TIPS to print off - Volume 1

Artistic Belly Dance on DVD
Learn with Renee's Magical Belly Dancing Instructions for beginners
www.bellydancing.com.au

www.bellydanceondvd.com

Renee is a Professional Artistic Belly Dancer, Teacher, Performer, Choreographer, Producer and Distributor of instructional DVD/ videos.

"Bringing this ancient art to modern life" is Renee's motto

DVD Volume 1 - Copyright 2005 (all rights reserved)
Please observe copyright of the DVD as this is my way of earning a living. Do not copy the DVD.
If you need more copies for your friends, e-mail me to arrange payment and delivery.


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EXTRA HELPFUL TIPS
DVD Volume 1
For Beginners
(Most of the instructions are on the DVD or video)

This DVD is designed for the novice beginner. It demonstrates in easy to follow & easy to understand language, simple basic belly dancing technique. Presented in an elegant artistic style. The techniques and style of dance can later be transferred to any belly dance genre, e.g. Baladi, Gypsy, Cabaret, Lebanese, Egyptian, Turkish , Tribal, Bollywood etc.

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Firstly watch the whole DVD  to understand the layout. Start by doing some simple worm up exercises that you have learned in your life time - or use the simple techniques taught.

From my personal experience most western ladies are stiff in the area of shoulders, ribs and hips. In my class I always say to students if it hurts stop doing it then find out why it hurts. Sometime its just adjusting your posture or doing the movements smaller and slower. Always dance with bent or soft knees. If the pain persists than you must stop and seek advice from a medical practitioner.

If everything is OK then simply follow the techniques as shown. To get the best benefit of learning, I suggest you practice 30 minutes (or longer) every second day or more if you wish. The movements are basic dancing techniques well suited for the beginner. Movements are low impact.

As you learn this dance you will experience some trimming and toning, not instantly but gradually over time depending on your body shape and size.

To loose weight you need to combine dancing movements with a sensible eating program. e.g. Weight Watchers, CSIRO, Oprah's life style and Dr. Phil

Start slowly. With regular practice you will build up your fitness level and become more flexible. You and your family / friends will also eventually get the hang of this wonderful dance art.

And most importantly enjoy the journey of learning this beautiful dance.

Yoga, Tai Chi and Palates stretches are recommended at the end of your dancing practice. Remember I cannot guarantee anything. I've given you ideas and tools to work with and the rest is up to you entirely.

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The opening introduces a veil dance that will be learned in other volumes 2 - 6 and 8

First segment
BENT KNEE POSTURE 
It is very important to keep your knees bent at all time as this will save your lower back from pain & discomfort. All belly dance is executed in a bent knee posture of some sort.The common term is bent knees or soft knees.

1. Place your feet shoulder or hip width apart (or what feels comfortable).

2. Angle your toes & knees. Right foot 1pm - Left foot 11 am. (Both feet pointing to 12 o'clock is too unstable for beginners)

3. Pull in lightly your middle (waist line area) abdominal/stomach muscle.

4. This will automatically lightly tuck your bottom under & tilt your pelvis forward. (Relax bottom and general hip area)

5. Bend your knees. (Relax ankles and toes)

6. Lift your upper body out of the waist line. As if someone is pulling you up by the head.

7. Roll your shoulders to loosen up and to find a comfortable position. (Relax neck and shoulders)

8. Frame arms & relax -  Arms frame the body to give you an elegant look, usually at the beginning and end of a dance.
Relax the position you are in or specific muscles. This also takes time to develop and "feel".

It takes most students 8 to 10 lessons to get comfortable & familiar with the bent knee posture

Special Note - For the more advanced dancer, to refine your dancing posture, add a slight rib lift, learnt in Volume 3. You will eventually get used to this posture & find it easy. The lifting of the ribs gives you variety in posture "feel". This also takes time to achieve.

I use the term "ribs" rather than "chest". Thinking of your ribs doing the dancing is a much better mind anchor than chest. This will hold true when you learn more complex rib techniques. When dancing with your ribs or upper body, the rib cage anchor (mind set) will start to make more sense. So take the time to think of your ribs dancing (and not your chest.)

If you attend classes, some teachers refer to this part of the anatomy as chest movements. It is fine to refer to the chest fleetingly but it must be emphasised that it is the ribs that will do the dancing long term. If not corrected it becomes a lazy way of getting something across will later hinder the upper body combinations or true isolations.

Second segment-

ARM & SHOULDERS - starting with arm and shoulder movements to get the novice student dancing without realising it.

SHOULDER PRESS - Isolating the shoulder - press forward, release and relax.

SHOULDER ROLLS - learn to relax your elbow, wrist and fingers. With circular movement roll forward (using the press forward but in a circular roll), lift shoulder to ear (do not drop ear to shoulder), roll back to finish the circle. Exaggerate the movement and make a special effort to round this movement and learn to "feel" the rolling. Keeping chin up. In your mind think of grace and elegance as you roll.

