*Practice Makes Perfect's topics - tribe.net

Too Hard on Myself?

Angell — Mon, 07 Jul 2008 14:50:58 GMT

I wonder if anyone else has this problem...... I'm very lucky in that if I see something once or twice I can generally pick it up right away or I will get it while I'm "playing" and not thinking about it at all....But there are a couple of things on Ansuya's video that are just confounding me 8(
I get so upset with myself that I'm not getting these! I can do it on the slow break down, but when she goes to tempo, I suddenly become deflicted looking..... and all out of pattern!! Am I expecting too much of myself? How can I get through it?

posted in *Practice Makes Perfect - 2 replies

Terra's Practice Journal

TerraNoir — Sun, 06 Jul 2008 03:48:37 GMT

Hi!!! I'm new!! I joined this tribe just before I lost my internet! Soooo I'm sorry for not introducing myself sooner! I kinda went on a tribe overload and just joined alot of different tribes. lol I'm just kinda the odd lil duckling in my class. The goth girl learning ATS if you will. And it works some days and other days it doesn't. Just feels a lil lonely y'know. Any rate. I'm quirky and a huge dork! So I guess I'll go on to what I am working on this month.

Currently I'm trying to make more time for practicing at home. I just got this new apartment with tons of space in the living room...for now anyways. We don't have any furniture in it so its pretty awesome. Only thing is though I've been running around like a chicken with my head cut off turning this thing on...yelling at my landlord and all of that fun stuff that I wake up get going and come home and pass out. So I'm going to make a conscious decision to practice at least after work for a half hour. And then maybe for an hour on the weekends and my days off. Does that seem like a good number to you guys...if not ...then definately let me know!

I'm working on my shimmies....I can do it stationary all day long...well til my knee wants to be mad at me. I can't do it forever without moving my knees around abit. And any sort of walking with it...its a no go. It just ends up looking very very sloppy and weird. Any tips and pointers will be awesome!

Then I'm working on undulations...up or down...My up ones are a lil bit more stronger than down ones...I'm definately going to be drilling that like heck! Again any one has some suggestions on how to get them to smooth out a lil bit that is awesome. Though I'm having issue isolating those muscles...again any tips will be awesome.

Then there are my down hips...they are crisp and awesome at times and then they are just crap...And tricks...cuz what happens is...my brain goes into auto-pilot at home and they look awesome...I go to class and i try to do it and my teacher just kinda shakes her head and tries to get me to do them right. She gets a lil frustrated with me on that one.

Lastly...layering...I don't know why...I can't get my body to do that very well at all...trying to get all of my body parts to do two things at the same time. I suppose thats the one time I can't claim I can chew gum and walk at the same time. Nope...it just turns into this kinda of a train wreck...starts off real good and then just crashes.

Well thanks for listening to my rant!!!

posted in *Practice Makes Perfect - 0 replies

Erica's Practice Journal

EricaDatura — Tue, 03 Apr 2007 20:27:41 GMT

Whenever I try to practice I do random stuff without any focus. Which is alot better than nothing but tonight I'm going to find a CD and practice one move for each entire song.

posted in *Practice Makes Perfect - 13 replies

Fajera's Practice Journal

Fajera — Tue, 21 Nov 2006 17:37:33 GMT

11/21/06
While my legs ache from being out at the club and in heels all night. I honestly am avoiding doing anything more than stretching those muscles.
So, I have shifted my focus in practice to my upper body.

This means, undulations, rib slides and circles and chest pops.
Sticking point.
Making the moves visible under and ample bust line and keeping them clean and crisp in the process.
Having an ample chest, I tend to see my movement in a skewed view. I think some of it, is me feeling like the movement is lost under the 'girls' and in being lost I over compensate by making the movement bigger than I need to.

Drills for the next couple days:

Chest Lift, slow and stretchy 50x
Chest Pops, slow and crisp 50x
Chest Drops, slow and easy 50x
Rib Circles, right 50x and left 50x

Upper undulation, 50x
Lower undulation 50x

Upper Ab Isolation, 25x or until it makes me nauseous.. since my belly doesn't like to roll.

posted in *Practice Makes Perfect - 63 replies

RAQUY & The Cavmen in Sacramento!!!!

rldecant — Tue, 22 Apr 2008 15:18:52 GMT

RAQUY & The Cavemen
Progressive Middle Eastern music-HEAVY on the drumming…

Thursday May 8th
Marilyn’s on K
6:30-7:30 drumming workshop
8:30 show
( to sign up for the workshop please email me at shelly@unmata.com )

Performances by:
UNMATA, Verbatim, & guests

$10 show
$25 workshop & show

For direction and parking info go to:
www.marilynsonk.com/directions.htm

posted in *Practice Makes Perfect - 1 reply

Kimberly's Practice Journal...

Kimberly Rae — Fri, 18 Apr 2008 09:35:51 GMT

Found a new instructor (Shawna at Planet Earth Rising) starting new Tribal class.... today I felt so out of sync.... why? Because I haven't practiced. NOT gonna happen anymore... this place looks like they'll hold me accountable.... good to see some familiar faces in here... Today, I actually made it to class... for me that's a whole lot, next goal, practice tomorrow on the arm work I learned last night as well as with the Rachel Brice Posture and Arm work video.

posted in *Practice Makes Perfect - 3 replies

Cymbeline's Practice Journal

NanSee — Tue, 02 Jan 2007 19:25:50 GMT

I've been keeping a written practice journal but I'll post here as well.

This morning was 30 min of yoga, sun salutations, mountain pose, downward facing dog, cobra (lying and standing), scorpion, bridge, warrior and triangle.

Then drills focusing on isolation, 50 of each... single time shimmies using glutes, locks up and down, undulations up and down. Then slow work on arms focusing on keeping shoulders engaged and strong (I tend to slouch them forward).

Then just full out fun dancing to songs I'm working on for Phantasma Inamorato and Tribal Fest!

posted in *Practice Makes Perfect - 22 replies

Evie's Practice Journal

Evie a.k.a. Evelyn — Thu, 22 Mar 2007 18:53:51 GMT

I am hopeing this will help keep me on track with my practice.Outside of class I drill 1 or 2 days a week and need to do more and do yoga at least 4 days a week and reluctantly do platies class 3 days a week.
Last night in shelly's class I had some trouble with the rock step becuse when I turn I keep wanting to step back rather than out.One thing I need drill tonight.

posted in *Practice Makes Perfect - 25 replies

2 Minute Drills

Bo — Sat, 15 Mar 2008 01:43:05 GMT

I got tired of trying to decide what and how to drill, so I pulled every bellydance song between 1:30 and 2:30 in length onto a single "Drills" playlist. Each song gets one pair of movements: chest lift/drop, hip lift/drop, maya/taxeem, shimmy, 3/4 shimmy, pelvic tuck/drop, umi, rib circle, etc. Or I can use my drill cards. And that way, when the song ends, I know I've done a good block of drilling. Enjoy!

posted in *Practice Makes Perfect - 1 reply

Bo's Practice Journal

Bo — Tue, 02 Jan 2007 17:56:46 GMT

This post will be my ongoing practice journal, as best I can remember to do it, as per Fajera's suggestion for use of this Tribe. I figure now is a good time to start it, because it's a new year (happy 2007!) and I'm coming up on my one year anniversary of bellydancing. When did THAT happen?!

01.02.07
Practice time: 7:00 AM, yikes
Yoga: 20 minutes of yoga in blissful silence, just me and the percolator. I started with a few minutes of sitting, focusing on deepening and lengthening breath - first time at this, and it was a lot harder than I thought. Then I did standing and reaching, standing forward bends, sun salutations, downward facing dog, and some arm stretches.
Weights: A few curls and supinations, just enough to get myself going.
Dance: I pulled one of my drill cards and got Cross-step Grapevines. I did a whole song's worth.

Thoughts: I neglect things like focusing on my breathing because I take for granted that it's hard work. Sitting there on my floor, I suddenly felt out of breath, just from trying to breathe in a regular pattern. I got over it, but it reminded me how the littlest things can be the hardest.

Also, my drill cards are working. I never, ever think about practicing things like the Cross-step Grapevine, but I was forced to do it for three minutes because that was my card for the moment. Again, I was reminded that the things I take for granted can be hard... I kept losing count on my steps for probably 2/3 of the song.

