Ahava_Melantha
New member
how do I go beyond the basics? how do I know when I'm ready?
how do I know when my hip circles are good enough to go beyond that?
how do I know when my hip circles are good enough to go beyond that?
Basics and beyond
- Thread starter Ahava_Melantha
- Start date
Darshiva
Moderator
I'm assuming you're going this alone (if not, best to ask your teacher) so I'll tell you how I knew when to advance. I'd take a workshop or private lesson that I felt was in my new range. If it was challenging, I was ready. If it was easy, I needed to set a new goal. If it was terrible, I needed to keep working on what I was already doing. In fact, that's still how I set my goals.
If you have access to a teacher, it's better for you to learn that way. If not, my method works. It requires the willingness to travel to learn and to save up for lessons. It may be months or years between times when you are able to get away to train, and during that time you should continue to work on your basics. In fact, I would strongly discourage you from 'moving on' from your basics as they are what delivers the best you can get.
If you have access to a teacher, it's better for you to learn that way. If not, my method works. It requires the willingness to travel to learn and to save up for lessons. It may be months or years between times when you are able to get away to train, and during that time you should continue to work on your basics. In fact, I would strongly discourage you from 'moving on' from your basics as they are what delivers the best you can get.
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Ahava_Melantha
New member
ahhh okay. yeah its just frustrating because it seems I'm never learning anything new. oh well.
right now I'm working on Leila belly dance dvd which should be retitled "egyptian for beginners" and i actually learned something new. I'm also working on shareen el safi's eyptian technique II
i geuss I'll just stick with it for at least another 2-3 months and see how it goes. i still want to get past it. but I geuss it also depends on what you mean by basics is too.
right now I'm working on Leila belly dance dvd which should be retitled "egyptian for beginners" and i actually learned something new. I'm also working on shareen el safi's eyptian technique II
i geuss I'll just stick with it for at least another 2-3 months and see how it goes. i still want to get past it. but I geuss it also depends on what you mean by basics is too.
Darshiva
Moderator
Up/down, side-to-side, forward/back, twist. Upper & lower body on all the postures. Plus any simple footwork that is pretty much just moving the feet, keeping your posture and looking pretty.
Basics are straight forward - nothing fancy. You need to keep on top of them for anything else you do in bellydance to look any good.
I think every teacher can agree that the above is the basics.
Basics are straight forward - nothing fancy. You need to keep on top of them for anything else you do in bellydance to look any good.
I think every teacher can agree that the above is the basics.
Ahava_Melantha
New member
what I meant by basics is getting beyond hip lifts/drops, circles and figure 8s.
Farasha Hanem
New member
What Darshiva said is also all a part of basics, too. Basics are not just moves, it's posture, position, footwork, traveling---if your technique is lacking in any of these, even your "basic moves" like hip drops and figure 8's will be lacking. 
Oh, even as you progress, I think it's important to review those basics on some sort of regular basis, because bad habits can be easy to fall into.
Oh, even as you progress, I think it's important to review those basics on some sort of regular basis, because bad habits can be easy to fall into.
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Kashmir
New member
Can you do a perfectly horizontal hip circle? Without tilting or dropping your pelvis? Using your abs rather than your legs? Can you do it small with feet together? Can you do it large and slow? Can you add an upper body circle? a twist? can you move sideways with it? Do a 180 and keep the circle smooth? Can you throw a single perfect circle into the middle of dance? A level change? If so, yes, cut back the serious drilling on circles! But do a few each time to make sure you haven't lost it.
When I teach I keep pushing the students just outside their comfort level. Once they have 80% of a good circle, I add circles within circles or travelling with circles. Then return to the plain ones.
Practicing the basic "moves" is like practicing your handwriting. You need a reasonable hand to be legible but forming a line of As isn't writing. You need also to form words - initially copying from your teacher but eventually writing your own small sentences. A teacher can then correct handwriting, spelling and grammar. Dance is the same.
When I teach I keep pushing the students just outside their comfort level. Once they have 80% of a good circle, I add circles within circles or travelling with circles. Then return to the plain ones.
Practicing the basic "moves" is like practicing your handwriting. You need a reasonable hand to be legible but forming a line of As isn't writing. You need also to form words - initially copying from your teacher but eventually writing your own small sentences. A teacher can then correct handwriting, spelling and grammar. Dance is the same.
Ahava_Melantha
New member
Kashmir, you wold LOVE my dance instructor Grace Ann from up here. ( I can't make class anymore.) she would have us do a hip circle, and then push our bellies out as our hips go forward, and pull our bellies in as our hips swing back.
or one legged shimmies with a small circle on our other leg lol.
but yes, I think what I'll do as I have no mirror is to either get some mirrors or to record myself. will have to check out the cameras asap.
thanx for the reminders.
or one legged shimmies with a small circle on our other leg lol.
but yes, I think what I'll do as I have no mirror is to either get some mirrors or to record myself. will have to check out the cameras asap.
thanx for the reminders.
Ahava_Melantha
New member
okay thanx. probably can't get a laptop until november, but thanx for that. awesome to know