Posted on : 27-09-2009 | By : Kathreen | In : Learning To Belly Dance
What Language are YOU speaking?
If language is considered to be a system of communication ‘ using sounds, symbols and words to express a meaning, idea or thought’ then dance is a language.
The language of Oriental Dance, is an expression of the feminine soul in movement to the music…That means ‘Your Soul’! That expression is as unique as your ‘voice’.
In keeping with the metaphor of dance as language…..we can explore a subject that has come to the forefront of the “Belly Dance World’ in recent years! That is, dancing improvisation or with choreography!
First off, they are not mutually exclusive..there is certainly a place for both! The question that comes to mind is with respect to ‘ learning’ the dance through choreography with the exclusion of Improvisation!
It has come to my attention, through various sources lately, that women are being taught to dance perdominantly through choreography…this has created the ‘phenomonon’ that students can’t dance without a choreography!
This would be like, learning a language and only being able to speak words in sentences that communicate thoughts, expressions and ideas that come from someone else. You would not be able to communicate your own thoughts, expressions and ideas!
This dance comes from a culture that is ‘foreign’ to us, not only in language but in movement, musical tone and rhythm. In order to ‘learn’ this language of dance we must learn the basic vocabulary/movements, immerse ourselves in ‘hearing’ the spoken language/music and allow ourselves to experience the expression by speaking/dancing!
The above elements of the dance are a ‘whole’ expression, they are not isolated parts. If your learning experience is simply a repitition of isolated movements that are then strung together into counted out phrases that are in sync with the music… forming a dance created by someone else… you will have learned ‘a dance’ but not ‘to dance’!
It is like the difference between writing a poem and reciting someone else’s poem…..
Shall we ask ourselves the REAL question? What attracted us to Belly Dance and why did we want to learn it?
Was it to experience the Beauty, Joy, Excitement, and Power that we saw and felt when we watched an Oriental Dancer?
In order to have that experience, it is necessary to understand and ‘FEEL’ the music and movement. How do we accomplish that? How do we make this dance our own original authentic art?
Since this subject of ‘How’ we learn and develop in Belly Dance is a ‘Core’ subject, I would like to spend some time in the next couple of blogs exploring it!
I would like to invite you to leave your comments and questions that arise from your own experience with respect to ‘Learning the Art of Belly Dance’!
” True ease in writing comes from art, not chance, As those move easiest who have learned to dance”
Alexander Pope
And so Beautiful Dancers, I close with a video to inspire you, from a dancer that said in her own words, ” I have never choreographed anything in my life”…
The one and only FiFi Abdou! Always true to her spirit! An Original Artist!
See You Next time….
Dancing with spirit!
Kathreen
First I have to say, I want FiFi’s Costume! As if I need another one!
I had just sent Kathreen this quote (prior to reading this blog): “Classes will dull your mind, destroy the potential for authentic creativity.” ~ A Beautiful Mind – Movie
I was brought up on choreography and never really truely enjoyed dancing until I met Kathreen. She has taught me to (and continues to) “dance from my heart”. After meeting Kathreen over a year ago, I have learned to feel the music and go with it. I finally found what I was missing. Kathreen’s classes are not just classes, rather they are a transformation into self expression. That experience is perhaps better than great sex (lol)! Just trying to make my point – I want to be authentic in my dance and how better than to dance from my own expression. Thanks for opening up my heart to the real dance.
Petite FiFi
My favorite dancer to watch…besides my beautiful instructor, Kathreen or course!!!
When I first started taking lessons from Kathreen I didn’t really understand her style of teaching, but I realized what she had done for me when I was invited to dance with professional musicians. I got up and danced, not with choreography, but from the heart. When I got done the drummer said, “My God, you are a professional!” I said, “No, I’ve only been dancing for a year.” He did not believe me. I could never have done that if I had only learned from a teacher who taught choreography.
I have also learned from great teachers who only teach choreography. I find it frustrating, but instructional. Of course if you are dancing with other dancers you need to work it out together, but even that can be done with improv.
It is so liberating to be able to just feel the music and dance, without worrying about the steps or if I will mess up the choreography. I love the freedom.
From my very first bellydancing class with Katreen, I was in Love!!!!!!!Kathreen gave me some of the basic hip moves and said the best way to learn is to dance. I instantly knew she was right. I was in my heart and soul and was totally connected to the moment and the dance. I believe there is no “right” or “wrong” in anything that we do, and I apply that to all areas of my life. The dance for me is about being free and spontaneous and to dance like no one is watching!!!!
Pat
I agree! After 5 years of study and dancing, I am hating choreography with a passion.
Perhaps it’s akin to learning zils too early, it can ruin your natural movement of hands…(but that’s an extreme)
I dropped out of most choreography classes…because I found it artificial and constraining…to the internal dancer.
I wanted to dance to the music as my body and spirit insisted…and not to do the same movements over and over…in sync to what was seen by someone else.
I DO know dancers who can’t do a damn thing without it being choreographed…They are chained to a dance…and where is the dancer?
I am teaching now….just started this year…and I won’t teach any choreography. IF my students want that there are plenty of studios who will do that.
I want them to be fully aware of how their bodies have potential to move and for movement.
Choreography is chaining the spirit and the body to the earth.
I want them inventive!
Teela (who is also Lady Nyo)
Teela´s last blog ..Teela Gets Her Groove Back, Part II
And look at the JOY on Fifi’s face!!!
You don’t see that in choreography…because the impulse to conform to the steps (and remember them!) is all…
The pure flying joy of dance is missing to my opinion.
Teela
Teela´s last blog ..Teela Gets Her Groove Back, Part II
Ok…I have to moderate my comments here: There seems to be three ways to go about this issue:
1_Many emphasis choreography only….and that usually is teachers with troupes.
2) Using various “set” exercises to teach improv.
3) many teach assorted step combinations for students to incorporate into their own dance styles.
I am sure I lifted this from some other site, so apologies all around.
However, there is really no “Chinese Wall” between using choreography and developing improvisation as dancers.
I think we need to first sound out the body. To see what the new dancer does with her body. What her range and limitations are in the beginning…and build on that. Of course this is NOT what the potential is, but we have to work with where the dancer is right now.
I do know that there is a great sense of frustration and then accomplishment when you do finally learn ONE piece of choreography. you have succeed in something you didnt’ think you could!
But the problem is with dancers that can’t go beyond this. And there are some who can’t.
So, perhaps the best is tromping through all the zones possibities….and then some…and spending a lot of time on what each individual dancer can do with her body.
This is all very new to me, but I am seeing that women are AFRAID to move….to let their bodies free to do things that they think will embarrass them in some ways.
So…I am doing a couple of things….I have studied the dvd “Luscious” The Belly dance Workout” which they say is for beginners, but it really is intermediate/advanced…and I am working from that perspective. And layering is important to make a complete statement early. They hate it, but tough…using our arms, etc…is very important early.
I am also making them listen to drum music…solos, and since I have two dumbeks here, I am making them beat to the rhythms. Hard, but it is something that will develop internal rhythm. I did and my dancing went up a lot.
I am going to make them listen to Sigur Ros’ “Ara batur” for an arm dance today. Standing in place and dancing with just the arms….very emotive.
ahhh…there is so many ways to go about this issue….but getting the body to dance in natural ways before you get stuck in the forms of choreography is important.
Kathreen, I’lll blog about this later on my own blog, but reading you and your students is great!
Hugs!
Teela (aka: Lady Nyo)
Teela´s last blog ..“Tin Hinan”, Chapter 7, Part 2