It's hard to make myself practice, especially in the morning, but I feel really good. Also, I had a bit of a nasty stomach from something I ate last week, and while it still hurts I feel like my body is really getting over it now that I've gotten my system working. I need to remember this good feeling, so that next time I want to shirk practice I will recall that it's totally worth the effort. Plus, having the coffee percolator set on 'auto' so it starts wafting coffee-stench through the house when it's time to get up really helps!

posted in *Practice Makes Perfect - 42 replies

Cathy's Practice Thread

waveyoga — Mon, 11 Feb 2008 03:48:42 GMT

Hello All,
I am walking in gratitude from a major life cdhange.
I practice gratitude each and every day.
I dance 2 times a week. I write in my journal every day.I do sudoku each day.
These keep me grounded and appreciativ ein upheavals of transition.
Thank you for this tribe.

posted in *Practice Makes Perfect - 1 reply

Do you Drill.. or Do you Practice??

Fajera — Fri, 16 Nov 2007 05:24:58 GMT

I was in a disucssion with someone recently about the difference between drilling and practicing.

There are a couple different schools of thought on this one... and so.. I will pose my line of thinking at you all and hope for some good conversation.

The way I see it:

Drills are specific sections of something that you do to improve a specific area... ie.. In baseball playing catch would be a drill. Because you are working to improve the hand eye coordination and the catch.
Same with batting practice.. (which is really a drill) as you are working on perfecting the swing and the connection

Working on these two things does indeed improve the performance during a game, but neither of them make the game themselves, unless of course you are either Hank Aaron or Babe Ruth.

Practicing is working all aspects of the area by combining all the drills into a smooth running machine. A scrimage game would be practice.

In dance... it's similar. At lease from my point of view.
If I were to stand in place and focus on a single movement say a shimmy.. Then I am drilling it to improve that one segment. However in order to travel with it, it requires practice.

The reasoning of my line of thinking is quite simply.. No single performance allows a performer to stand in a single spot and work on only one movement (or more) without traveling.

Now because I realize that not everyone shares my views or thinks the same way I do. Please, share with me your line of thinking on this.

posted in *Practice Makes Perfect - 2 replies

daily practise of a tribal babe

Indogo — Tue, 19 Jun 2007 10:08:51 GMT

* 20 minutes supercallanetics
* 40 minutes dance drills
* 40 minutes yoga - before bed

I am now a year into tribal,I understand the importance for me to take daily practise,I am making up for,m lost time.
my goal is to be the best dancer I can be.

my dancers Litany
.....................................
* I am a beautiful dancer
* I am focused
* I always think,talk and act positively
* I am graceful and grounded
* I am commited
* I am grateful of my body and praise its each and every movement.

posted in *Practice Makes Perfect - 5 replies

Da Balance Ball

Bo — Wed, 16 Jan 2008 22:29:49 GMT

I got this in my weekly fitness e-newsletter, and I enjoyed the article. I know not everyone is a fan of the balance ball, but I personally am, and I was pleased to see various core exercises demonstrated. I can't wait to try the oblique one. So, for you ball fans out there, I thought I'd share.

www.shapefit.com/stability...ining.html

posted in *Practice Makes Perfect - 1 reply

Avril L'Mour's RP Journal!

Avril L'Mour — Thu, 03 Jan 2008 06:31:48 GMT

Greetings fellow practice developers! I'm Av, a healing artist purposed toward helping people take greater charge of their own recovery process. I provide the tools, support mechanisms and guidance that empowers individual awakening of the healer within to proactively engage the healing process. We have a tendency to limit our expression of recovery to addiction while there are transcending tenants of healing that may be applied to recovery from all things. My practice focus is toward an integrated healing system of recovery, exploring the dynamic interrelations of mind, body and spirit (the MBS system), returning the healing process to the owner, empowering humanity in that which is most proximal to the sacred Self... the Minds and Bodies inhabited with complete dominion. It's time to take charge of the healing processes. Welcome to the development of my Recovery Practice. Integrative Healing Systems (IHS): Awakening the Healer in You!

posted in *Practice Makes Perfect - 1 reply

Aaminah's Practice Journal

Aaminah — Fri, 30 Nov 2007 21:25:18 GMT

So I joined this tribe the other day and I've been looking at other journals on here to kind of get an idea of whats what exactly, lol.
My main problem is finding the time and a place to practice. The best time for me to practice is early in the morning (like around 6) and late at night so i guess my real problem would be finding the strength and motivation. I also want to focus on drilling but I dont think I know what a drill is exactly, lol. Is it basically like doing the same move over and over or am I missing something? :)
Im going to try and practice this evening after work so I should have an update very soon, also if someone wants to give me some tips on how to set up a practice or possibly give me some ideas of moves to drill that would be great! :)

posted in *Practice Makes Perfect - 6 replies

Stuck on Stupid

Fajera — Fri, 14 Dec 2007 16:36:43 GMT

We all get it... Whether its a combo, a single move, an entire choreography or a section of it.
It could be something that looks simple, in theory and in explanation, incredibly simple.
It could be something difficult that you have been practicing for YEARS and just can't seem to get... or worse, you do get it and just can't smoothe it out to make it look nice.

The whole notion of stuck on stupid is part of what lead me to begin this tribe... The human part of me needed to know that I was NOT alone in these little things that hang me up from time to time...

Anyways.... I have finally made a break through on something I have struggled with for years.
Belly Rolls.

I have sat with several instructors and asked, I've read every thread on tribe that I could find...
My first problems were as simple as the first few times I tried... I couldn't get past the feeling of wanting to be sick.
I still struggled with it. I quit trying to isolate several times in a row and began rethinking about how I could work on this without nauseating myself.
It's been trial and error, lots of tums, ginger and queasiness..

I finally quit getting queasy several months ago... I am fairly certain I am seeing it more because of losing some weight..
They aren't big right now... I still can't do more than a few in a row... but, you can see them now...
It's not like I am going to try and bust them out a the next show...
This was a huge personal goal for me.... and I am sure that with consistent practice, they'll get nicer, smoother, more pronounced.

I'm still stuck on stupid over a few things.... but this seems to be one less thing to hang me up.

So..... I've confessed... What's had you Stuck on Stupid?

posted in *Practice Makes Perfect - 2 replies

catherine's practice journal

wyvern — Sun, 07 Oct 2007 20:15:25 GMT

I did the warm up on beautiful freaks. the first time i realy did any practice in a while.

posted in *Practice Makes Perfect - 4 replies

What's your favorite drill?

Fajera — Tue, 23 Oct 2007 04:23:30 GMT

And how often do you drill for what length of time?

posted in *Practice Makes Perfect - 4 replies

F-ing remote control!! (Not off tipic, I promise)

treja — Fri, 16 Nov 2007 17:12:47 GMT

Last weekend, at Shadowdance I got Ariellas DVD. Totally stoked to add a new DVD to practice with, especially after hearing great reviews.

So, I go home... change, roll out my yoga mat, put the DVD on, AND I CANT GET PAST THE FIRST YOGA WARMUP!! Why? not because I am terribly out of shape (though I am) but because I can't find my dvd remote and you need it to move onto the next segment. Thats crappy. Its been lost for a LONG time. So I think I have to go buy a universal remote so that I can watch my damn dvd's!!!

So, after yelling at my dvd player, I put in the Suhaila Buns DVD. I got through about half of it before it kicked my ass (pun intended) and I had to take a break.

My thighs were sore the next day. I need to get back into dancing full swing. I got too busy and took and break for too long and didn't do NEARLY enough dancing. Im out of shape now and am having dancing withdrawals.

Job for this weekend: get a universal remote. Do Ariellas DVD, then attempt Suhailas again. I need to grow some ass.

posted in *Practice Makes Perfect - 2 replies

joints

EricaDatura — Mon, 15 Oct 2007 16:50:08 GMT

I tweaked my wrist a while back and it got really bad over the weekend but sure enough as soon as I decide I need to see a doctor, it gets better almost overnight. Now I don't think it warrents waiting all day at Primary Care just to have a doctor say either take it easy or than nothings wrong with it.

What's good for a healing joint besides taking glucosamine? Like I said it's not bad enough to see a doctor, but it does inhibit hand floreos.

posted in *Practice Makes Perfect - 4 replies

Mysteries of Muscle Memory

Ramona — Fri, 19 Oct 2007 03:02:40 GMT

Article from www.DynamicBellyDance.com
by Ramona

When you learned to write, you trained the muscles in your arm and hand to create letters. It took time and concentration to do this, but with repetition it became automatic. Your hand developed muscle memory; when you write your name, your muscles remember how to move without focusing on the process.

