My Love Letter to World In Motion and to Bellydance, by Heather Murphy

This blog is part of a series of postings from World In Motion students about taking a break from the studio and what made them want to return...


Time flies by, especially since my now 6 month old son was born.  In the midst of doing repetitive, mindless tasks like changing diapers everyday, I keep trying to capture and treasure important moments.  Sometimes I am able to capture his smile with my iPhone, an instant Facebook post; sometimes it is just a sunny Sunday picnic with my husband and boy that I want to hold in my heart and memory forever.

For me, that is how bellydance feels.  A series of little moments, knowing glances exchanged with your partners, shared smiles, electric energy, all felt in just that instant.  It is the definition of living in the present, feeling the joy of the dance, together.
For all of my classmates and troupemates, dancing gives us time away from life's distractions- a lousy day at work, a sick child, car problems, house payments- it helps move life's challenges into the background, because all you have is now.  You focus on catching the next move, staying in time with your partner's hips.
Dance, the studio, my Saturday morning Advanced Tribal family- they were the one constant in my life after having my son, Sean.  Now a mostly stay-at-home/sometimes work-from-home mom, I was used to working a full-time job as a college administrator and instructor and helping run our beloved little dance studio.  I used to eat all my meals at my desk, or in the car on the way to somewhere else.  Now, I am still crazy busy, but in a completely different way.
I think I enjoy life more.  Instead of stressing about work politics, unreliable team members, and troublesome students, I go for walks with my boy.  We smell the roses and honeysuckle, I explain to him about colors and animal noises.  And I dance.
When I couldn't dance- in the few weeks before and after Sean's birth- I didn't feel like myself.  My whole identity had changed, but I needed to retain at least this one piece of it.
I definitely would not be myself without WIM and my weekly dose of Advanced Tribal class.  The ladies in it are not just my classmates, they are my friends, my instant sisters.  Many of us have danced together for over 6 years.  We've experienced loss, joys, sickness, abundance and struggle together.  They kept me whole, encouraged me to get back to dance, to do something for myself, and were patient as I caught up.
I felt how easy it would be to give up.  I was tired, overwhelmed, a little person needed me, I hadn't showered for some time...All excuses I'm glad I ignored.  And there was my dance family every week welcoming me to shimmy and sway with them again like we hadn't missed a beat.
They helped me be Heather for a couple of hours, rather than a mom, wife, daughter, teacher, or whatever label my obligations placed on me.
I am truly grateful for World In Motion, for being able to help build it, and to keep dancing there, and for finding myself there again every week.

Make-up for Peformance Revisited

 This blog was first published in 2012, and it was one of our most popular postings so we decided to share it again!  We hope you enjoy it, and that you get some good tips to add to your make-up bag of tricks!

At a recent show, someone remarked to one of the dancers, “Wow!  You really look fantastic tonight!”  (I thought so too.)  The performer in question is a naturally beautiful woman, and always looks lovely.  But that night, she really popped onstage, and much of the reason was that she had had her make-up done differently that she normally does it.  What a phenomenal difference it made in her stage appearance!

It got me thinking about how I could improve my stage make-up as well (I am certainly no make-up expert!), and thus I did a little research and came up with some tips and tricks to share with you.  If you find this post helpful at all, please send a picture of yourself wearing your new make-up to share with the rest of us in a future post as we would love to see the new and improved you!

The lovely Hannan Sultan with picture perfect make-up!

Tip #1: Imagine what your stage make-up would look like in black & white. You want to go for a dramatic effect akin to old time movie stars. Under the spotlight, parts of your face may seemingly disappear so you need to use make-up to make your features appear larger.  When you are finished, step back and take a look in the mirror.  Does anything appear washed out or hard to see?

Breathtakingly beautiful Kaitlyn

Tip #2: False eyelashes are a performer’s best friend!  Here is a link to a great tutorial for applying them: http://www.wikihow.com/Apply-False-Eyelashes

Tip #3: Body and face glitter is hot and trendy, but apply it to some specific areas, not all over.  Otherwise you may end up looking like a disco ball!  Use a brush to apply, and only ever use specially designed glitter on your face and eyes.  There are also gels and sprays available for easier application.

 Tip #4: To give your lips the illusion of being more pouty and full, apply a touch of white or silver gloss in the center.  Be sure to use a base of some sort (there are specific lipstick bases such as those by Urban Decay and Smashbox), and be sure to powder your lips before you apply the shiny gloss to set the color.

