - i.e. using so many different videos. You can't do it all at the same time, you have to focus on one path at first. You CAN however, just watch videos if you feel a need.
          But since every teacher's a little different you'll have a hard time switching back & forth between techniques (especially when you get in front of a real live teacher who wants to see you do what she's been trying to teach you).
          What do you think?
          join to post
          • Kathryn
            Kathryn
            offline 11

            Re: Now, when you're REALLY just starting out...

            Thu, September 17, 2009 - 9:59 PM
            I think that makes perfect sense. I was reading another post, and someone posted one of the smartest things I've ever read: "jack of all trades, master of none." I think I've just zeroed in on my problem: I'm EVERYWHERE and getting NOWHERE. It seems I'm having trouble just keeping my focus on the one main thing I can't seem to remember: I don't even know all the basic moves yet, and already I'm trying to turn myself into something I can't actually be at the moment.

            So either I'm rushing myself, or maybe there's some truth to that article, and now I'm an "energy-cazed teenager" all over again. I might start a journal or a blog to help keep my thoughts in order. The videos definitely, thanks very much to the tribe I've been directed to in that other post!

            I just had my first class in this new area last night, and it was amazing. I'd forgotten how wonderful it felt to sweat for an hour like that. I don't quite know how to phrase it in any way that would make sense, but something's started. I can't stop smiling.

            If you have any more articles about such things like the last, I'd really like to read them, Anthea!
            join to post
            • "Shay"
              "Shay"
              offline 519

              Re: Now, when you're REALLY just starting out...

              Thu, September 17, 2009 - 10:11 PM
              That was me Kath, and it really is an important thing to remember. I hope you find your focus and really get to dig in and make the progress you are hoping for!!
              join to post
              • Kathryn
                Kathryn
                offline 11

                Re: Now, when you're REALLY just starting out...

                Fri, September 18, 2009 - 7:03 PM
                You are officially one of my new muses then, Shay!

                Thank you so much!
                join to post
                • Zee
                  Zee
                  offline 26

                  Re: Now, when you're REALLY just starting out...

                  Sat, September 19, 2009 - 6:19 AM
                  Yes to all of the above. I found in June when I went to my first festival and mixed with other dancers and soak up their knowledge and experience and learn that struggle is all part of it was a boon to me. Doing the yoga warm ups made so much of a difference and after much procrastination I did yoga before breakfast the other (thank you Miss Kihara) and I felt set up for the day.

                  I do a lot of the 'just dancing' part coz if I try and go straight into a choreo and it doesnt work out then I go back to procrastinating. Just listening to music with your eyes closed and hearing the rythmns. I started doing that a lot and hearing the drums and zills (if present) as seperate from the melody. Dancing to rythmn, the heartbeat of the song/music s what has made a difference for me.

                  After my first solo when I mostly just danced coz the stage fright shooed the choreo out of my head and people still asked if I was talking extra classes and the bar staff complemented me, the non dancers getting it was what made me feel like a dancer.

                  When you have a pain, not a full blown injury, and your family ask if you are going to stop dancing then and you reply 'Hellll No'. Thats when I felt like a dancer
                  join to post
            • Anthea
              Anthea
              offline 170

              Re: Now, when you're REALLY just starting out...

              Thu, September 24, 2009 - 7:28 AM
              Thanks - it cleared up many mysteries for me too. That article's just the first in a series of 5 short articles, if you go here you'll see them all linked:
              www.kawakib.com/articles.html
              It's wonderful the way the body craves what it needs; and the body-mind link is amazingly strong - what we think, the body starts to do. So think of yourself as a bellydancer & you'll start to become one.
              join to post
  • Kathryn
    Kathryn
    offline 11

    Re: Now, when you're REALLY just starting out...

    Fri, September 25, 2009 - 6:59 PM
    Just think happy thougths and you can fly? :)

    But what exactly does a bellydancer think?
    join to post
    • Anthea
      Anthea
      offline 170

      Re: Now, when you're REALLY just starting out...

      Thu, October 1, 2009 - 7:48 AM
      hi Kathryn,
      yes, thinking happy thoughts makes you happy! So does smiling :-)
      If you need a mental jumpstart of you = bellydancer take a photo of yourself in costume & put it up somewhere you can see it regularly. Schedule your practise & then do it, and keep track of what you do or want to do (in your practise) in a dance notebook. It starts little by little & builds up.

      If you find yourself "minimizing" ideas by mocking or ridiculing them, check into why you do that - it's a self-defense tactic but it's kind of like a false alarm. In other words, there's nothing to really hurt you, yet the self-defense kicks in. I see students do that sometimes when they lack self-confidence but don't want to do anything about it. (It takes work they don't want to do).
      join to post

Recent topics in "Tribal Bellydance"

Topic Author Replies Last Post
help about song "Bhangra Fever remix" sara 1 Yesterday, 3:12 PM
tribal dance in LA? Jenn 5 Yesterday, 12:40 PM
the stigma of "belly dance" NeoHips & Th... 43 Yesterday, 4:18 AM
dancing after a loss ... hennachick 11 December 19, 2009