Third segment

ARM TECHNIQUES - Start with a good posture with framing arm. Beginning with a few basic arm movements on their own. Arms take time to develop. Then repeat arm technique,this time adding a simple hip movement (figure eight/ side hips) to coordinate with the arms.

If you are uncoordinated, learn the arms techniques separately first then add the hips.

As you are learning these techniques you have to remember to breath, as if you are going for a walk. Most students concentrate so intensely that they hold their breath. This again will take time to learn. Breathing correctly will give you the energy to dance effortlessly for a lengthy time.

Fourth segment
This is a fun instructional practice segment with some tempo changes. You actually feel that you are dancing using only 2 basic/ classical techniques. Add the arms if you can, otherwise just enjoy the hip work separately.

INSIDE FIGURE EIGHT - My guiding hands are to show you what the hips are supposed to be doing. Remember have bent knees with a comfortable stance. Breath normally. You can execute this technique with either flat heels / earthed or slightly raised heels.

You are trying to isolate and dance with your hips. If you are very stiff raise your heels (but do not swing your heels outwards). If you are more flexible try with earthed or flat heels. Either way is correct. So learn both.

OUTSIDE FIGURE EIGHT - watch your posture. This is best executed with your bottom slightly tucked under and pelvis lightly forward. With the inside eight this is not so crucial. Outside eights is basically danced with grounded feet. Raise heels as you travel forwards.

Fifth segment - HAND TWIRL - This technique needs lots of practice. Do this segment as often as you can. Keeping knees soft and breath normally. (If able feel the emotional undertone behind the hand twirl)

Sixth segment - VARIED SIDE HIPS - Learning isolated basic/ classical hip techniques. Best executed with bottom tucked under. Keep both knees bent or soft at all times. Push down through one heel to activate one hip to the side, repeat for the other side. Do not lock your knees as in Latin dancing. You can place your hands on the hips to feel the hip movement.

Repeat these techniques often and become familiar with them. These techniques are also the building block of good hip shimmies and understanding rhythms and tempos. Do hip techniques solo and later add arms/ hands.

PELVIC TILT (rock) - this is a wonderful technique for ladies who need their pelvic floor muscles tightened and toned after child birth, loosing weight, surgery or getting older. This movement will make you flexible and help you achieving the lower undulation easier (Volume 2)

Seventh segment - MORE FIGURE EIGHTS with an EMOTIONAL FEEL to the music.

A sensual elegant, graceful fun practice segment where you can let your emotional expression flow. Again do hips solo then add arms/ hands and emotions. Younger members of the family may like to only dance the techniques and will in time appreciate the emotional undertone. A neat finishing pose.

Eighth segment - Extra practice time with just good music homing in on the varied side hips. Rhythms and tempos, stepping around, forwards and back. Utilising slow, single time, double time, time and fast (shimmy) time. There are no instructions in this segment as it is a repeat of segment 6. You can let your hair down and enjoy this extra music only practice. You soon will realise that once you master these simple movements you really feel as if you are beginning to understand simple belly dance rhythms.

Ninth segment - PELVIC CIRCLES - This combines the side hips with the pelvic tilt to achieve the pelvic circle. It is danced in varied sizes from small, medium to large and to various tempos. Women of child bearing age, and maturity, need to break it down as a pelvic circle, for strengthening their pelvic floor muscles. I personally refer to this movement, as a pelvic floor excesses in disguise.

The pelvic circle can also be referred to as the "hip circle" for younger members of the family. Young students needs only know how to make a circle with their hips.

This last segment is playful and fun. Techniques are presented in a slow to medium pace. Combining and alternated the 2 figure eights with varied sized circle. Introducing an ARC (half a circle), HIP DROPS with many arm and hand techniques.

Varied tempos and rhythms.

Emotional expressions. Concluding with a fast shimmy that dissolves into a lovely ending pose.

Again this segment can be learned in separate stages. Hip techniques first. Adding the arms and hands later. Finding your emotional flow.

Tenth segment (last) - Family dancing together with friends.

This clip is one of our most precious shoots. We filmed Kim's family (daughter, son and grandmother) dancing together after a wonderful night out at a restaurant. Kim is now a teacher and has danced with her children on and off. This wonderful and happy impromptu dance is the result of having family belly dance fun. We would like to encourage you to have a go with your own family and friends by this simple act of sharing and learning together.

Vivienne (a friend and teacher) and I (Renee) are also participating.

Even though many of the techniques used are taught in other volumes. The sequence was too good to be left out. The result speaks for itself.

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Dear Students and Teachers
If you enjoy the dancing and wish to use my choreography, I give you my permission to do so, for your own use or for professional entertainment. However do not copy the DVD to give away, sell, rent or any other reason.

The music comes from the ARC label www.arcmusic.com or from most music stores. The name and serial numbers are displayed on the DVD.

You may use the terminology of techniques in your teachings.

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contact Renee by Email or phone (02) 4325 4593

Renee's Magical Belly Dancing, Gosford, NSW 2250. Australia
Happy learning the wonderful art of Belly Dance

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