Tip #5: Be sure to take the shape of your eyes into consideration when doing them.  Too much dark shadow can make some eyes appear smaller and more closed up.  Just because it looks great on Rachel Brice doesn’t mean it will work for you!

Blush brush

Tip #6:  The right tools make all the difference!  You don’t have to break the bank to purchase the right make-up brushes and applicators.  Stores like Target and Walgreens have a good selection of inexpensive tools , and you can also use natural bristle art brushes for make-up application.  Do some research ahead of time to find what type of brush, sponges, etc. you need for different applications (a blush brush isn’t the same as a loose powder brush,  for example).  Print out some pictures or save image urls to your smart phone to bring to the store with you so that you know you are getting the right ones.

Tip #7: Use a make-up setting spray when you are satisfied that it is finished. Urban Decay has a fantastic product, and they are cruelty-free to boot!

Exotic and exquisite Rachel Brice

Tip #8: Have a make-up kit packed and ready to go with you to performances.  It should include the following:

·         Foundation

·         Pressed powder (easier to transport than loose powder)

·         Eyeliner: most dancers prefer liquid waterproof eyeliner in black

·         Blush and/or bronzer

·         Lipstick: dark and rich reds are often your best bet

·         Lip gloss in white or silver

·         Eyeshadow: multi-color packs are good for when space is limited in your dance bag

·         Mascara:  Blackest black unless you are pale blonde, then brown-black.  Waterproof is best for avoiding raccoon eyes

·         Tweezers

In researching this post, I came upon a fantastic article on how to apply belly dance performance make-up.  You can find it here: http://www.ehow.com/how_4594319_apply-belly-dance-performance-makeup.html

Tribal style dancers often need some extra help achieving a signature look, so here is a You tube video with some tribal style make-up tips.  She is a bit talky in it, but it does offer some good pointers for the tribal dancer:

Okay, now go practice and be sure to show us some pictures of the new, more striking stage-ready you!!

What Types of Exercises Can I Do to Improve My Dancing?

There are many reasons why people pursue instructor-led dance. From social interaction to physical benefits, dancing is a great form of artistic expression, stress relief, and exercise. For those who want to strengthen and sculpt their bodies in order to enhance their dancing, there are other exercise disciplines that will complement your dance practice and help you to meet that goal.

WIM Yoga Instructor, Karen

Yoga  

Yoga stretches the body while relaxing the mind. Yoga is a low impact way to stay limber and prevent
strains and sore muscles sometimes associated with dancing. Yoga is a gentle way to start and end your
day. Some of our instructors incorporate yoga poses as part of their  warm up, cool down and stretch routines, and it provides a terrific method for strengthening those all-important core muscles essential to good dance posture and technique.

Resistance training

Long lean muscles, often a hallmark of strength and grace, can be acquired through weekly resistance
training. The Mayo Clinic warns muscle mass naturally diminishes with age. Instead of allowing your
body to turn it into fat, gentle strength training can rebuild lost muscle and help you develop greater stamina.When performed properly as part of an overall fitness plan, you can control the amount of bulk gained so that you can become as toned and sculpted as you would like to be.


Pilates

Pilates is an excellent way to strengthen the body, especially the core. Pilates is low impact, requires controlled breathing, and uses your own body weight.. Incorporating Pilates into your fitness plan will

improve your posture and flexibility - necessary qualities  for budding and veteran dancers alike. It is adaptable to your  fitness level and needs and improves both energy and posture- critical elements of dance.

Cardio

There are many ways to work extra cardio into your day in addition to a structured program.  Aim for
ways to add concentrated bursts of cardio to your daily routine to improve circulation and endurance. Even taking 5 minute walk at lunch, taking the stairs instead of the elevator, or parking further from your destination will help. The benefits of cardio in dance include greater endurance during long practice sessions and in performance. Dancing is no fun if your heart and lungs are unable to keep up!

 





Visualization 
Learning to see yourself as the dancer you want to become in your mind’s eye and developing imagery of your dance will enhance your memory and performance. Sports psychologists and brain imaging techniques have demonstrated that visualizing a motor skill utilizes the same brain regions as actual physical execution of a move does, and that when done together, physical and mental practice leads to more enhanced performance than either technique alone. Learning and remembering new moves is a balance of your mind and your body working together. Visualization techniques in combination with practice and physical exercise will teach you to become more focused and will benefit you in other areas of your life other than dance.

Only your health care professional can determine which type of exercise program is best for you to
pursue.  Dancing can be as much or as little of a lifestyle as you choose. The time spent in the studio is
disproportionate to the time living daily life outside of dance, but by beginning or improving your exercise routine, you not only improve your dance but your overall health for wherever the music takes you!

