Renees Magical Belly Dancing
PROFESSIONAL BELLY DANCER and TEACHER
"Bringing this ancient art to modern life"
Copyright 1996-2001 (all rights reserved)
EXTRA HELPFUL HINTS and IDEAS
Please observe copyright as this is my way of earning a living. Do
not copy the videos. If you need more copies for your friends, e-mail
me to arrange payment and delivery. All the videos are reasonably
prices. Discount for multiple volumes ordered is available.
www.bellydancing.com.au
~~~oooOooo~~~
Volume 6
"Ziena the Veiled Princess"
Welcome, indulge your senses & enjoy the wonderful Art of Belly
Dancing.
~~~oooOooo~~~
Students and Teachers
For all who follow my elegant and artistic style of Belly Dance.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 videos to give away, sell, rent
or any other reason. The music comes from the ARC label - as listed on
the videos.
You may use the terminology of techniques in your teachings.
This video is designed for the beginner. It demonstrates in easy
to follow & easy to understand language, simple basic belly
dancing technique.
~~~oooOooo~~~
Double Veil
The opening double veiled dance is for beyond
beginner, intermediate to advanced dancer. Feel the passion &
dance the passion. You will see in order named techniques. Presenting
arms - Windmill spin - Butterfly spin - Angled moth - Face cameo -
Swirling.
Hand twirls
Revising hand twirls with figure eights & a
reminder of a good posture. Lowering & lifting your chin.
Turkish Shoulders
Dance this movement is a fun happy go lucky
way- it is a good technique to help you limber up.
Lift one shoulder & lower the other ~ Add side hips - stretch
through the waistline & feel as though each arm pits wants to kiss
the corresponding hip ~ Beat to hips - fold into parallel arms &
transfer the beat to the hips smoothly. Smile ~ Step around with
Turkish shoulders & side hips.
~~~oooOooo~~~
Cobra Coils.
A continuation from Vol. 5. Note the Cobra &
Coil can be manipulated in sharp or light motion. The Cobra (over
head) can have the variation of palm down or palm up. Try both.
Transit into pelvic & upper body circles to accommodate the arms~
Outside eights - Transit into an outside eight ~ Inside eights ~
Pelvic body circles - Transit back into a pelvic & body circles ~
From an up Cobra position allow your head & eyes to follow down
with Coil.
Body circles only in a stationary position without moving the hips ~
Turn gracefully (keep chin up) with pelvic & body circles
combined.
SLOW Motion - Note the chin & eyes, hips & upper body - also
take note of the placement of the arms to the hips. Take your time to
observe what happens to your chin & eyes.
A shoulder roll joins the Cobra to the Coil.
~~~oooOooo~~~
Snake Arms & Side Ribs
(Combining several techniques to
create an artistic style.)
Take note of the emotional & the physical techniques. The
Shoulder Roll is the key for the flow & grace. Feeling the music
is the emotional key for the overall expression. Keeping a good
posture is the key to elegance.
Shoulder rolls, transform into snake arms (make sure you breath
steadily through out the whole movement). Rolling shoulders will
enhance your back view (The back view should be as interesting as your
front view).
Add elbow curl ~ Shoulder roll with hand twirl ~ Side ribs ~ Lift
Turkish shoulder ~ Extend arms (finish each extend before commencing
the next - this will give you a finished & polished look).
Extend ribs - use the fast to slow technique - side rib lunge fast
than slower arms - see if you can observe this. Feel the music to
achieve the fast to slow. This will add artistry & beauty.
Add Head slide ~ Gently lean back.
Finish off with a well extended posture - Hip loop-in, with crescent
(have the arms soft & rounded).
~~~oooOooo~~~
Twin arms.
Good bent knee posture with tall relaxed back
Transform your snake arm into a sensuous shoulder roll - Listen to
the music to get the sensuous feel.
Relax & swing arms - relax your ribs, shoulders, arms & neck
& rotate your upper body - follow through with relaxed head &
twin arms - smile to enjoy the moment ~ Undulate ~ Into serpentine ~
from snake arms into Cobra Coils with round back (as shown in the Cat
Stretches Vol 4).
Gently lean back with accent - floating reeds. Always lean &
accent gently, pace yourself to your own fitness level. Do not force
it. Keep your back straight. Tighten abdominals - pull in stomach
muscles lightly. Ease over from hips with a straight back. Aiming
towards toes. Arise slowly with a straight back.