Dancing, yoga, gymnastics and weight training are examples of other activities that require enhanced muscle memory. We can make the learning process easier and help establish muscle memory by using a few simple techniques:

* Visual images

* Repetition

* Slow motion

* Micromovement

Imagery

Using a visual image is an effective way to train your body to perform a new dance step or exercise. The best visual images are those which are familiar and detailed.

In dance, visualizing a movement helps you perform the step. For example, if a dancer wants to make an S-curving motion with her body, she can visualize a fish swimming, a camel walking, or a snake crawling. Since the best visual images are familiar and detailed, visualizing the color, texture, shape and markings of the image make it more vivid and effective. Likewise, visualizing yourself correctly repeating a new dance step or exercise makes the learning process easier.

Many people find geometric shapes helpful. For example, you can imagine drawing a big circle to make learning a belly dance hip circle or circle step easier. A square is a useful image for learning a box step or hip square.

Repetition & slow motion

Repetition helps fix a new exercise or dance movement in your mind, so that the next time you perform it, you remember it more easily and perform it with less effort. Slow repetitions of a new exercise or dance step enable you to feel every nuance of the movement.

Rushing through a movement before you’ve completely mastered it skips over the important process of sensing every nuance of the movement; beginning dance students and exercisers often need to be reminded to slow down. Going slowly helps your muscles recognize precisely what the movement should feel like when performed correctly.

Micromovement

Micromovement means performing a movement in a very tiny way, using the least range of motion possible. For example, if you were writing the letter “O” ten inches high and then writing “o” in a script so tiny it could barely be seen, your “O” would require a much larger hand movement than tiny letter “o”, the micromovement. Using a tiny range of motion helps you sense subtle muscle movements which are occurring, but micromovements must be performed with awareness to get the full benefit. Going slowly helps.

Have fun with learning!

Select the movement or exercise you are working on, then answer the following:

Imagery: what animal, shape or object does it remind you of?

Repetition: what kind of music would help you when practicing this movement?

Slow motion: how many counts does it take you to complete one repetition?

Micromovement:what is the smallest range of motion you can use for the movement?

Ramona is the author of Dynamic Belly Dance, the Joyful Journey of Dancemaking and Performing. See free belly dance videos, read book excerpts and order an autographed copy at http://www.DynamicBellyDance.com

See Articles page at the website for more articles.

posted in *Practice Makes Perfect - 1 reply

Does anyone ellss have this problem?

Evie a.k.a. Evelyn — Wed, 19 Sep 2007 21:18:21 GMT

Okay we all have moments when we get a move or combo in our heads and just can't get our bodies to do the same thing.But has anyone had it the other way around?
I was geting my body to do the combos in class fairly well last night but when tried to go over it this morning it just wasn't coming togethere at all.
Anyone ever have the samething hapen?Any advice?

posted in *Practice Makes Perfect - 2 replies

Bruises Poi and Fun

Fajera — Sun, 22 Jul 2007 19:50:48 GMT

After aquiring some practice poi and meeting a few other El Dorado County residents who are into spinning.. My partner and I have decided to open up a space to get together and practice.
At the moment we are a non-burning group... at least until we get through everything we need to aquire the proper permits for our County.
We'll be getting together starting next Sunday afternoon starting at 3pm.
So... if you live in the area and want to join us.. send me a quick PM and I will let you know where to find us.

Since it's at a friends house.. I won't make it part of a public announcement. We'll be in the Cameron Park area.. a quick 15 minutes (about 12 miles) from Folsom.

I hope to see some of you there.

posted in *Practice Makes Perfect - 2 replies

Amanda's practice journal.

Amanda Hugnkiss — Wed, 18 Apr 2007 01:07:06 GMT

Ok so I need to make myself accountable for what I should be doing that I am not doing!

Each week I will write down my goals for the week.

Practice fast zills.
Choreograph next phrase for beginners dance.
Edit intermediate 1 music.
Newsletter
Flyer for zill workshop.
gym three times
yoga (early morning)
and obviously dance practice, maybe get some dvds out to dance along with.

posted in *Practice Makes Perfect - 3 replies

new here

Indogo — Sat, 20 Jan 2007 11:28:27 GMT

i am in my first year of dance.
great to be here

ind
xxxxxxxx

posted in *Practice Makes Perfect - 16 replies

Treja's Practice Journal

treja — Mon, 05 Mar 2007 21:14:48 GMT

So... I'm hoping this will be along the lines of "If you build it, they will come"

If I WRITE a practive journal, I will practice?... ok. so maybe its a big of a stretch. In any case, I fully intend to start practicing more.

Over the weekend, I wrote down a list of every move I know (though I'm sure I missed some) and a separate list of ATS combos and cues and stuff.

I intend to make flashcards out of both. With ATS, I feel like I follow pretty well. Most of the moves that we have learned i KNOW how to do, even if I can't make my body do them properly. When it comes to leading though, my brain and arms and legs really just go to shit. I would like to remedy that.

I practiced arms a lot this weekend. Last week, amy broke down the timing really well on snake arms. I can do the movement, but would like to get the timing better becuase I always feel a little off.

posted in *Practice Makes Perfect - 11 replies

Sarah's Practice Journal

Sariah — Sun, 03 Jun 2007 19:32:07 GMT

Okay, I'm inspired by all of you, so I'm going to start a journal as well. A wee bit of background first. I've been bellydancing for 2 years, but it's been a little start and stop. I started out at one of those catch-all dance studios, with ballet, tap, and hip hop. When they started up bellydance classes I quit the other classes and just did bellydance. Unfortunately, there some less than fabulous things going on with the studio, I ended up opening my big fat mouth against the injustices going on, and quit the studio. I believe I was right to speak up, but I should have done it in a less emotional, more mature way. Oh well, you live and learn, right? So, a few months later I finally found another teacher. She was actually a great teacher, really knew her stuff, but then started dragging her personal life into class. I was paying too much to be someone's therapist, so I skipped classes for awhile, and then found out she was being held on suspicion of shooting her husband...yikes! So, I took a long break from bellydance, and now I'm ready to start up again. I've been practicing at home, with DVDs, and just dancing around to music, and will hopefully be able to make to Austin soon to take some classes there. Hmm, that ended up longer than I meant for it to be.

Anyway, on with the practice!

Yesterday I worked with Jenna's Bellydance Basics and Beyond. It's working great as a refresher course. After my break, I'm really out of practice and have lost a lot of my "technique".

A few of my goals:

Drill, drill, drill
Fix my arms, they are probably my weakest area right now.
Get my flexibility back where it was.

posted in *Practice Makes Perfect - 4 replies

On flipping out and back again...

Bo — Mon, 18 Jun 2007 21:59:08 GMT

I haven't been updating my practice journal, but I have been practicing my butt off. I lost a lot of stamina over the past semester, because I was so busy with school and work that I barely had time to keep my laundry done, let alone practice. But I'm getting back on track and working really hard on my piece for our studio show on the 29th.

All last week, I felt like my heart wasn't in it. I felt like I had picked the "wrong" music, and I felt at a standstill to either move forward with what I chose or to go back and start over. I felt pretty poopie.

And then for some reason, I woke up this morning and it was all better. I got through my song three times and filled in all the "funky" gaps, and now it only remains to drill drill drill.

I wonder what sort of cosmic fart blew my way? Whatever it was, I'm glad the stink aired out! Here's hoping you're all feeling up to the challange, too.

posted in *Practice Makes Perfect - 1 reply

Acknowledging Limitations

Fajera — Wed, 13 Jun 2007 18:18:10 GMT

As I said in my earlier blog.

"if you fight for you limitations... sure enough.. you'll get them"

We all know someone in our lives who always says "I can't", it can be our children our dance mates, co-workers, family and friends. It is among the most frustrating of things to hear.. Especially when you know they can.

