Get Creative!
There's no wrong way to do it.

1. Try different arm patterns with stationary hip movements and then reverse it.

2. Dance to the drum, then to the melody...then try doing both together with different body parts simultaneously.

3.  Put a mood to your technique.  What does an angy hipkick look like?  What do joyful arms look like?

4. Dance sitting on the floor instead of standing.

5. Dance to music you've never heard before instead of old favorites.

Come for Dinner

Performing at Mr. Greek Newmarket Every Saturday 7-9pm
                                                                  Photo Credit: Diane Purdie

Got Rhythm?

Here is your easy guide to some of the popular middle-eastern rhythms used in belly dance using drum syllable pattern.

D = Dum, bass sound of the drum

T = Tek, Right hand stroke on the rim of the drum

K = Ka, Left hand stroke on the rim of the drum

*will be represented in bold in “Count it”

2/4 Rhythm

Pulse = 1 e&a 2 e&a

Malfoof

Play it:    D T T

Say it:     Doum tek tek

Count it: 1 e&a 2e&a

Ayoub

Play it:  D D T

Say it: Doum Doum Tek

Count it: 1 e&a 2 e&a

4/4 Rhythm

Pulse= 1e&a 2e&a 3e&a 4e&a

Maksum

Play it: DT  TD   T

Say it: DoumTek   TekDoum Tek

Count it: 1e&a 2e&a 3e&a 4e&a

Masmoudi Sagheer

Play it: D D K T D K T rest

Say it: Doum Doum  KaTek  Doum  KaTek

Count it: 1e&a 2e&a 3e&a 4e&a

8/4 Rhythm

Pulse= 1 & 2 & 3 & 4 & 5& 6 & 7 & 8 &

Cifte-Telli

Play it:  D  KT  KT   D D  T

Say it: Doum KaTek  KaTek  Doum Doum Tek

Count it: 1 & 2 & 3 & 4 & 5 & 6 & 7 & 8 &

Start Meditating! 3 Easy Steps

Starting a Meditation Practice

 Developing a meditation practice is an easy way to improve your health and wellbeing.  It requires no equipment and can be done and can be done in as little as 10 minutes.  Meditation can alleviate stress, help reduce high blood pressure and improve focus and concentration.   Let’s start.

 Step One:  Get Comfortable

No, I don’t mean on the couch.  Here are two comfortable options:

 Grab a chair with a straight back and sit with you feet flat on the floor or crossed at the ankle.  Lengthen through your spine and rest your hands in your lap.

OR

Grab a small cushion or bolster for the floor and sit in an easy crossed leg position.  You can sit with your back against the wall if you wish.  Lengthen through the spine and rest your hands in your lap with the back of the right hand resting in the left palm.

 *if you set a timer you might want to put it a distance away from you so you don’t get startled when it goes off.  I learned this the hard way!

Step Two:  Relax

Now get rid of any goals you may have for your meditation practice especially the one of being able to empty the mind completely of thoughts.  Thoughts will always come into your head, just make a decision to not participate in the story lines for the next 10 minutes.   Be ok with the fact that your practice will be different every day.  Some days you will be focused while other days you might start over what seems like 100 times. 

Relax the muscles of the face, neck and shoulders.  Maybe do a few shoulder rolls or neck stretches.  Breathe naturally through your nose letting your inhales and exhales become gradually lighter and softer and the flow more rhythmic.  Observe the pauses in the breath before you inhale and before you exhale and notice how still and quiet the mind can be when this happens.

 Step Three: Meditation Techniques

 Here are two techniques that I use often and find work well for me. 

Mantra

With each complete breath silently repeat a word or a phrase that you find positive and calming.  Some words I use are “relax”, “breathe” and “aum”.  Stay with the same word or phrase throughout your session.   If you get distracted just start over...simple as that.

Counting

This one I learned in a workshop years ago and have been using it ever since.  Count 100 on your inhale and 99 on your exhale.  Continue counting down this way until you reach around 50.  Remember it’s not a race.  From 50 begin counting down each complete breath until you get to 25 or so.  Continue for the rest of your time just watching the flow of your breath.

