Like everything else about me, even my dance style threatens to defy definition and categorization! I've got an eternal Gothkid in me that I can't completely shake; no matter what "style" I'm dancing, those little goth club dance gestures and moves creep in one way or another, and my background in Transcendental Dance tends to lend a sort of "floaty" quality to both my expressions and choice of improvised moments.
I've been working hard the last year to learn the foundations and basics of Belly Dance, trying to perfect my technique, posture, presentation, etc. But I think that there are just going to be some things that will always stick with me. And I guess that's not such a bad thing. Maybe that's "my style"; I'd hate to just be another of a hundred tribal dancers I've seen out there emulating Ms Brice in clone fashion. Even she is a dynamic dancer, always evolving her style and methods and coming up with new and different ways to amaze us. And yet, there will always be something in her dance that is "Rachel"....
Anyhoo.....here's my two latest solos, performed recently at Dancing the Rainbow Studios with a group of my best gals, lead by Pepper of Poisonbelly. Warning: they are both long, running close to 7 minutes. The music was kinda last minute choice, so I didn't get a chance to make edited cut down mixes of the songs -- they are dance club length versions. For someone like me, used to dancing for up to an hour non-stop, it's nothing, but I know anything over 4-5 minutes can be tiresome on an audience. First song is "Tempted" Conjure One Mix by Collide, second song also Collide, "Predator" Final Mix.
www.youtube.com/watch
www.youtube.com/watch
I'm interested to hear any suggestions, ideas, or constructive criticisms. Thanks!
I've been working hard the last year to learn the foundations and basics of Belly Dance, trying to perfect my technique, posture, presentation, etc. But I think that there are just going to be some things that will always stick with me. And I guess that's not such a bad thing. Maybe that's "my style"; I'd hate to just be another of a hundred tribal dancers I've seen out there emulating Ms Brice in clone fashion. Even she is a dynamic dancer, always evolving her style and methods and coming up with new and different ways to amaze us. And yet, there will always be something in her dance that is "Rachel"....
Anyhoo.....here's my two latest solos, performed recently at Dancing the Rainbow Studios with a group of my best gals, lead by Pepper of Poisonbelly. Warning: they are both long, running close to 7 minutes. The music was kinda last minute choice, so I didn't get a chance to make edited cut down mixes of the songs -- they are dance club length versions. For someone like me, used to dancing for up to an hour non-stop, it's nothing, but I know anything over 4-5 minutes can be tiresome on an audience. First song is "Tempted" Conjure One Mix by Collide, second song also Collide, "Predator" Final Mix.
www.youtube.com/watch
www.youtube.com/watch
I'm interested to hear any suggestions, ideas, or constructive criticisms. Thanks!
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Re: Not your usual Fusion Dance....
Thu, November 29, 2007 - 11:35 AMOk. First let me say you do start strong, and when you set yourself onstage you are in postion and poise. Both pieces had well constructed openings.
As your dances progressed something happens within your posture, that maybe style influenced, but comes off less performer and more like a "cluber" I don't want you to turn into an Indigo imitator or give up your gothclub essence (love Goth fusion). It maybe the way it was filmed, but to me it seems you start directing your energy and focus downward, bringing your shoulders to a slight hunch. This causes your rib cage to sink lower into your core center. It makes the separation between upper and lower body movements blured. And it cuts off flow to your hands. A good example of a well extended, but flowy Goth dancer would be Ariellia. But you do not need to imulate her style, just note her extention and range of motion. If you get a chance to take an Odessi workshop they really help one learn to fire every muscle to the finger tip.
I think it's great your using Collide, but with shorter versions you maybe able to "map" out an improv that keeps your audience with you for the whole ride. Great job, it takes a ton of bravery to not only perform, but offer up clips for feedback. April -
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Unsu...
Re: Not your usual Fusion Dance....
Thu, November 29, 2007 - 4:45 PMThanks for pointing this out. I have had this feeling about "fading" mid song. One of my toughest challenges seems to be balancing technique with fluidity: when I concentrate too hard on technique, I get stiff...when I "let myself dance" I loose posture and presentation. It's something that I'm just going to have keep working at to find the in-between that presents a smooth yet polished performance. *sigh* -
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Re: Not your usual Fusion Dance....