One of my many jobs in my life, I was a swim teacher. I taught toddlers how to swim.. and when faced with something like floating on their backs, it was often met with "I CAN'T!"
In that situation, the response was really their way of saying "I'm scared"

After a deep breath and a warm smile I would ask.. "Are you sure you can't?... or is it because you don't know how?" 99% of the time it became "Teacher, I don't know how"
This quickly became part of my regular class talk with the kids... Afterall, they are very smart small people.
"There is no can't in Miss Stacy's class... There is always I'm learning"

Often we had magic float buttons.. (really is there any other use for the belly button?), and lots of singing ABC's while floating...But every one of them did it... once the fear was gone anyway.

.... Now that the segue is over....

What is it that holds you back from doing something... Fear? Lack of know how? or.. is it just plain, your own impatience?

If it is a physical limitation, do you attempt to be certain you can't? Do you avoid it all together? or... have you learned to compensate?

The reality of "The sky's the limit"... is very true... so long as you learn the difference between.. I can't and I'm learning....
or I've tried it and it doesn't work... and I can do this very well, so... I will make this the best thing I can do.

posted in *Practice Makes Perfect - 8 replies

Khoyins New Practice Journal

Khoyin — Wed, 13 Jun 2007 20:19:00 GMT

Well, do go to class every other Wednesday but that doesnt exactly count as 'practice' . At least not to me, for me, practice is drilling or dancing, or moving on my own. I was getting pretty lax about it....but not anymore
I've been drilling, going over basic moves a little each day.
Also I've been practicing the step combinations from class. Theres one foot combo that for some reason I want to travel and you *cannot* travel, because if you do that, once you go into the back step you *will* fall over. No one could do this move while traveling. I need to remind myself that there is this thing called gravity. Which works.
I'm trying to make the Wednesday I dont have class as my long practice day. I also want to spend I some time on videos...I'd be interested if any of you found that practicing with videos and DVDs improved your skills.
I am dancing more now, and thats good, but my journaling has been extremely poor, and while I'm in the mode, thats good, but I *need* your support and encouragement. Or even a GET OFF YOUR ASS every now and then.
Thanks!

posted in *Practice Makes Perfect - 0 replies

Paper Brains

Fajera — Wed, 30 May 2007 18:11:06 GMT

Another Tribe elsewhere brought this up. {Only because Mad Geniuses like me, can't possibly think all the time without a little help}

Face it, when in school we learned the importance of notes and notebooks. Our own Bo, reminded us about flash cards.
We all have a lot to remember on a daily basis, as many of us are working in mundane jobs; are parents; are students, and have scads of other things we have to remember as well as dance material

The Thinking/Idea Note Book.
~ This is the one that is the most tattered. (for me anyway). It's the one where the idea for a combination will hit and I have to write it down before I forget. (this also includes torn out sections of my desk blotter at work) There are some pages in here that have been scribbled over, because the combo just didn't work.. As it's impossible to have your ankle by your ear, your toes in your nose and still look ...... graceful.

The Doodling Note Book
~ in my dance gear, this one is the most comical. Mostly because try as I might.. I cannot draw.. So, I have grotesque stick figures with awkward costume drawings and notes on notions, fabric and color.
Ironically, I don't share this book with ANYONE.. because it looks like a psycho 5 year old has done the drawings of the bras...

The Workshop/Class Book
~ This book goes with me to workshops... Even though I know it's near impossible to write in the middle of class... I begin to write down things to remember as soon as class is over with. Including the date, who taught it and what exactly we were covering.
While it stays home during regular classes... it gets written in as SOON as I possibly can.
I try to be very careful with this book... because the things that are in here, are often not my own intellectual property.

The Final Book
~ This is the book where everything lives. It's really a gimongous 3 ring binder. There are dividers for workshop hand outs, my solo projects, my group ideas, combinations that work and I don't look like a flamingo on acid.
Any combination that was adopted out of my workshop/class book, gets written in here too.. along with it's artist, especially if I use any of these.

Okay, so now you know about my paper brain..... Do you have one? More than one?

posted in *Practice Makes Perfect - 1 reply

Motivation, Creation, Frustration

Fajera — Wed, 02 May 2007 17:22:52 GMT

It's been a while since I have posted one of these kinds of topics. So, I figured I would do it.

I've recently come through a tremendous battle with creation, motivation and frustration.

I just couldn't motivate myself to get off my rump and drill, dance or move. My creativity was at an all time high, ideas were just spilling out of my head and onto paper.. But, I could bring much to fruition because of my sewing machine not working properly.
So, I was frustrated.
Top that off with dance class not being in the budget and its a real motivation killer.

Then of course, frustration mounts and it slowly begins to eat at your psyche. You begin to feel like you're a sucky dancer, like you shouldn't bother trying and so on and so on and so on.
It really is a viscious cycle.
But..... its one that we all deal with. NO ONE is excluded from this club.
However the cause, varies from person to person.

There is only one important thing to remember, when you are struck with this..... "And this too shall pass" When it does strike, you fix what you can, accept what you can not and wait.

You have to ride it out... just like you have to hold onto the wild ride that comes with a total flash flood of creativity.

And yes, a flood of creativity is just as frustrating as a lack in motivation... Suddenly, there isn't enough time, paper, and everything is in your way... especially non-creative outlets or things that have no relevance to your creations.
When that happens, fear sets in that your ideas will vanish before you get them out.... and yet again.. frustration.

So, now that you all know, I am coming out of a 'dry' spell and moving head long into a total flash flood.....
Where are you?

posted in *Practice Makes Perfect - 3 replies

Tribal Basics DVD?

Evie a.k.a. Evelyn — Fri, 27 Apr 2007 22:30:47 GMT

Iwas thinking of this after reading another thread. Does anyone have Fat Chance Bellydance Tribal Basics vol.4 DVD or VHS I could barow?

posted in *Practice Makes Perfect - 0 replies

DVD vs. Lesson

EricaDatura — Sat, 21 Apr 2007 19:23:51 GMT

I'm completely lost whenever I try to do the Tribal class at Hot Pot. My funds are limited and I'm wondering if it's better to spend those funds on a FCBD disk or a private lesson wiht Amy.

What do you guys think?

posted in *Practice Makes Perfect - 7 replies

foot placement on turns

hopefalling — Sun, 15 Apr 2007 05:44:52 GMT

I'm curious to know---the turns that are so fast, i can do them easily in my ballet shoes but can't seem to make them fast at all in my bare feet. There must be a way to put your feet so that you can go really fast----what is it?

posted in *Practice Makes Perfect - 0 replies

My goals for the moment.

Amanda Hugnkiss — Wed, 28 Mar 2007 21:00:51 GMT

ok, so I need to:

choreograph two dances in the next month, yikes better make that three.
practice tribal improv
practice tribal drills
write down our tribal moves including the ones we have made up ourselves.

posted in *Practice Makes Perfect - 1 reply

names of movements

hopefalling — Sat, 31 Mar 2007 05:44:41 GMT

hi!!! can anyone explain these steps for me? i don't have a teacher, :(

corkscrew

column turn

RicRack

angelina backwalk

jallina arms

horseshoe step

arabic

and alternate names for taxim?

thanks!

posted in *Practice Makes Perfect - 1 reply

Move of the day

Fajera — Wed, 07 Mar 2007 16:56:40 GMT

Okay... I thought I'd give us all a challenge.
This is a big one for us desk drivers... for those of you that don't have to drive a desk.. Please, feel free to grab a chair and play along.

Here's the deal.
Each Participant will have 8 hours to complete the task.
Each person in this tribe, regardless of activity level, can assign a move of the day.

When we do MotD, please remember, that all participants, have varying jobs be it at home, in a car or in an office... So... the move of the day, has to utilize time.

posted in *Practice Makes Perfect - 28 replies

Stringing your drills together

Bo — Mon, 22 Jan 2007 18:04:39 GMT

I was going to say this in Indogia's 'New Here' thread, but I thought it merited it's own spot:

My practice, and my living-room improv dancing, exploded when I stopped 'drilling in a vaccum' - that is to say, drilling chest lifts, stopping, and then drilling hip lifts. Now I 'string' drills... when I'm going to change from chest lifts to hip lifts, I do it in the count of the song, trying to match it to a spot in the music that changes (such as verse to chorus). I feel so much more confidant doing improv now, and ideas are coming to me about ways to seamlessly move from one move to another that never happened before. I highly recommend this to everyone, as it has been invaluable to me.

posted in *Practice Makes Perfect - 3 replies

Organizing Stuff

Fajera — Mon, 12 Mar 2007 04:22:12 GMT

Thanks a hair brained idea of mine.. Boogie in the Park was born this weekend.

