SCORKES is Belly Dancing!
Wednesday, March 29, 2006
Back After A HiatusI am finally back at this blog after a long, long hiatus since my laptop got fried in a thunderstorm. It was very frustrating because I use my laptop for almost everything ... music, videos, games ... and to surf the Internet.
It was very frustrating not being able to watch bellydancing videos on the Internet because watching them gives me the motivation and drive to improve.
I guess that I am slowly improving though it's very frustrating as progress seems to be quite slow. I still can't master shimmies properly and I still look like a chicken walking during my fast Egyptian walk. BAH!
However, I've come to a point where sometimes I don't even realise that my hips are moving anymore ... I just look in the mirror and I'm like, hey, I'm moving and I hardly even realise it...
... but camel while doing small shimmies is still not happening for me. Sigh.
My instructor and friend, Naziehah, went to her new studio today to iron out the final details before she starts her new packages ... I am considering taking the lessons because the schedule at the gym are SO UNFRIENDLY (*hint* *hint* ... hehe!) for people that are gainfully employed!
I met someone today who told me that in his opinion, bellydancing is very easy because all you need to do is shake your behind. I guess he just doesn't know how much technique and skill is involved in the actual act of shaking one's behind!
Monday, March 13, 2006
Bellydance SuperstarsThis is a video clip of the Bellydance Superstars with Regis and Kelly. Rachel Brice is one of the three dancers featured here. I absolutely adore Rachel and I really, really, really want to do the belly roll like she does. She actually teaches how you do it in the clip and I even got my instructor to show it to me today after class.
So I contracted my upper abs (like I was supposed to) and I contracted my lower abs (like I was supposed to) ... and ....
Nothing moved. Nothing rolled. Absolutely N.O.T.H.I.N.G.
Bah.
And I still can't shimmy right to save my life. Sigh.
I guess that it all boils down to practice, practice, practice and I am also doing more crunches, squats and lunges to strengthen some weak muscles I've indentified in my legs.
I also like the third dancer in the clip, y'know, the one with the finger cymbols. I like the way she manages to merge her hip drops (percussive movements) with her camel (fluid movement) into one continuous move.
By the way, if you or anyone you know who lives in the Klang Valley is interested in belly dancing and would like to learn, my instructor also gives private lessons. To learn about her rates and contact information, please click here.
Little me is happy cause I finally have my first hip scarf to call my very own and it's pink and it tinkles everytime I move. Hehehe!
Sunday, March 12, 2006
Fun Fun Fun
Belly dancing can really be incredibly enjoyable. This was perfectly illustrated in yesterday's class. All of us formed a circle and one by one, we all come forward into the middle to dance. As expected, many of us were shy and unwilling at first, but at the end of it all, it's not about how well you can or cannot dance. It's about letting go of your fears and inhibitions and just having fun.There's undeniably something mesmerising about a sense of confidence, the enthralling aura of enjoyment and uninhibited body movements of a belly dancer locked in the magic of the dance ... and this can be acheived regardless of technique. I think this was how belly dance originated ... a dance by women for women. It gives you an unimitable awareness of your body and makes you feel good about yourself. In today's world, where there is a lot of pressure to be thin and fit in order to be beautiful, belly dancing can help boost a healthy body image as virtually anyone can look and feel beautiful belly dancing with it's smooth, graceful and fluid movements.
It was just fun. fun. fun.
I am so looking forward to our first hafla.
Wednesday, March 08, 2006
Lazy Jess!Yes. I've been a lazy, lazy bellydancer. I skipped two classes, mainly because I've been feeling tired since my sleeping patterns are out of whack.
Anyway, in the last class I attended, I FINALLY, FINALLY mastered the dreaded Egyptian walk. I still can't do it fast, but hopefully, with time and practice, I will.
Then I find out that there's something else called the Egyptian KICK. What lar.
It's really frustrating because I keep feeling that I am not improving as fast as I want to. Guess that I'll just have to learn to be patient and realise that I need time to improve. After all, my instructor has been belly dancing for four years to get at where she is now.
So, things to improve in my dancing:
1) Shimmies (both with legs bent and straight)
2) Egyptian walk (fast)
Got to Practice. Practice. Practice.
Friday, March 03, 2006
Rachel BriceThere is nothing quite like watching a skilled and talented belly dancer. I am very happy that belly dancing is slowly but surely moving away from its sleazy, unsavoury reputation as more and more people are starting to realise the elegance and grace that infuses this art form.
I am very impressed with Rachel Brice. She seems to be quite an accomplished dancer and widely acclaimed for her skill.
I found a video of her on YouTube. Check her out. She has such marvelous control over her body and her movements! As usual, you might want to let the clip load once through first to let buffering complete before viewing to avoid stuttering.
Men can Bellydance too!
I know I don't have many links up yet but since I have been busy tweaking the template on this blog, I didn't have much time to do any research. My hope would be that one day, some excellent Malaysian bellydance sites would finally exist for me to link up.
Anyway, dance is a very visual art form so as an introduction, here's a video I found on YouTube showing some basic bellydance moves. You might want to let the clip load once through first to let buffering complete before viewing to avoid stuttering.
Do keep your eye on the guy on the left. Heh.
Anyway, dance is a very visual art form so as an introduction, here's a video I found on YouTube showing some basic bellydance moves. You might want to let the clip load once through first to let buffering complete before viewing to avoid stuttering.
Do keep your eye on the guy on the left. Heh.
My Belly Dancing Blog
There comes a point in time when the realisation hits you that there are things that are probably going to stick with you for sometime.
I've realised that my passion for belly dancing is probably going to be rather permanent.
At least for a while anyway.
In view of this, I decided to create a brand new blog that's specially dedicated to my belly dancing. It's probably not going to be updated as often as my primary blog but since it's mainly going to be for me to chronicle my progress down the road of belly dancing utopia, that really shouldn't be an issue for anybody.
So hey! This is another brand new beginning! Let's all take this
