And I don't mean "Walk the line", like as a metaphor for life. Nope - you have to be able to walk from A to B by the shortest possible route. This is one of my fundamentals of belly dance performance. You cant own a room until you can walk in a straight line. You think you already walk in a straight line? ok - Simple homework: go stand on the upper level of your local shopping mall, or at an airport or busy train station and track the route from entrance to destination. For example, people arriving at an airport come in the entrance door where their Uber dropped them, and walk to the check in desk. Their next route is check in desk to security. Watch who walks in a straight line from entrance to check in and then check in to security? Now watch who is bobbing and weaving and basically making room for those straight line walkers to get to their destination faster? I'll give you a clue - men walk in straight lines. Women bob and weave. Of course there are exceptions. Notice the female pilots and crew? They walk in straight lines. If you have ever tried to get a herd of small children through an airport you will probably have chosen a man (daddy) to lead the rabble and a lady (mummy) to sweep up the stragglers. Is it human nature or social conditioning? I don't know. I do know that I watch a lot of crowds and the men walk straight and the women walk around them. So what happens when women walk in straight lines? Chaos! Try it... Enter a busy Mall and take a moment to pick your destination. It can be anywhere, a shop front, the toilets, a food cart, but make sure you can see it. Walk straight forward and keep your eye on the goal. Don't move from your A to B route, don't slow down, don't side step. If you feel rude and anti social, go back up a level and watch the other people again. Do you think the other straight walkers feel rude and anti social? or do they think its perfectly normal to walk in a straight line when you want to get somewhere? If I walk through a crowd with my husband and he takes my arm, people get out of our way. However, if we get split up I always get left behind. I watch the crowds open ahead of him and close as he steps through. In the mean time I am making little headway, bobbing and weaving, saying "sorry" and waiting for a space to move forward. After a block he turns back and I am "lost", half a block behind him. Let me tell you what happens when I walk in a straight line. People (men mostly) bump into me. I am not being predictable. I am not acting in a socially acceptable way. They assume I will side step and then are confused when I don't. Some of them get angry, or glare, most just look confused. How do I feel when I walk in straight lines? Once I got over feeling rude, I started to feel powerful! I put my shoulders back, lift my head and glide through space while those around me adjust their stride to avoid me. Suddenly I am in control - not just able to get from A to B, but to get there without adjusting my route to please others. I'm walking like an airline pilot ! And now lets connect that action with belly dance. When I dance into a busy restaurant I need to own some space. Maybe I want 5 foot Square or 50 foot, but I want some space to present my performance. I also want some attention. People may be eating, chatting, looking at their phones, but I want them to stop doing that and look at me. One of the first things I am going to do is to walk around the space I want, with my head held high and my shoulders back. This is a cue to the audience to be quiet, shift their feet out of my space, pick up their bags, slide their chairs back and look at me. If I come onto the stage area and look apologetic for being in my space, the audience will look, and then turn away. I can't entertain them until I have their attention, and I cant get their attention without owning my space. So homework for this weekend - practice walking that line, owning some space, being assertive, confident and self assured. Think of every journey as belly dance practice and every venue as a stage! I'm looking forward to hearing about your A to B adventures in the comments below - Sara x If you like this blog keep scrolling down, or go back to my blog page, for others you might like including: "I'm Perfect for Belly Dance, And so are You!" "Assessing your Performance Videos" "Picking out a Troupe Costume" and "Why Travelling is one of the Best Ways to Improve your Belly Dance" Or check out my Hub Blogs including: "Your First Belly Dance Workshop" The Top Ten Belly Dance Tunes for Performance" "Finding a Great Belly Dance Teacher" Sara Shrapnell is a belly dance writer, teacher and performer. She has taught more than 4,000 belly dance classes, both in the UK and US. She now teaches in Pleasanton, Dublin and Livermore in the SF bay area, as well as workshops world wide. Her classes are known for their humor, detailed breakdowns and cultural context. Students who have studied with Sara have gone on to teach and perform in all styles of belly dance and many have made their living through performance or teaching. Sara’s has published two books on belly dance. “Teaching Belly Dance” is the only book you need to set up, plan, present and enjoy your belly dance classes. Her second "Becoming a Belly Dancer: From Student to Stage", co- written with Dawn Devine, Alisha Westerfeld and Poppy Maya, is a stagecraft handbook for belly dancers of all styles and at all levels .