It gave us all time to practice dancing, knit, play with poi and hang out with other dancers without taking time away from our families and kids, because we included them.

So... if you are wanting to have more practice time with other dancers, but you all have commitments to family, and yet, your family is wildly supportive. This is a way to do it.. The kids get together and wear themselves out... and even try what you are doing..

Find a park, and make a picnic day... it's so worth it.

posted in *Practice Makes Perfect - 14 replies

Bambi Legs

Fajera — Thu, 22 Mar 2007 15:47:41 GMT

Bambi Legs... is not the same as CRAP... Because essentially.. it doesn't hurt.

There is just a general weakness... Where you go to stand up... and feel incredibly wobbly.. (like Bambi), and wonder for a moment if the muscles will engage to hold your weight.

What causes Bambi Legs?

There are a few things that cause them.

1) Muslce Atrophy... If any one has ever injured a limb.. and has been casted or bound with lack of use for a couple weeks or more. Bambi Limb is what happens the day that binding comes off and your told to stand up or move something with the previously injured limb.
2) New Muscle use... This, is where Bambi Limbs and CRAP run parallel with one another.
You have introduced a new exercise to the limb, and you pushed it only far enough. It's that fine line where two more level changes and you'd be in full blown CRAP.
3) Muscle Fatigue ... This can be brought on by just about anything.. Lack of sleep, too much over all activity..etc.

What can you do for Bambi Limbs?

Like CRAP, it just needs recovery time, hydration and rest. The good part about having Bambi Limbs... is that... well... it doesn't take nearly as long to recover as a case of CRAP.

posted in *Practice Makes Perfect - 0 replies

Counting lessons

Fajera — Thu, 15 Mar 2007 16:16:17 GMT

I can count, and I can dance.. not a problem... ask me to do it together...

BAH! Not without a spread sheet. I have a total and complete block on counting 1-8 when dancing.

if I am writing a choreography... I do it in TOTAL geek speak.. It's all on a spread sheet with the numbers 1-8 for every single stinking move.

posted in *Practice Makes Perfect - 9 replies

Muscle use

Natascha — Mon, 12 Mar 2007 20:55:37 GMT

the recent discussion on which muscle to use and when made me think of this site that Tina posted on another tribe. Check it out its pretty cool.

http://www.bandhayoga.com/ScientificKeysVol1Sample.pdf

posted in *Practice Makes Perfect - 2 replies

Talking of timing...

Bo — Tue, 06 Mar 2007 19:49:03 GMT

So, let's talk timing! I may not be able to really break down dance technique, but timing is something I can help with.

I played percussion (hand drums, shaker, and marimba) for over five years, including professionally. I can't stress enough how even the most basic knowledge of drumming will help your dance. Not only will it open up a new understanding of rhythm in music, but it will also help you learn to anticipate live drummers (for the most part). Knowing the basic structure of rhythm also allows you to play around with offbeats and such.

So... here I am. If I can help with timing issues in any way, let me know, and once again I encourage everyone to pick up a large piece of tupperware and try out a little doum-tek doum-tek!

posted in *Practice Makes Perfect - 7 replies

Rummani's Not-So-Practice Journal...

rummani — Thu, 18 Jan 2007 19:39:39 GMT

Okay, so I haven't been writing stuff down, because most of my practice consists only of rehearsing current F.I. choreography, but I did bust out my sword and practice for my Phantasma solo (holymotherofgodwhatthehellamIthinking???). And I've realized just HOW short 2 1/2 minutes are, but that's about all my little brain is up to, I think (instead of the full 6 minutes I'd originally considered). So. Repetition of the FI choreo, until I am seamless. Practicing my sword balancing and movement (though it's impossible to swing in this damn house with it's low hanging ceiling fan). I haven't yet made the cards and run through individual moves/ hip combos/ etc, but I'll hopefully get to that when this crazy week is over (1st week of school)... back to choreo contemplation...

posted in *Practice Makes Perfect - 11 replies

Bed Drills

hopefalling — Tue, 20 Feb 2007 17:19:32 GMT

Ok....maybe I am weird or a freak or something....but does anyone find bed drills easier than standing drills? Lol....I know that probably sounds crazy, but today when I was lying in bed kind of on my side watching a movie, for some reason i just started doing hip circles, and for the first time, it was like I actually understood the mechanics of it and it just became this totally natural movement to me, it was so weird! I think it was because it was so easy to keep the rest of my body totally still and not worry about bending the knees or staying in perfect dance posture and was able to perfectly isolate the movement. Has anyone else noticed this? You can do anything- belly rolls, glute sqeezes- anything! I feel like I hit a goldmine, I'm so excited! Figured it might help some one else too.

posted in *Practice Makes Perfect - 5 replies

new member here - starting a drilling practice?

Renate — Sat, 20 Jan 2007 05:05:45 GMT

Hiya folks :)

Well, I must say I really like the idea of this tribe. I'm a beginner, with no classes to take. I practice every so often with my limited selection of DVD's (Rachel's, FC, yoga, arabian spices). But I'm a slacker!!! I need motivation to keep me going, otherwise I keep postponing my practice until later in the day, until it's time for bed and no practice gets done. I would also really love to start a drilling practice, but everytime I think about doing it I chicken out. I don't know why, other than maybe I'm afraid of doing things wrong, or maybe I just plain out don't know how to. I follow instruction extremely well, and I wish I could take a class for that reason (plus many more, hehe). If I've got something to follow, I do it, plain and simple. But if it's up to me, then I slack. In other words, I like organization, but I'm terrible at organizing.

So, are there any other beginners out there who don't mind breaking down their drilling practice? Do you have any favorite music to drill to? How long do you drill each movement for? Do you do the same thing each time, or alternate? When I read about people's practices over on the Indigo tribe it intimidates me, mainly because I don't have much of a movement vocab, and I get lost with the many names for movements. When you do a particular movement (for example chest lifts) do you just do that for one song? or do you do them at various speeds, or add variations?

Also, I have issues with my shimmy. It sucks. I would really like to improve it, because it's really non-existant at the moment. Does anyone have any suggestions on learning how to shimmy? Any favorite DVD's that help with this? Thanks so much everyone, I know I'm asking a lot :)

I'm going to start a journal on here too, starting - tomorrow!!

posted in *Practice Makes Perfect - 7 replies

Practice Outside of a Studio

Fajera — Fri, 16 Feb 2007 17:03:32 GMT

Okay, let's face it. Most of us spend time far outside of a studio. Especially, if we work outside the home. This means that we often can't practice the way we want to all the time.

Visual Dancing or "Dancing in my head", only takes us so far in our practice. Sure, it helps the brain remember what comes next, but it does nothing for muscle and body memory.
Which, last time I checked, was more along the lines of what we should be doing.

We see these threads all over many dance communities of "odd practice places......"
And then, they kind of die out.
So, I was hoping that we could have one here, and continue to share, the good habits outside of the studio, and this is more than just shakin your booty at the bus stop.

If you're like me and you drive a desk. I cannot express the importance of minding your posture. (I forget too, and most often when I am performing)
Sit the right way in your chair, with both cheeks in the cushion and your weight evenly distributed.
Mind your hands, if you make the habit of making nice looking hands when you reach for a pen, pencil or other items. It will make for nice hands in practice and performance.
Mind your shoulders. Make sure they are rolled back and down and relaxed, and that you aren't spending the day hunched over like Quasimoto.

If you're like me, and you have a tricky belly, that fights you constantly when it comes to ab work. (I understand that my abs don't like this whole dancing thing.) So, I spend time pulling my lower belly and upper belly in and letting them go. Sometimes I try alternating top and bottom, other times I try just the diaphragm.