Thu, November 29, 2007 - 5:06 PMPosture is the strongest thing calling to me in watching your videos. You've got lovely arm articulation and you're clearly in and connected to the music, so checking in with your posture will be the *biggest* thing to give you better results. You also have very straight legs through most of the work. One of my more frequent sayings is that if you're going to do the work, you might as well get the full bang for your buck -- and how you do that is by making sure your knees are bent, chest lifted, and tail tucked! You'll get much more bang for your lovely buck by making sure of those three things. This is especially true for floorwork! When you started on the floor kneeling, you might try to stay in the "sit" or mid-sit for longer. Don't come up to a full-straight L position because your hipwork starts to get restricted. Try sitting into it more. It's more work, but it'll look oh so much better.
And kudos to you for sharing and striving for improvement! -
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Unsu...
Re: Not your usual Fusion Dance....
Thu, November 29, 2007 - 5:54 PMThank you for all these suggestions. They are sort of like the "key" to solving some of the other issues, rather than just thinking "fix those problems!"
I was a riding instructor for many years, so you'd THINK that posture would be something I'd pick at myself about more. Basic riding position IS "hips, knees, ankles bent and flexible, sit-bones tucked underneath you, chest tall and strong". Maybe I need to pretend I'm riding when I'm dancing! *grinz* -
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Re: Not your usual Fusion Dance....
Thu, November 29, 2007 - 10:53 PMWhat a cool connection to make, ZenKat! I have to ask my troupie, who also loves riding, if this has been true for her!
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Re: Not your usual Fusion Dance....
Thu, November 29, 2007 - 11:40 PMI think that's a *great* connection! In bellydance, you're basically trying to do the same thing -- you want to have "shock absorbers" between your feet, your hips, and your chest. Try it out and see how it feels!!
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Re: Not your usual Fusion Dance....
Fri, November 30, 2007 - 8:32 AMZen Kat- I've been using the riding posture reminder for the past couple of months and its really helped me. -
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Unsu...
Re: Not your usual Fusion Dance....
Fri, November 30, 2007 - 12:46 PMIt's funny because when I first started belly dance lessons, my initial comment to my instructor was: "Hey, this posture is pretty much what I told my riding students to do to lower their center of gravity and stay in balance with the horse. Like gymnastics or dancing -- you have to be able to absorb shock, stay strong, yet maintain grace."
Oh, how the memory begins to go with age......heh.
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Unsu...
Re: Not your usual Fusion Dance....
Fri, November 30, 2007 - 12:48 PMforgot to mention: the main HUGE difference in the posture is the arms. In riding it is PARAMOUNT to keep those elbow in at your sides!! No chicken wings flapping! I do find that old muscle memory figures into my arm posture and I constantly have to consciously tell myself it's OKAY to get my arms up and away from my body. I want those pretty arms, dammit!
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Re: Not your usual Fusion Dance....
Mon, December 3, 2007 - 10:21 AM
As a former English rider who spend WAY to much time on the Quarter horse circuit I agree with you that the posture is very alike. As a Tribal Bellydance instructor I find teaching students who have a lot of riding experience posture a much easier task.
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Re: Not your usual Fusion Dance....
Sun, December 2, 2007 - 5:42 PMI won't add much to the comments about posture - but yes, something to work on. It's fantastic that you already have a posture understanding from riding, that'll help a ton.
You do not need to try to do something to every element of your music - your dancing gets a little messy, not because the technique is bad, but because you're attempting to catch every beat and every aspect of the music. You end up with a whole bunch of imprecise layers of arms, torso, hips, hands - everything not quite fitting together. If you structure your improv a bit more and pare things down, it'll be more powerful and fit well with your dramatic style. You had some great moments where you were just doing one thing - a torso rotation, or moving your arms, etc - during slower bits. Emphasize that. Repeat movements when phrases of the music repeat, that kind of stuff. Simpler will read better, I swear.
I might lose the gloves in the future - they draw attention to your hands in a weird way. Everything else about your costume choice really suits you & your dance style. It's lovely. -
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Unsu...
Re: Not your usual Fusion Dance....
Mon, December 3, 2007 - 10:34 AMThis fits in with some feedback I've gotten on other forums. Less is More. K.I.S.S. (Keep It Simple Stupid!)
Or as the Taoist tenant says: "It is on the empty space between the spokes of the wheel that the usefulness of the wheel depends".
*think Ohmm. think Ohmm...." -
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Re: Not your usual Fusion Dance....
Mon, December 3, 2007 - 12:57 PMOh, I like that Taoist quote!
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