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Teacher Knows Best
3/22/2016
Let me tell you a little secret about teaching belly dance: Not everyone learns in the same way, at the same speed or at the same time. Sometimes I know that one of my students is not going to get a new combo within the lesson time and that is ok. When I was doing my teacher training. the UK education system was a little bit obsessed with "Equal Opportunities". My Adult Ed teacher explained that equal opportunities in education doesn't mean what most people think it means. It doesn't mean that everyone gets the same amount of time, or attention, or must reach the same level. It means that the teacher should give everyone every opportunity to learn. I'll explain this in the context of a belly dance class: Lets imagine I am teaching a combo that is part of the opening of a new choreography. Dancer A will need to see it once and be able to perform it at the show in 6 months time. Dancer B needs me to call out the count seven times. Dancer C will need to video me dancing the combo from the front and will play the video 100 times before she can perform the combination. Dancer D will not be able to do the combo until she understands all the weight shifts. Dancer E has to make up a little song to the music. Dancer F needs to sleep on it. Dancer G would like to repeat the combo for the next 45 minutes, while Dancer H would like to move on..... I'm sure you can see that, no matter how I plan out my lesson, not everyone is going to be happy. Some will think the lesson moved on to the next topic too quickly, others wish we could have taken more time on that combo. At the end of the lesson some will think they know the combo, and others will think they don't. My job as a teacher is to have set everyone up so that they have every opportunity to learn the combo. To that end I will have shown it, counted it, sung it, explained the weight shifts, drilled it, allowed some people to video it. I also plan time into the next lesson for a refresh and renew. This is a very long way of getting to my main point, which is about corrections. Recently someone told me that I dont make enough corrections in class. My reply was that I dont think a good teacher makes lots of corrections - a good teacher makes the right corrections! Lets imagine for one moment that I am teaching that combination to a visual learner. Her mistake is that she is putting the hip lift on the 3rd count and not the 4th. If I stand at the front and shout 1234567812345678 - she won't understand why I am shouting and will continue to lift on the 3rd. However, if I move myself so she can see me and make sure to point to the hip lift, or make it super large, then she will quickly adjust her movements to match mine. Maybe I have a verbal learner who is making the same mistake. Counting may or may not help her, but singing the music might, particularly if we are lifting to a beat. Maybe I need to sing "dum,dah, dum, PING, dum, dah, dum, dum" - or "Step, cross, step, LIFT, step, cross, step, step". These are all corrections! And thousands of them happen in every lesson. Hopefully the student doesnt really notice. Because if the student noticed they were constantly being corrected, dance class might not be as much fun. And one of our main jobs as a teacher is to make belly dance class fun. So now let me get to those people I know won't get the combo during the lesson. I said before that some students need to sleep on a combo, or watch a video, or practice in their own space. The teachers role is to make sure they have all the tools they need to be able to come back next week with the combo perfected - and that might be a video, a written choreography or a song. Finally we have people in class who are having an "off day". These are dancers who would normally be able to learn the combo, but something else is causing a block. Let us imagine for one moment that the very dear loved one of a student has just been arrested. They text their teacher during the day to say they might not come to class because their life has just been turned upside down and they dont know what to do. Its no surprise that they are not getting the new combo. The teacher make the usual corrections, but its not making any difference. Their head is somewhere else. The class teacher knows that they will get the combo next week, so moves on to more familiar ground and while keeping everything upbeat and cheerful. Somethings are more important than a belly dance class ! And here is another secret - if you teach 30 or more students a week, at least