Okay, this is just my stuff..
What is your Office Practice like?
Don't worry, we'll cover all kinds of other places too.

posted in *Practice Makes Perfect - 3 replies

indogia's journey

Indogo — Wed, 24 Jan 2007 09:24:21 GMT

well today i a having a rest day,just doing some light yoga anda few moves of callanetics.my muscles need recovery as i worked so hard yesterday,i love it when my body feels this way...

my yoga cards came today and my bollywood dance dvd,I am realy exited about that.
In always loved bollywood dance and now i get the chance to learn,howgreat is that!

my normal routine at the moment,is made up with some help from ''psychology of dance''by jim and cecil taylor.

morning:

* mental visualisation
* cardio
* callanetics

afternoon:

* mental visualisation
* bellydance

evening:

* mental visualisation
* ballet

i am eating regular,light meals every few hours...and drinking lots and lots of water,2 herbal teas a day.

so far so good!

posted in *Practice Makes Perfect - 8 replies

Breakdown on Shimmies

NanSee — Wed, 31 Jan 2007 19:53:17 GMT

This was sent to me on a different email group but I wanted to pass it along. Pretty decent descriptions as well as animations.

http://www.middleeasterndance.homestead.com/Shimmies.html

posted in *Practice Makes Perfect - 4 replies

Workshops

Fajera — Wed, 31 Jan 2007 02:38:49 GMT

Well, it's that time of year again... The Event and Festival Calendars start over.. and for us, as dancers, this means worksops.

We all take them, and if not, we should... There is always something to learn from a senior dancer.

I posted this, on another Tribe..... SO I figured I would share it here, and get the thoughts and opinions of others here too...

1) Expect the unexpected. Why? You could find yourself in a room of similarly skilled dancers, in which case the workshop material could FLY, and you wind up getting more than you bargained for because the instructor now may have 15 more minutes with which to treat you to time for Q&A or better yet more specific individualized attention.

2) Be prepared for an Ah-HAH moment. You may have the best intention of taking the workshop and remember everything that was covered. However, it's next to impossible. But, what does happen is you come home with something an inspiration of sorts that opens new doors for you. It could be a technical thing, it could be something entirely different. But you will find yourself in the midst of an Ah-HAH..... Revel in that moment.

3) Understand that the instructor might not get to 100% of their description. This could be due to time constraints, extremely mixed levels and a good instructor will take the time and make sure all students are on the same page regardless of technique level, it's bad form to leave a baby student in the dust when they are obviously working hard at learning.
AND.... rather than viewing that as a rip-off.. Take a moment and remember your baby steps, and how nice it was to have the support of the instructor and the students around you... also.. remember it provides you with the opportunity to take a more critical look at yourself.

4) Come away inspired and motivated... This is different than your AH-HAH moment.. Because you should feel more inspired to practice, drill, be open to new movement and music.

5) Make at least 1 new friend in class. The BD community didn't get close and tight knit because we are all stuck up Prima Dona's. (Not that there aren't any)... But, being well connected with someone new from class.. Opens you to a new world of friends and opportunity.

6) Be willing to laugh at yourself.

posted in *Practice Makes Perfect - 0 replies

Video Critique

NanSee — Fri, 26 Jan 2007 19:06:45 GMT

Since I can't get away at the moment for some good one on one with my instructor I posted a recent practice video to youtube to get some constructive critique.

Its a piece that is new to me and I realized that I am suffering from some severe windmill hands in the beginning of this piece. Also if there is something else that jumps out at you...please speak up! Thanks!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e85KohqANRE

posted in *Practice Makes Perfect - 4 replies

Letting Go

Fajera — Wed, 24 Jan 2007 21:10:48 GMT

Whose minds are well-developed
in the factors of self-awakening,
who delight in non-clinging,
relinquishing grasping--
resplendent,
their effluents ended:
they, in the world,
are Unbound.

-Dhammapada, 6, translated by Thanissaro Bhikkhu.

Wow, being Unbound... What a magical thing to be.. To relinquish that which you have no control over and not let it bind you down in life.

What really got me thinking about posting this was a nasty moment of self-doubt. We all get them.. It's that raw and harsh moment where we honestly feel that we aren't enough of something somewhere in our lives.
In our real lives, we aren't pretty, thin, smart... pick something...Whatever you feel that you aren't something enough.... and it applies.
In our dance lives, this nagging moment of self-doubt and angst comes from feeling like we have 2 left feet, our hips went on vacation, we can't get the choreography no matter how hard it feels like we are trying.

These moments come most often, during times when we are most vunerable, it happens when we are tired, emotionally drained, stressed about something that isn't even related to whatever we are feeling at the moment.

When these moments happen, there is little else that we can do aside from recognizing it as a moment of self-doubt, acknowledging it for what it is and move on. Feel the emotions surrounding it and continue to keep our bodies in motion.

In short... We have to let go.
And we all know that letting go, is the hardest thing we can do.

We've heard the saying... Don't sweat the small stuff... Which makes sense for most of us, and it can be easily done.. However, moments like these... don't feel very small. Which is what makes it so hard to just not sweat it.

When it comes do dance... Dance through it, dance through your stress and your heartache.. As though no one were watching you. Let go of the nasty bug of self doubt and see if indeed your shimmy doesn't change or you find yourself in the middle of that A-HAH moment of the choreography...Where your right foot suddenly remembers that it moves on 1 not on 2.
Dance as though you are indeed Unbound.... and then... the letting go of other things... will come easier.

posted in *Practice Makes Perfect - 5 replies

Khoyin's Practice Journal

Khoyin — Thu, 04 Jan 2007 21:50:39 GMT

Last night I first did some warm up stretches, then did some upper body isolation moves, shimmies, and some more arm work. I also worked on the 'slave' walk. I can get down easily enough and move ok, but it still doesnt seem graceful enough, flowing enough to suit me. Then I pretty much did the same, except the warm up, with some light weights. I tried to really work on isolating my movements. .So only one part of my body moved at a time. After that I played around with some choreography. I wish I knew the names of the moves ...
I also wish I had a mirror or a camera to see what I am doing correctly or what I am doing wrong. At least when I practice in the Phillipines at night, I'll have an audience. A captive one. Bwahahahaha!
Tonight I am going to work more on spins and stepping into and out of them without looking like a complete clod. After that, I think I am going to do the leg exercises Fajera taught me and do a warm DOWN too..I forgot about that..and y'know what..thats important! Trust me.

posted in *Practice Makes Perfect - 5 replies

Glutes and Shimmys/Shimmys w/undulations

Pua — Fri, 19 Jan 2007 18:10:58 GMT

Ok, this is a two part question. First part: Do you guys use your glutes when you shimmy? Second part: How did you go about doing shimmys w/undulations when you first attempted them?

posted in *Practice Makes Perfect - 5 replies

Fun little project: Drill Cards

Bo — Fri, 29 Dec 2006 02:47:46 GMT

Fajera asked me to pop in and share this, so:

Drill Cards!
- Get some index cards
- Cut 'em in half, width-wise
- Write out your single moves to drill (such as "hip lifts" or "50 hip lifts")
- Write out your combos (mine say things like "Kami's Stompy Combo" and "Rapper Girlfriend Hula Thingy"... whatever helps you remember)

I use mine by keeping them in two stacks, drills and combos. When I have only a little time, I pull a drill card and do it. Every little bit helps. When I have plenty of time, I pull some drills cards and then some combos. The goal, for me, is to get through them all every week. My hope is that my stacks will get bigger as I learn more, but I'll still manage to get through them (at least the drills) each week.

posted in *Practice Makes Perfect - 15 replies

Let's Talk about Glutes.

Fajera — Thu, 11 Jan 2007 19:52:59 GMT

Okay, we all have them... and the junk in the trunk comes in many shapes and many sizes..

I figured I would do a post, because of a conversation recently overheard by me.
The statement was:

"My butt feels saggy, so I am doing lunges and squats to fix it."

I had to bite my tongue, but, this opens a great chance for me to discuss buns, hon.

Let's look at the exercises mentioned. Lunges and Squats primarily work the quadriceps.
(The big muscle in front of our thighs).
Problem- The Glutes are in the rear.

Lunges and squats can work the tush... But it's secondary, it's a minor squeeze of the muscle at the top of the movement. Like so.

Lunge Step, lower yourself, raise yourself, squeeze the buttocks.
or
Squat, lower yourself, raise yourself, squeeze the buttocks.

To truly work your tush, and only your tush.

Grab your yoga mat. Lay on the floor, on your belly.
Once comfortable. Tense your tush and only your tush.. hold, for a moment, release.
You can alternate from right to left, by tensing only one side at a time..
If you need help, grab a friend, spouse, partner or someone else who doesn't oog you out if they touch your butt.
Have them point to either 'cheek' and try to tense only the side the point at.

Another one.
If you work out at a gym... The reverse incline or hanging sit up will isolate the tush really well. Just remember to squeeze your tush and hold, once your inline with your body.

