Class Notes for Spring Session

This page is dedicated to the students at Bellydance-For-Life. It contains our class notes for the current sessions. Please copy whatever will be helpful to you.

Be forewarned! You will probably be confused by the content of this "notes" page, unless you are participating in a session.

***STUDENTS: Please feel free to copy these notes. Bring them to class. Make a booklet. Add your own notes to make them more personal. May they be of service to your dancing lifestyle!***

For listing of classes offered, and contact information, click here.

Veil Class Notes

Dip/Lift (also known as 'teardrop') - draw a big-bottomed '8', parallel to body. Variations: one hand on head, alternating arms, both arms together (fairy wings)

Caress - 1. Arms straight, veil over head. 2. Corner of veil 'licks' different body parts (leg, hip, chest, arm, cheek)

Matador - move left arm to the right, thread right hand through, left hand to shoulder, open right arm, twisting body to the back.

Comet - arms in 'matador' position, sweep arm: up, around, in front, then: up, back around, in back. Variations: with step/lunge, moving hand at shoulder.

Feet Flames - veil low, make small, quick figure 8's so that the corners move like flames. Variations: gypsy 'come, follow me' using one hand to make flame, turns. Add 8's and shimmies with hips.

Desert Rain - veil in front, arms straight, upper body does a figure 8 (it's a dip/lift with veil in front)

Flight of Angels - very fast horizontal 8, coming from the chest, while leaning/arching back.

Tornado - veil does a full circle around the body

Fan the Flames - arms move alternately and fairly quick in front of body. Try the pattern 'QQS'.

Fountain - arms draw a big, vertical 8 in front of body.

Skirt - veil wraps around hips. Get saucy with your hips!

Gypsy Wrap - gather one edge into a 'tail'

Ribbon - gather one edge in each hand. Movements that we learned before are possible with this new grip. We also covered how to 'find your selvage edge' for when things get tangled ~ if it lands on your head, it's "good luck"!

Towel - motion is like shaking sand off of your towel.

Rainbow - with one hand steady, arc the other hand through the sky as if drawing a rainbow. Try adding a Weaving Step, Arabesque, or Undulation.

Face Frame - (start in Matador, keep shoulder hand steady) move straight arm into position to opposite shoulder, then face, then crossing both arms over/behind head. To exit this posture, pull the veil apart like taffy (front arm stays front, back arm stays back). Veil is now behind you.

Combination #1

Slow and Sensual

Curtain (veil in front of body, arms straight)
Gentle Wind - Slowly lower with body undulations
(or substitute shimmy, fig 8)
Step over
Caress foot
Step other foot over
Caress foot
Slow Caress up back with body shimmy (or substitute fig 8)
Turn to left diagonal
Tornado
Forward bend veil to floor
Towel flip the veil up and over head while standing up straight
Matador/Spin
Face Frame

Hand Dances

Falling Leaves
Mermaid Hair
Give the Heart, Take it Back
Beautiful Eyes (looking at you)
Face Frame
Genie Arms
Wrist Circles/Cascade (uniting spirit, mind, heart, body)
Lotus Flower
Flamenco Arms
L-arms (variation=cup ear)
Flower Basket
Rope Pull

*Ask in class if you forget how to do these*

Zill Mantras

For an in-depth study of Middle Eastern Beats,
check out 'Roots and Rhythm'

I am a Godd-ess (from Dolphina) - commonly R RL R L

I'm a Bell-y-danc-er (from Dolphina) - commonly RLRL R L

Dance with me! = RLR triplet (or "I can Dance!")

Paradiddle = R L RR, L R LL (western pattern)

I am ready for my massage (from Dolphina) - commonly R L RLR L R L

***Here's a sneak preview of next week***(in case you want a jump-start):

I am the light, and the light lives in everything - R RLR RLR RLRLR

May the love, that is in my heart, guide me everyday -
RLR RLRLR RLRLR

Touch me here, touch me there, touch me everywhere! -
RLR RLR RLRLR

Make up some 'mantras' of your own, and create a ringing, singing, circle of sound around your dance!

Short Choreography

for Zill Practice

adapted from Dolphina

Hip Drops
Step/Hip
3-pt Turn, Pose
Snaking Hip/Lift, travelling side to side
Snaking 'Fish' (reverse maya) in center
Shoulders 1/2 time
Shoulder Shimmy
Figure 8 (SSQQQ)
Egyptian Undulation

Tribal Choreography

for zill practice

Step/hip (basic egyptian)
Ghawazee (wide stance with hip sway)
Triangle
Basket
Karshilama (turn to diagonals)
Persian Shoulder Dip (with hip accent)
Moroccan Hip Circle
Water Pot (no zills)

Gypsy Foundations

Steps

Karshilama
Flamenco Hop (side lunge/quick change)
Spanish Walk
Gypsy Turn (feet on the points of square)
Gypsy Barrel (quick pivot turn off the skip)
Rhythmic Hops

Skirt Moves

Figure 8 (alternating, together)
'Come here'
'Shoo'
'Slap/hit'
Wrapping
Feet Flames

Signature Moves - Get Attitude!

Stomping
Feet Dance
Squats
Snaps/Hits/Chops
Hand Flourishes
Shoulder Shrug

Floor Dance (Floorplay!)

Knees - wide and together
Pretzel
Cleopatra
Berber Walk (lunge)
Lunges (forward, side)
Sit Turn

Back Bends - with/without hands

Ascend/Descend

*Use sacred shapes in these positions. Challenge yourself, but mostly seek fun and pleasure as you get strong on the floor.

**Remember to fill the space with your gestures. Bring the earth and sky together.
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