one of them will be having major stresses outside the dance studio. At least one of them will be having job troubles, family strife, illness, bereavement, depression, stalker issues, or one of the thousands of stresses that we all cope with through our lives. And those issues are far more important than learning a combo. So the next time you see one of your fellow dancers make mistakes or take a long time to learn, ask yourself what is really going on. Is your teacher correcting them in a way that you dont even notice? Or is your teacher giving them space and time away from their life to enjoy dancing ? Every dancer needs to focus on their own learning. Judging others doesn't help with that journey. Forgive your classmates who take longer to learn and dont complain when the class doesnt progress at the perfect speed for you. Your teacher wants to give everyone the tools they need to learn. Everyone learns differently. And sometimes people can't learn at that moment - and that is OK. If you like this blog keep scrolling down for others you might like including: "I'm Perfect for Belly Dance, And so are You!" "Assessing your Performance Videos" "Picking out a Troupe Costume" and "Why Travelling is one of the Best Ways to Improve your Belly Dance" Or check out my Hub Blogs including: "Your First Belly Dance Workshop" The Top Ten Belly Dance Tunes for Performance" "Finding a Great Belly Dance Teacher" Sara Shrapnell is a belly dance writer, teacher and performer.
She has taught more than 5,000 belly dance classes, both in the UK and US. She now teaches in Pleasanton, Dublin and Livermore in the SF bay area, as well as workshops world wide. Her classes are known for their humor, detailed breakdowns and cultural context. Students who have studied with Sara have gone on to teach and perform in all styles of belly dance and many have made their living through performance or teaching. Sara’s first book “Teaching Belly Dance” was published in 2014. Her second "Becoming a Belly Dancer: From Student to Stage", co- written with Dawn Devine, Alisha Westerfeld and Poppy Maya, is a stagecraft handbook for belly dancers of all styles and levels. Both are available on Amazon. Sara also teaches through the Belly Dance Business Academy. This online resource includes lessons, classes and workshops for belly dance professionals. Check out her most recent workshop "52 Lesson Plans - And How to Write 5,000 More." Assessing your Performance Videos
3/15/2016
Updated 4/18/18 It's the week after Rakkasah, and many of us have a beautiful video to remind us of our performance. However, it's hard to take a critical look at our art work and use it to improve our dancing. Some of us have "evil" voices in our heads that will knock out any confidence we might have. Others have friends, family and mentors who don't understand the use of praise as a learning tool. Finally, our videos may simply highlight mistakes we made, technique that needs improvements or how badly our nerves showed up on stage. Here are some of my tips for assessing your performance videos:
Don"t forget, every dancer is on her own journey. There is no competition. Others are looking forward to seeing your video, watching your dance, being entertained and perhaps even looking to improve their dancing by watching your skills. Share and enjoy the results of all your hard work. If you would like more information about critique, practice and stagecraft, check out "Becoming a Belly Dancer: From Student to Stage" available now on Amazon: Below you will find both my troupe video and solo video from 2018 Rakkasah. Feel free to share yours in the comments. Keep scrolling down for more info : If you like this blog here are others you might like including: "I'm Perfect for Belly Dance, And so are You!" "Dealing with Difficult Students" "Picking out a Troupe Costume" and "Why Travelling is one of the Best Ways to Improve your Belly Dance" Or check out my Hub Blogs including: "Your First Belly Dance Workshop" The Top Ten Belly Dance Tunes for Performance" "Finding a Great Belly Dance Teacher"