Let's Get Started Belly Dancing!

As with many cultural activities, belly dancing is not native to the US but is a fusion of international influences. Belly dance in its contemporary incarnation pays meticulous attention to form, technique, posture, and costuming. One of the most compelling and beautiful aspects of belly dance is that it is a physical expression of both music and emotionality.

The imagined skill set required to dance seems to scare off would be dancers but anyone can learn to belly dance. Each person is born with an innate propensity to move to music- just watch a toddler when they hear music playing! Belly dance promotes positive self-image, wellness, and enhanced cultural awareness and is an excellent form of low-impact exercise that is suitable for all ages, body types, and fitness and experience levels. Plus it is so much fun! Today we will go over 5 basic belly dance techniques that you can start doing right now.

Starting Stance

    Belly dance is about beauty and grace. For these reasons, it is important to remember there are no sharp angles. Soft poses combined with fluidity in movement keeps the dance feminine. The basic stance is critical for executing the dance properly and safely After a bit of time, it will feel as natural as breathing!.

Stand with your feet pointing forward, slightly(about hip width) apart. Bend your knees slightly. If you look down, you should be able to see your first 2 toes, but not the rest of them.

Keep your pelvis in a neutral position- neither tilted forward nor back. Imagine that it is a bowl and that you don’t want to spill the contents of your bowl on the floor in front of you nor on your own body. You should keep your lower back relaxed. Remember if your back hurts the next day…your posture was wrong!

Relax your shoulders, rolling them back and down, and lift your chest by engaging your upper back and upper abdominal muscles. Allow your arms to hang naturally at your side, with your thumb touching your middle finger.

That’s it! Now you’re ready to safely go into any pose or routine.

Hip Shimmy

   Time for the famous shimmy. There are several types of shimmies depending on the dancer and the style. For now let’s start with the hip bump. This is where it is important to remember your posture and keep your neutral pelvis and abdomen engaged. Keep both knees bent throughout this move; just unbend each knee about half-way to get that hip to lift. Be very careful not to lock the knee on the side you are trying to lift, and keep your derriere relaxed. Bump one hip for each beat of the music, alternating right-left.  Try to keep the movement straight up and down (like pistons in a car) and try to avoid any side-to-side motion. Watch yourself in a mirror both face on and sideways to be sure that you aren’t sticking out your derriere as that will only result in lower back pain. Gradually increase your speed and with practice, soon you will be shimmying like a pro!

Snake Arms

    Back to the basic stance. It’s time for those beautiful snake arms. This isn’t a matter of flailing your arms up and down like a drowning swimmer, but involves mastering them via controlled fluidity. Starting on the right side, lift first with your elbow, then the wrist, then the fingers. Don’t lead with your wrist or you will lose control of the movement! Try the same thing on the left side, and then eventually try to alternate sides without stopping in between. Remember, the rest of the body should not move.  In time, your arms can become light and look as though they are floating upwards - a beautiful illusion that will  be sure to entrance your audience.

Shoulder Shimmy

The shoulder shimmy is a strong and powerful move that can be done alone or layered over other moves. Start by pushing your right shoulder forward. Now push your left shoulder forward as you bring your right shoulder back. Keep your hands still and far enough forward so that you can see them in your peripheral vision.The rest of your body should not move. Belly dance is about isolation. Continue to alternate shoulders, increasing the speed until the alternating forward motion is a fluid transition from one side to the other. Congratulations! You’ve just learned the shoulder shimmy!

Head Slide

With the shoulders loosened, it’s a perfect time to add a head slide. The head slide is incorporated into many dance routines to add punctuation and depth to a dance. While keeping your chin parallel to floor, slide your head first to the right, then left for each beat of the music. Don't jut your chin out, and keep your shoulders back and down. Keep the slides small at first until you get used to them. Visualize having a pencil hanging from your chin and trying to draw a straight line back and forth on the ground. Have patience! Head slides take a while to get the hang of. Try practicing in front of a mirror, and do it slowly at first. When you can repeat these motions without moving your shoulders, you will have mastered the head slide.

Now you know some basic belly dance moves! Practicing at home is a great way to start, but having some in-person guidance will ensure you are executing the moves safely and correctly, and  will allow you to interact with other beginner dancers. Our instructors believe in a hands on approach and want to share the love of dance with all their students. Come visit us during an open house or sign up for a class to learn for yourself how easy it can be to belly dance!