This can be immitated in a version of the Lotus Pose in yoga, squeeze your tush once you have lifted your torso.
You can modify this to in the Cobra... While supporting your torso, squeeze your tush.

And of course, there is the ever famous... TushWalk.

Sit on the floor, with your hips level, your legs extended straight infront of you.
While seated, use your glutes and only your glutes to walk across the floor.
To make this more challenging... Hold out your arms, at shoulder height, extending parallel with your legs.

And this my friends..... is how to work your buns.

posted in *Practice Makes Perfect - 9 replies

Was the post about glutes and shimmys not ok to post here???

Pua — Fri, 19 Jan 2007 23:58:50 GMT

If it was not ok, I apologize!!!

posted in *Practice Makes Perfect - 1 reply

Talkin CRAP

Fajera — Thu, 18 Jan 2007 21:46:25 GMT

hehe, I don't mean gossip.

There was a time when I used to abuse my body and metabolism with body building...
But even then, with the abuse, I learned something important.
I learned how to deal with CRAP. Creeping Revenge After Punishment. Better known to the rest of the world as that hurt that happens post workout.

You all know what I am talking about too... It's the inability to climb stairs (or any other activity) a day or so after you worked out or danced.

Our bodies will not change shape, burn fat or do what they should do, without a little CRAP in our lives.
Our bodies also talk to us... They tell us when we have had enough, and when you have to stop immediately.
The ache and burn in a workout is normal, and healthy... TO A POINT

CRAP starts after you have rested post workout. Which means you feel it usually the morning after... Sometimes, CRAP doesn't strike until 24 hours later.

CRAP comes two ways... Normal CRAP and Severe CRAP.

Normal CRAP, you can still function, certain things hurt, like climbing stairs, reaching and it's generally in the area you worked out.
You can remedy this with a good, yet gentle stretching session, keeping your body hydrated with the water it so desperately needs and the other minerals and electrolytes that the muscles use during workouts.
If you have to an anti-inflamatory like Advil can help.
This is your bodies way of tell you to cool it on that body part for the next day or so... Which is why resting is important.

IF your CRAP worsens following your rest day... You didn't do enough of something... Typically, hydrate. Repeat the gentle stretch but be even more gentle, hydrate and rest again and eat a bananna.
Any longer than that.. Consult your doctor... Your body is probably trying to tell you something else.

Severe CRAP- Mean you can't get out of bed. You are in a bad way..
This is when resting is even more important.. However, if you hydrate, rest and taken an anti-inflamatory... and STILL can't move.
Call your doctor. You may need more than what can be done at home.

Bottom line- Be good to your body. It's the only one you have... Sure, it can have replacement parts... But I can gaurantee, they don't work near as well as the Stock parts you came with.

posted in *Practice Makes Perfect - 2 replies

New choreography

Pua — Thu, 18 Jan 2007 19:20:27 GMT

Practice new choreography for the upcoming recital. YIPPEE!!!!!!!!! WAY EXCITED!!!!!!!!!!!!

posted in *Practice Makes Perfect - 12 replies

Weak moves

Bo — Thu, 11 Jan 2007 20:07:20 GMT

I injured my hip on Sunday, so I've been taking it easy on the lower body practice. I've been thinking, however, about which moves I really need to work on. I thought I'd share them, and ask for suggestions about how to improve. Maybe we can use this thread to exchange advice, so we can all work our weak spots.

Mine are:
Hip drops - I don't know why. I don't know what part of this move eludes me, but I suck at it. I wind up either doing a hip LIFT on the opposite side, or stepping out when I do this, which I don't always want to be doing. It just won't go down.

3/4 shimmy - I can't seem to squeeze/release my glutes fast enough for this. I squeeze just fine, it's the release that I'm slow on. Plus, it looks way bigger on the 'leading' side (so on the RLR, the rights look HUGE and the left looks tiny).

posted in *Practice Makes Perfect - 13 replies

Floor work for me!

masani — Tue, 21 Nov 2006 18:36:57 GMT

From the Old School when floor movements were mandatory, I want to re-establish floor movements into my routines. I remember why we dancers had long slender legs and firm abs. Floor did it hands down!

Hopefully I'll even be further motivated to practice because my new apartment has hard wood floors instead of icky carpet. Whooooopee! So, I'll keep everyone updated on my progress.

posted in *Practice Makes Perfect - 9 replies

Hi. I'm a noob.

Anna_Molly — Tue, 02 Jan 2007 07:01:10 GMT

And I have a goal. And this goal involves learning new things and becoming a healthier person. So, last night (NYE) as I wandered around Old Sac wondering what I was going to make of my new life, I caught a show. I watched the UNMATA troupe and was absolutely floored. I have every intention of starting classes but I like to be prepared for things. All I know is what I saw and that isn't enough.

Ok, so the Noob has a question.

What are the top three books/CD's/DVD's a beginner should invest in? And a second question- What are the top three things to keep in mind as a beginer?

Thanks in advance for your insight!
<3, AM

posted in *Practice Makes Perfect - 4 replies

Practicing Alone

Khoyin — Thu, 28 Dec 2006 20:35:49 GMT

I decided to join up here, kind of follow my teachers lead y; know...and post my practices I do alone. What my plan is is to post a log of what I did, worked with, didnt accomplish every day after I practice. (As long as I have access to a machine!) That way I *make* myself practice more. Its too easy to fall out of it if you arent sort of being watched. This way, you will all know when I've been slacking off and not practicing and I can get everyones input on new things to try and new exercises that can help.
Looking forward to cyber dance practice with everyone!

My first question is, how do you motivate yourself to practice alone, when the house needs cleaning, other chores need done, kids are in the way, its freezing (or waaay too hot) and you arent exactly alone either? What makes you get the tapes out, and start moving?

posted in *Practice Makes Perfect - 6 replies

Winter Blues

Pua — Mon, 18 Dec 2006 18:31:24 GMT

I am ALWAYS freezing! It's SOOO cold outside! I don't feel like going to class or practicing or ANYTHING! Does anyone have any suggestions on how I can get over this and get motivated to work out/practice/go to class?!

posted in *Practice Makes Perfect - 16 replies

Practice and distraction

Fajera — Thu, 21 Dec 2006 16:53:19 GMT

This time of the year seems to add more distractions to our life plates than say... Mid-June.
All of us have different ways to work through the distractions.
We leave the house and go to a studio.
We closer ourselves in a room, and keep out the dogs, cats, children and other things that will demand our time.
We multi-task and practice while doing housework.

However, there are times when you have to succumb to the distractions.
When you do succumb to the distractions. Remember to be kind to yourself, and understand that it is often a temporary thing.

Right now, is no exception... Especially those of you, who like me, work a full time job outside of dance, and find, that there just aren't enough hours in the day.

To skip a practice to get grocery shopping done, or to get gift shopping done... Shimmy your way through the store, practice your proper posture while waiting in those insane lines.
And of course, my personal favorite... Practice your faces, you know, the having fun smile, or the serene expression... While you are watching a particularly rude person treat someone just awfully.
If you are sitting down and making the last of your gifts. Work on your glutes, tensing one cheek at a time.. Heck, slouch a bit and work on your belly stuff.

Most especially, if you are feeling overwhelmed.... Go find that quiet dimly light place, and relax... Stretch your body and your mind, and just.... Be.

But don't feel guilty if you just have to collapse and not do anything. It will pass.

posted in *Practice Makes Perfect - 0 replies

A good practice

Jenni — Wed, 20 Dec 2006 17:38:33 GMT

Today, I decided to do my pre-dance yoga practice outside on the patio, since we're having such a nice mild December her in GA (I was in a tank top outside). I was immediately swarmed by my three cats and I had to fight off the giggles during my second Sun Salutation as one of them started licking my toes. Then the same cat jumped onto my laptop (I always practice to music). Note to self: no more yoga practices outside with the cats.

For my dance practice, I did my handout from the Zoe workshop that I recently took in Miami. It lists some drills, and at the end, a non-stop shimmy practice to one whole song - I chose Chicky by Oojami, since that song is so fun to listen to. The best thing about my practice today: For the first time, I practiced zilling throughout the entire practice, and I was able to keep the rhythm most of the time without screwing up, though it was very hard for me to do the drills, keep count of them, and zill at the same time. I'm sure as time goes on, however, that the multitasking will go smoothly and easily.

posted in *Practice Makes Perfect - 1 reply

A stretch for work and "play"

tracey1971 — Tue, 19 Dec 2006 02:36:30 GMT

I use this one constantly, in practice, at work, in yoga class..it a favorite and a great way to open up the rib cage area, open your heart chakra and strecth your diapragm (which is a key component in chest circles/pops and drops, etc etc)

Open Chest Stretch
This pose opens the chest, decreasing rounded shoulders and releasing tightness in the middle back. In addition, it helps decrease kyphosis, extreme forward curvature of the thoracic spine.