No Sew!!! Dancing Tshirts

Dancify Your T-Shirts!

Okay gals!  Enough with the ill-fitting boxy men's t-shirts showing up in my class.  They are unflattering, unimaginative and certainly not something my curvy, out of the box HipCheckers should be wearing.  Here's 3 NO SEW ideas to fix this problem.  All you need is a pair of scissors and an adventurous spirit.


TShirt Transformation #1 - Laced

1. Fold T in half and cut out neck and sleeves outside of stitch line.  Cut off hem.
2. Try on.  Adjust and cut more if you wish neckline to be larger or make the shirt shorter.

LOOKS BETTER ALREADY! 

3. Cut up side seams to the armpits.
4. Poke holes with scissors up each side 1 or 1 1/2 inches apart. Lace up with ribbon, braiding or the extra t-shirt scraps.  Be as neat or as messy as you want...I like messy.   Tie the arm holes to the neckline for a boatneck look.


TShirt  Transformation #2 - The Scoop

1. Fold T in half and cut out neck.  Cut off sleeves at the hem and bottom of shirt. 
2. Try on and adjust by cutting more if needed.
3. Cut a big U shape out of the back of your T with the bottom of the U at mid back.
4. Poke holes with your scissors up the sides of the U cut out and lace with ribbon or scrap tshirt.
*Neckline too big???  Poke only 2 holes at the top and thread ribbon to use as ties

TShirt Transformation #3 - Shred it

1. Fold T in half and cut out neck. Cut off sleeves at the hem and bottom of shirt.
2. Using tailors chalk or pins mark guidelines for design
3. Using scissors cut small oval shaped holes within the guidelines.  Straight lines or random...Or both!
* Wear this layered over a bright tank or smokin sports bra.



Did you screw up??

Your T can still be saved.  Cut the front into a large rectangle...poke holes up the sides and lace in back.  Instant ventilation.

.

Spring Schedule March-April 2012

Here's the spring schedule. Let me know if you want to sign up :)

hipcheckbellydance@rogers.com

Monday
March 19-April 23 - 6 weeks - $60
6:30-7:30 pm Intermediate
7:30-8:30 pm Beginner Belly

Tuesday
March 20-April 10 - 4 weeks - $40
7:15-8:15 pm Beginner Belly

Wednesday
March 21st- April 25 - 6 weeks - $60
12 - 1pm Beginner Belly
6:30 - 7:30 Intermediate Belly
7:30 - 8:30 Hatha-Vinyasa yoga -gentle level 6/$40

Class Agenda
Technique and Creative Combos
Week One: Lines and Angles
Week Two: Circles
Week Three: Snakes
Week Four: Shimmy
Week Five : Floor Work-Intermediate Level / Travels-Beginner Level
Week Six : Review
*beginner cymbals drills included in Intermediate Class

Intermediate Students should be able to do vertical drops and mayas with heels down and 3/4 shimmy

Develop a Stretch Routine

Developing a regular stretch routine is an easy way to improve as a dancer.  Our body is our medium and we want to be able to move through a full range of motion with ease in order to express our ideas clearly.  A flexible body can prevent injuries, creates more fluid and efficient muscular movements, and can improve structural problems.

Here's an example of a basic stretch routine I do:

Gentle Warm Up: 
It's important to warm up the body before going into a stretch.  I begin with 5 minutes worth of slower tempo music and move my body through a full range of motion including hip circles, shoulder rolls and full body roll much like the warm ups we use in class. 

Static Stretches - hold for 8-10 long breaths/side and if you have extra time repeat.
Neck

Shoulder

Back

Hips Flexors

Hips

Twist

Tips For Comfortable Stretching

• If you find it hard to keep a lengthened spine in seated stretches sit on a block, cushion or hard chair.
• Have some sort of cushioning such as a mat or carpet for kneeling stretches
• Move slowly into each posture stopping at the first sensation of the stretch (sometimes described as a light pain).  When the sensation dissipates you may exhale into a deeper stretch if needed. 

Mood Music http://8tracks.com/hipcheckbellydance/stretch-it-out#mix_set_id=15481908