Transit into pelvic circles ~ Lower undulations ~ Full body ~ Lower ~
Finish with Hip loop in (again with a tall posture).
~~~oooOooo~~~
Magic circle Spins
This is a continuation from vol.
2. Learn, practice & master the art of spinning.
It is best to practice in small bursts of about 1 to 5 minutes. If
you get giddy easily than only practice a few turns at a time. You
will have to teach your inner ear a new way of balance. Give yourself
6 month to 1 year to master spins. Spinning takes time to master.
Relax your eyes, jaw line & neck - when you relax your jaw, your
teeth should not be clenched, your teeth should not be touching but
instead a relaxed space should be felt. The tongue resting in a
relaxed way takes up this space between upper & lower teeth.
Gaze no further than your outstretched hand - when you relax your
eyes - they may slightly cross. The leading foot turns or pivots while
the spinning foot maintains rotation & balance. Change direction
by alternating leading foot or change with a toe stretch.
Lower arms - As you become more confidence lower your arm &
maintain your gaze. 3 step turn with toe stretch. Double 3 step
turn.
Ease into steeple - maintain your gaze. Eventually you can upgrade
into more fancy spins & turns. Ease arms down close to body.
Look over your shoulder or look at your out stretched hand. Start
slowly. Keep the relaxed position as you start to spin. Remember to
breath normally. As you turn or spin focus on your hand & gaze no
further. If you look past your hand you will see the room spin &
you will get giddy & loose your balance.
At the same time resume the bent knee posture & concentrate on
keeping your balance. Learn to feel & train your self only to gaze
the distance of your out stretched arm/ hand. This will be your
personal spinning space, referred to as your "magic
circle".
(Egyptian style turns ) - take small even steps around (the leading
foot & spinning foot doing equal work) - medium to slow speed
only. This spin or turns is steady & well balanced & will suit
most dancers that do not care for fast spins.
(Lebanese style spins) - leading foot with a strong spinning foot -
this spin can become quite fast & is more versatile.
Always start slowly. Start with small steps. Spin or step with flat
feet or lift heel to spin on ball/ toes. As you spin or turn you will
have a leading foot & a spinning foot.
The LEADING FOOT will lead the direction. The SPINNING FOOT will push
(or step) or pivot behind to propel you around & helps to stable
your balance. Use the "magic circle" for the double 3 step
turns. Also you need to be aware that you will have good spin days
& bad spin days.
A few days in your monthly cycle will affect your spinning. As it
affects women differently, you will have to work out which are your
good & bad days. On Good days you will manage well & on BAD
days you will stumble or fall. So it is important that you discover
your own personal good spin days.
Sorry if all this sounds complicated. However a wise dancer will take
the time & trouble to sort this out. There where many time when I
had to abort spins during dancing assignments. Yet on a good day I
took advantage & made the spins a special feature & put more
passion into them.
Most of my long term student eventually master the "magic
circle" & join me at concerts or displays.
~~~oooOooo~~~
Veil Dancing - Segment 2 - "Zeina the Veil
Princes"
Good bent knee posture, light rib lift &
arched back is a must for artistic Veil Dancing. Anything less is
unacceptable & makes nondescript unattractive below average
dancing. So remember POSTURE is everything.
Enter & create a mystical Fan, using step & tap. The Fan (to
hide behind) is an extension of the moth above the chin - Stretch,
twist & lean (vol. 5) - point your toes - sway the fan to lower.
Slowly Swirl, foot in front (stationary/ pose, the forerunner of The
Rose)
Present, step point (Vol 2) ~ Double turn ~ Centre step, & turn.
Walk the eight ~ Undulate with diamond ~ Walk eight ~ Undulate. Walk
into Centre step swirls ~ Walk into Magic Circle
Moth Walk in Slow Motion
The veil is held at arms
length under the chin - You walk following a figure eight pattern. -
Angle back arm high. Look at presenting arm, whisk the veil quickly
from leading foot to avoid entanglement. Present, walk eight ~ Swirl -
moth walk ~ from Moth walk into Centre Step Swirls ~ Turn into
diamond, undulate.
Lift heels to release entangled veil - Some times the veil slips
under your feet. Lift your heels alternatively & very gently ease
the veil from under your feet. The trick is to hold the veil firmly
(but not too firmly) to avoid the veil dislodging from your grasp
while maintaining long elongated fingers. Do not grip too tightly as
your hands will become ugly claws. Observe my hold.
