In my work I get to meet dancers from all aspects of the bellydance world from beginners to professionals who've been performing for over a decade. I also meet women who have stopped dancing or are thinking about ending their love affair with glitter and sequins.
These are the dancers I'm thinking about more and more lately. They tell me that after many years of dancing they are looking for something "more". They tell me their teachers focus on choreography and nothing else. They have the basics and all that's on offer now are slightly more complex choreography's. They are looking for "more".
Sometimes they are blaming their teachers for not going deeper into their art. They want more moves, more intricate combinations, more personal attention.
The missing link - The Leap that needs to be made has several bounce points.
It is reasonable to expect a few people in an art class to be naturally talented, some who are not as gifted will work at their chosen field in order to get the results they want, others will decide on a less demanding hobby. Bellydance is advertised as a dance that is natural for women's bodies, sure, in it's original form as a folk dance it can be danced by anyone. The difference between a folk dance and a performing art is vast. I'm not saying that only natural dancers should take bellydance classes, I'm saying that we shouldn't advertise it as a dance anyone can do when in reality it is a complex art requiring much hard work and practice to master, as well as being loads of fun.
A teacher gives the students the paintbox, she gives them a colour by numbers picture to paint when she shared her choreography's with them. The next step is for them to create their own art using the paintbox they have. Some students attend workshops with other teachers hopefully adding colours to their set. There is no magic colour that will make a students dancing suddenly amazing. The magic colour comes from the student herself, dancing in class once a week isn't going take you to the next level, depending on your natural ability you may become better over time, but once a week practice is not enough, specially if that practice is choreography focused without drills, musicality and expression lessons. "The key to effortless dance is consistency in your practice" - Rachel Brice
Creativity is the brightest colour in the box, but the paintbox doesn't come with it automatically installed. Without creativity you are not an artist. Your teachers cannot hand you creativity, this you need find on your own. What is the key to unlocking creativity? Be like the child you once were and allow yourself the freedom to play with the palette you have, do this in the same way you did then - without judgement.
So what am I rambling on about anyway? It is is up to you and you alone how good or bad a dancer you are. It you feel your teacher isnt covering what you want in class, book a private lesson or find one who does. If you want fancier combo's - make them up yourself. If you want fancier moves - master the basics so that you can effortlessly be creative with what you already have.
These are the dancers I'm thinking about more and more lately. They tell me that after many years of dancing they are looking for something "more". They tell me their teachers focus on choreography and nothing else. They have the basics and all that's on offer now are slightly more complex choreography's. They are looking for "more".
Sometimes they are blaming their teachers for not going deeper into their art. They want more moves, more intricate combinations, more personal attention.
The missing link - The Leap that needs to be made has several bounce points.
It is reasonable to expect a few people in an art class to be naturally talented, some who are not as gifted will work at their chosen field in order to get the results they want, others will decide on a less demanding hobby. Bellydance is advertised as a dance that is natural for women's bodies, sure, in it's original form as a folk dance it can be danced by anyone. The difference between a folk dance and a performing art is vast. I'm not saying that only natural dancers should take bellydance classes, I'm saying that we shouldn't advertise it as a dance anyone can do when in reality it is a complex art requiring much hard work and practice to master, as well as being loads of fun.
A teacher gives the students the paintbox, she gives them a colour by numbers picture to paint when she shared her choreography's with them. The next step is for them to create their own art using the paintbox they have. Some students attend workshops with other teachers hopefully adding colours to their set. There is no magic colour that will make a students dancing suddenly amazing. The magic colour comes from the student herself, dancing in class once a week isn't going take you to the next level, depending on your natural ability you may become better over time, but once a week practice is not enough, specially if that practice is choreography focused without drills, musicality and expression lessons. "The key to effortless dance is consistency in your practice" - Rachel Brice
Creativity is the brightest colour in the box, but the paintbox doesn't come with it automatically installed. Without creativity you are not an artist. Your teachers cannot hand you creativity, this you need find on your own. What is the key to unlocking creativity? Be like the child you once were and allow yourself the freedom to play with the palette you have, do this in the same way you did then - without judgement.
So what am I rambling on about anyway? It is is up to you and you alone how good or bad a dancer you are. It you feel your teacher isnt covering what you want in class, book a private lesson or find one who does. If you want fancier combo's - make them up yourself. If you want fancier moves - master the basics so that you can effortlessly be creative with what you already have.
4 comments:
Nice to find you also on here Alison, and see that you are a fellow South African belly dance blogger- I also write a belly blog- www.shimmiessequinsslippers.blogspot.com - bit of blog pushing haha!
Great post- and lots of food for thought. I sometimes feel unmotivated too but have realised that it is up to ME to put in the extra effort- like everything in life what you put in is what you get out. Lately I am feeling more inspired than ever and loving it :)
Look forward to following your blog!
: ) Thanks for following! I've read your Blog too!
Motivation ebbs and flows with varied intensity I find. Just Do It! like Nike says. : )
so true alison ,it is totally up to the dancer to decide how far and how seriously she wants to take her dancing teacher gives the tools and it is up to the dancer to decide in which way to use them !Dedication and practice is what is required to improve your dancing!syncopate definitely was an inspiration!
I find I need to see lots of performances to keep being inspired - I cant operate in a vacuum. Bring on the Festivals!
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