Sit near the edge of a chair and interlace your fingers behind you, with your palms facing your back. Leaning slightly forward, lift your arms and rest them on the back of the chair. Inhale and lift your chest. Exhale and relax your shoulders away from your ears. If your hands do not reach the top of the chair, clasp the sides of the chair back and pull your chest forward, relaxing your shoulders and opening your upper chest. Hold for 10 to 15 breaths, feeling lightness in your heart. With an exhalation, slowly release your hands and bring them down by your sides.
reply to this post delete this post

posted in *Practice Makes Perfect - 0 replies

Finding time

Fajera — Wed, 06 Dec 2006 18:02:47 GMT

I know this has come up in many other tribes. But, I figured it might be worth talking about.

We all know that time is not always on our sides, and that we often find ourselves wishing for 'just one more hour' in our day, to do the regular things that need doing. Keep your house, tend your family, prepare meals, work and all sorts of other inescapable responsibilities.
A few of us, have been blessed with the opportunity to make a living at our craft, where practice is a small part of the full time job, of performing and teaching. Others, still have to balance the great 'bill payer' with the passion.

How do we all do it? Where do we fit in that time for the shimmy, without sacrificing any other aspect of our lives?

Do we do it like "Fly-Lady", and set timers? Multi-task it with house cleaning or cooking?
Wake early, go to bed late?

How do you work it in to your regularly full schedule?

posted in *Practice Makes Perfect - 4 replies

Its Monday!

NanSee — Mon, 04 Dec 2006 20:21:54 GMT

What is your plan of attack for your practice this week?

Mine is to get back with the weights again. I stuck with the treadmill and dance practice last week but had to lay off the weights.

Its working though my arms are stronger and I don't get the 'tired chicken' look quite so quickly now while dancing.

posted in *Practice Makes Perfect - 15 replies

Always learning.....

Anne Marie (AM) — Sat, 02 Dec 2006 14:40:04 GMT

Hello Everyone!

I am currently practicing the art of stepping outside my comfort zone...physically, artistically and emotionally.

Physically: I am working on movement from the left side of the body. Originally trained in FC style ATS, my whole left side is seriously lacking so my practice consists of alternating old and new moves on each side of the body. In addition I am working on downward movements such as drops and shimmies to accompany movements that were previously on the 'up'.

Artistically: Becoming more creative...with music, with prop use, pushing bounadries.

Emotionally: Becoming more confident and focused and never losing sight of 'why' I do this and 'how' far I have come as well as how far I would like to go.

posted in *Practice Makes Perfect - 4 replies

Choreography training for me.

Amanda Hugnkiss — Tue, 21 Nov 2006 19:39:51 GMT

I have our end of year hafla on Dec 7th. Since I am dancing most of the dances with my students I am going to need to make sure I have the stamina to last without making mistakes. So my project is to dance the whole night continuously two times thru at a time without any breaks (including my improv solo), that way I can make sure I maintain the ability to focus on not making mistakes for the students sake!

Aside from that I need to work on upperbody flexibility. One exercise I will be revisiting is pulling the old broomstick from above the shoulders to behind the back trick, kind of like a lateral pulldown, but further.

posted in *Practice Makes Perfect - 6 replies

Let me give you a HAND (stretch) ~xposting~

tracey1971 — Wed, 22 Nov 2006 18:17:16 GMT

since we all do so much with them, let's warm them up, shall we?

Here we go!!

Straighten & spread all fingers as if your hands are fans opening wide.

Keep the knuckles straight while bending the two smaller joints of the fingers; try to touch the edge of the palm. (almost like a sign language C only with the fingers pressed against flat against themselves)

Put fingers and palms together in the "prayer" position. Lower the hands to get a stretch.
(Repeat 3 times.)

With the arms extended overhead and palms together (arms benhind the head) stretch arms upward and slightly backwards. Breathe in as you stretch upward, holding the stretch for 6-8 seconds.

While keeping the hand relaxed, pull thumb and wrist back with the opposite hand. (Repeat this stretches 3 times.)

Straighten elbows, bend fingers into fists and then bend wrists under. (Repeat 3 times.)

I picked this up from my trainer and it helps ALOT, from when I rehearse to when I'm at my dayjob in front of the computer for 9 hours.

posted in *Practice Makes Perfect - 5 replies

Exercise for your feet

tracey1971 — Tue, 21 Nov 2006 18:49:47 GMT

Moving the bones of the foot...

~Hold one foot in both hands, alternate flexing then extending the big toe.

~Using your hands, increase the range of motion by allowing flexion at the joint of the foot (tarsometatarsal joint) where small bones meet the long bones of the middle foot.

~Repeat this with each toe on both feet.

~Move your hands further back, pushing the sides of the foot down and pulling outward-like you are attempting to create space between each of the bones.

~Widen your foot out to the side as much as possible (as if your foot is a fan) and try to move your big toes and little toes out to the side (adduction).

***The joints of the feet do NOT move independently of one another when bearing weight.

By turning the feet in and out during movement (think twisting the feet) you get an added dimension in which the feet can generate force and deal with the shifting body weight as your center of gravity changes.

"Twisting" the feet also assists in the dual roles of being a base of support and a lever of propulsion for the body.

By using the above exercise, you help "Tune" your feet to this action.***

posted in *Practice Makes Perfect - 5 replies

Obi's Practice journal

tracey1971 — Sun, 26 Nov 2006 20:32:32 GMT

Okay so after Turkey day (or no turkey for me..I no likey da turkey meat) I was LAZY..as far as exercise..HOWEVER I DID clean my entire home from top to bottom yesterday and rearranged furniture AND put up Yule decorations, so I think that counts (considering how sweaty I was at the end of it all)..

But I digress.

Today I did a quick 12 minute yoga warm up that was basically sun salutations, downward dog, plank, half plank, cow/cat pose and child's pose.

Then I did a 20 minute drill session of the following:
50 chest lifts
50 chest drops
5 minute shimmy (alternating between 3/4 shimmy and knee and glute shimmies)
3 minutes of snake arms-1 minute at each position (shoulder/up/hip level)
2 minutes of hip drops
2 minutes of horizontal hip 8s both back and front
2 minutes of locking "shoulder triangle" move that Ariellah taught in her workshop (I like that move, it's fun)
Undulations
working floreos in different positions

Cool Down of Suhaila squats (2 FULL sets with arms in front/side/back/front for each set positions)
stretching for my legs and arms

And I'm going to the gym for an hour of conditioning AFTER I do the dreaded laundry today...

Namaste!!!!

Obi

posted in *Practice Makes Perfect - 1 reply

Practice Videos

Fajera — Tue, 21 Nov 2006 19:59:06 GMT

Okay... We all have at least one...

Which one is your favorite and why AND how often do you use it... Or, are you bold enough to write down your own and not use a video?

posted in *Practice Makes Perfect - 11 replies

How this works.

Fajera — Tue, 21 Nov 2006 17:02:08 GMT

Since we all know that someone who writes a commitment keeps it. So, I thought it would be good to start a journal about practicing... So, I did, only to find I don't use it, because well.. It's tough to talk to yourself about your practice.
I thought we could either a) take a thread for each member and keep a journal inside a tribe, where we can all comment and encourage or b) take a thread for a body part, move, and work on a body part a week each, so we're all on the same thing at the same time and can talk out frustrations, hear suggestions and view progress over the course of 7 days, before moving to a new thing together.

It's up to you.... but let's make the most of our practice time.

posted in *Practice Makes Perfect - 7 replies

WEAK! WEAK! WEAK!

Pua — Tue, 21 Nov 2006 18:08:05 GMT

Hi! This is a pretty cool idea! Ü There are certain moves that I would like to start doing in "baby steps", which require major strength and control. I am finding that I am not as strong as I thought, but I have to eventually start, strong or not! Does anyone have any suggestions on how to build up strength and control?

posted in *Practice Makes Perfect - 11 replies