Butterfly turns
Cross over (& transit) into
outside eights. Open into butterfly & lower into cameo ~ Swirl,
transit into inside eights ~ Lift into soft swirls ~ Face cameo, veil
falls neatly over arms ~ Swirl into diamond ~ 3 Turn ~ Change
direction ~ Open into butterfly ~ Undulate ~ Walk eight ~ Turn with
swirls ~Toe stretch, foot in front ~ Lift into butterfly ~ Swirl &
transit into inside eights ~ Lower into cameo ~ Keep hips moving, lift
veil into soft elegant swirls ~ From moth into face cameo - veil falls
neatly over hands & arms ~ Unfold ~ Swirl into diamond - transit
into pelvic circle
Change direction ~ Open into Butterfly ~ Undulate (with Egyptian
arms) - Walk, present & float. Walk around with swirls - back step
to start the first swirl. Toe stretch. Step into finish pose with
diamond. Arch back with rib lift.
~~~oooOooo~~~
Peach veil.
Fold butterfly wings over face ~ Lower into
parallel hands ~ Add head slide ~ Butterfly is more dramatic in
attitude. Chin is carried higher with a tall rib lift posture.
The moth is more gentle in attitude & serene, with chin &
eyes carried lower & rib posture more relaxed - as you step
forward always lift moth high to avoid entanglement.
From presenting, raise one arm high while lowering the other to form
the windmill ~ Stretch, present change ~ Stretch, turn, tap change,
present, turn ~ Centre step swirls (swirl with centre steps) ~ Feel
the air billow the veil- keep butterfly high to avoid entanglement ~
Centre steps ~ From Face Cameo, point, unfold, into diamond, foot in
front, tap, present ~ From Face Cameo step back with Head Buff,
keeping elbows & veil high ~ Sway moth, turn with swirls, stretch
& lean ~ Toe circle with diamond (& pelvic circles in between)
~ Inside eights, toe circle, retrieve foot with hip lifts,
while lowering wing ~ "Back Cameo" ~ Snake arms, slide
forward with a light side lean while snaking.
Undulate, walk eight & turn - floating your veil ~ Swirl into
face cameo, hip drops ~ Look, lift knee, point toes & step over
cleanly ~ Undulate, lift back knee cleanly over ~ Undulate into
time steps, lean, twist & present with time ~
Swirl around with centre steps.
~~~oooOooo~~~
Blue Veil
Unfold parallel hands into shoulder roll
snake arms. Allow the air to billow as you walk the eight - lift the
veil to high & low ~ Turn, present into windmill - use presenting
arms to start the windmill ~ Out present - dance out with presenting
arms.
Diamond hip drops ~ Travel with one hip lifts while lowering wing ~
Walk into turn ~ Change ~ Walk eight ~ Swirl turns - keep the veil
swirling while stepping around ~ Lean & stretch ~ Turn into
diamond ~ Veil between thumb & index - take your time to place the
veil from one hand to the other, between thumb & index fingers.
Now remember what you did.
Asping - one arm start from the chest & moves outwards, either as
a circle or eight, or a combination which is than referred to as
Embellish Asping. (The word is derived from the small poisonous snake
that Cleopatra used to kill herself with).
Retrieve veil - You have to remember how you placed the veil between
thumb & index finger. Than just simply slip it out of place when
retrieving.
Turn, touch diamond ~ Walk eight into windmill ~ Diamond - travel
with inside eight ~ Hip drops ~ Circling arm into asping ~ Cobra
Coils, small centre steps - round back - other arm coils under the
veil with chin down ~ Coiling ~ Retrieve veil with a front arm arc ~
Diamond - pelvic circle around.
SLOW Motion - The Rose
Use high presenting
arms
Each petal is sculptured with strong wrist movements. Finish each
movement before commencing the next.
From face cameo open into moth - as you step forward allow the moth
to drape over the front of your silhouette with high arms, making sure
veil avoids dancing feet - Feel the music to stretch &
present.
Turn & spin ~ Pose to start the rose from low to high - tap front
foot around as you pivot on heel of back foot, leaning slightly
backwards ~ Step back to start the centre step swirls ~ Release veil
by just simply letting go ~ Walk off with a perky camel walk & one
asping arm.
~~~oooOooo~~~
Pink veil with red costume.