Sara also teaches through the Belly Dance Business Academy. This online resource includes lessons, classes and workshops for belly dance professionals. Check out her most recent workshop "52 Lesson Plans - And How to Write 5,000 More." Updated 3/11/24 Here is a fun post I prepared for my students, but feel free to share with your group. Plan and prepare early to avoid last minute stresses: On the First Day of Performance Prep....Put yourself first! That means commit to drinking lots of water, eating good food, getting to bed a little early and generally taking care of yourself. Of course you need to practice (about half an hour a day should do it), but also you need to relax. That might be half an hour with a book, playing a game or going for a walk ? Promise that you will do all these things every day between now and the performance. You can get drunk and eat pizza after the show! On the Second Day of Performance Prep... Fill in your calendar. Set up reminders in your phone, make appointments and generally get organised. Do you need a lift or car share? Should you book a manicure, or an eyebrow shape appointment? Maybe you want a massage before or a few days after the show ? Plan a practice session or a coffee meet up with a troupee, Ask a teacher for a private lesson to assess your choreography. If it needs to be done before the show, allocate the time in the diary now. And dont forget - you have to put yourself first... . On the Third Day of Performance Prep.... Take Stock ! Put together your packing list (Or use the one I prepared for you), check you own everything that you need and that it is in good order. Is your eyelash glue fresh? Did you run low on lipstick? Did you sew up the tear in your skirt? Then its time to make a shopping list or beg, borrow or steal (please dont steal) everything that you need. Put yourself first and fill your calendar.... On the Forth Day of Performance Prep.... Shop for your packing list. If you need to purchase something on line, you may have to pay for speedy shipping. In addition to the things on your list, you may want to purchase water and snacks to keep your energy up all day. Make sure you also have materials for tomorrow. Put yourself first, fill your calendar, take stock... On the Fifth Day of Performance Prep.... Fix it ! Did you mean to turn up the hem on your skirt? or spray paint your shoes gold? Does the back keep coming off your earrings? Today is fix it day. Put yourself first, fill your calendar, take stock, shop... On the Sixth Day of Performance Prep.... Book your Video and Photos. Fill in the forms, write the checks, put them in an envelope in your bag. Put yourself first, fill your calendar, take stock, shop, fix it.... On the Seventh Day of Performance Prep.... Invite your friends! Its so much more fun to dance at an event when you have friends and family in the audience. Plus they can hold your purse, take photos and tell you how amazing you look. Put yourself first, fill your calendar, take stock, shop, fix it!, book your video and photos.... On the Eight Day of Performance Prep... Minimize your make up. Pick out the mini bag you are going to use and make sure you just pack your stage make up. Throw away anything that is out of date or past its best. Put yourself first, fill your calendar, take stock, shop, fix it!, book your video and photos, invite your friends.... On the Ninth Day of Performance Prep....Mini Bag It! - create mini bags of your dance essentials to make packing easy and organised. In addition to your make up bag you will need a bag of your jewelry (pack a mini bag of spares too), one for your hair adornments, a hygiene bag (medical supplies, wipes, perfume), an office in a bag, and your music. Dont forget !!! - Put yourself first, fill your calendar, take stock, shop, fix it!, book your video and photos, invite your friends, make up.... On the Tenth Day of Performance Prep....Have a Dress Rehearsal! Even if your troupe had a dress rehearsal together, take the time to put together your whole look and practice your dance at home. Do your earrings like your veil? Can you spin in your shoes? Does your make up and hair look stage worthy. Now is the time to make any last minute changes. Put yourself first, fill your calendar, take stock, shop, fix it!, book your video and photos, invite your friends, make up, bag it... On the Eleventh Day of Performance Prep....Pack and Pamper Get everything into a over sized suitcase. If you are using the mini bag system this should only take 5 minutes. Double check you have everything against your packing list. Did you book your pamper sessions for today? If not then treat yourself to a home pamper - paint your nails, tidy your eyebrows, moisturize all over and condition your hair. You can even put cucumbers over your eyes. Everything else on your list should be done, so relax. On the Twelfth Day of Perforamcne Prep....Have FUN !!! - This day is all about you, so enjoy the fruits of all your hard work! If you like this blog keep scrolling down for others you might like including:
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