Walk the eight ~ Turn swirl ~ Walk
moth ~ Centre steps ~ Stretch & lean ~ Walk eight ~ Double turn ~
Change ~ Turn, centre step, walk ~ Stretch, foot behind ~ Walk into
centre steps ~ Add swirls ~ Front crossovers ~ Moth turns ~ Moth
forward ~ Sideways with centre steps ~ Turn into moth windmill ~
Centre steps ~ Lean & stretch into Rose ~ Lean & twist, turn ~
Rock back & forth in the same position ~ Centre steps into walk
eight 4.
Exit with an elegant camel walk.
~~~oooOooo~~~
"Zeina the Veil Princess" (Pink veil & gold
costume)Hear & Feel the Music (part 5)
With a camel walk & folded butterfly wings create a teasing yet
elegant mystical entry ~ Stretch & reveal ~ Extend ~ Become the
butterfly ~ Turn ~ Pelvic tilt ~ time into spin ~ Swirl moth
walk ~ Double turn ~ Turn stretch ~ Windmill ~ Walk lift - 3 walks
& one hip lift ~ Double turn ~ Transit into inner emotions ~ Swirl
into extended stretches ~ Inside eights ~ Cobra Diamond ~
time ~ Cobra coils ~ Outside eights ~ Turn ~ wrist curl ~ Asping.
Dancing with a long veil
is suitable for an
advanced/ beyond beginner (having danced, learned & practiced for
at least 1 to 2 years), intermediates or advanced students. Practice
this dance with a short veil first to get used to the movement &
changes before graduating to a longer one. It is not practical to
dance this dance on any slippery or polished floors. Slippery floors
will make you tense & before you know it you have slipped
ungracefully & maybe hurt yourself. So be aware when dancing with
a normal or longer veil always practice safety rules. I have given you
many to follow, these rules are the same that I consistently practice.
And I must say I have never slipped or fallen. You do however
sometimes feel the veil under your feet. After a while you learn to
feel your way, find your balance & learn not to slip over.
Having fun with a long veil.
The main aim is to avoid entanglement with the tail ends (the length
depends on your height and arms length - or what you can manage
comfortably without tripping on the length, so you need to experiment
to find the perfect length - I used 5 meters).
Observe the tails - Feel the length - as you practice feel the length
& the movements of the tail. Look & swing the tails completely
through each movement before commencing the next.
Observe & feel the movement of the tails ~ Know the position of
the veil ends ~ Elbows are kept angled high knowing that the tails are
close by feet ~ Swing tails from leading foot ~ Observe the tails as
you swirl ~ Lean & stretch, feel the tail ends ~ Turn - feel the
veil billow ~ Flick fingers ~ Finish with good toe stretches & 3
step turns.
Extend your upper body & arms - this will give you extra height
& length to manage the long veil.
Observe the tails - while practicing look at what the tails are
doing, then look away & learn what it feels like. Later on you can
dance by looking only occasionally instead of all the time. Look &
swing the tails completely through each movement before commencing the
next. Because the ends are long do the techniques at a slower pace to
give you enough time to complete each movement.
Observe & feel the movement of the tails ~ Learn to Know the
position of the tails ~ Elbows are kept angled high - As you take the
arms into parallel you must catch the veil cleanly over the elbow
which are carried at an extra high angle so that the veil does not
slip off.
Knowing that tails are close by your feet as you dance/ walk forwards
& backwards. Also take small steps & concentrate on your
balance by having a good rib lift posture with your weight evenly
between your knees or evenly between your hips. Keep your posture well
balanced so if you feel that you have stepped on your ends, your
balance will keep you from toppling over.
Swing tails from leading foot - or whisk/tails from leading foot so
as not to step on the veil.
Look at the slow motion segment on Moth Walk - You must learn this
really well.
Observe the tails as you swirl - again finish each movement - take
small steps & get to know where to step without tripping. Practice
on the spot first than slowly introduce the centre steps. However keep
steps small before proceeding into normal pace. Lean & stretch,
feel the tails - with slower presenting arms forming the Rose ~ feel
the billowing of the veil & tail ~ Flick fingers ~ Stretch, 3 step
turns - into a well balance rib lift, arched back pose.
~~~oooOooo~~~
Blue Magic
Adjust veil by sliding free hand along
salvage edge, to full arms length
~~~oooOooo~~~
Ending - windmill spin
~~~oooOooo~~~
contact Renee by Email or phone (02) 4325 4593
Renee's Magical Belly Dancing Gosford, NSW 2250. Australia
Happy learning
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