Archive for August, 2008
Wednesday, August 27th, 2008
Lotus Hands
The lotus is an elegant, figure-eight motion done with the hands. Done correctly, it looks as if your hands are rotating unnaturally around each other, and adds a distinctive exotic flavour to your dance.
This week I’ve set out to learn to perform the lotus hand movement. It’s a pretty confusing move, and I’ve had to [...]
No Comments » - Posted in Moves by Malika
Sunday, August 17th, 2008
Finding Your Voice
I’ve spent my adult life writing technical, logical, persuasive documents. I’ve written cover letters, sales proposals, development plans, biographies, sales copy and training manuals. It’s been five years since I wrote my last poem.
I’m surprised to find myself here, frankly. I have always loved to write, and I loved it for the sake of playing. [...]
1 Comment » - Posted in Culture by Malika
Tuesday, August 12th, 2008
It’s not what you do it’s how you do it
Have you ever had the experience of not knowing what to do or say to a friend who’s going through a bad time? You can’t think of anything helpful to say or do. Your mind is blank and your hands flutter by your side like birds in a net.
Do you remember the last time you [...]
2 Comments » - Posted in Dancing by Malika
Thursday, August 7th, 2008
How to Choose a Costume to Flatter Your Bellydance Body Type Pt I
From Naima’s Bellydance Blog:
All Bellydancers should be aware of her “bellydance” body type. There are 3 things that you must address separately = bust, torso, and size (as in thin, average, full/goddess figure). You are doing yourself a disservice if you are buying/making costumes based solely on size (sm, med, lg, xl, xxl, etc.) The [...]
No Comments » - Posted in Resources by Malika
Wednesday, August 6th, 2008
Staying Balanced When on Your Toes
Dancing on your toes requires balance, ankle strength and core muscle strength. But if your balance is good when you’re flat-footed, and your ankles are strong, yet you’re still having trouble, check your posture.
Don’t straighten your feet 100%. If you’re up too high, then most of your weight is literally on your toes. Lower [...]
No Comments » - Posted in Dancing by Malika
Tuesday, August 5th, 2008
Meditations for a Better Performance
When I recollect the best performances I’ve seen, and my favourite dancers, the critical element is never technique.
I love the dancers who are not only smiling, but their smiles are present, relaxed and engaging. A vacuous smile won’t do. Neither will smiling past the audience. My favourite dancers are focused on the here and now. They put everything they have into their moves, no matter how simple the move, and that degree of focus is an irresistible draw to the audience. That focus makes the dancer so present in the moment, their smiles are fluid and reflect an emotional give and take with the audience.
No Comments » - Posted in Performing by Malika
Sunday, August 3rd, 2008
Feminist Belly Dancing
As a Belly Dancer, and a Feminist, I frequently find myself in a situation where I want to speak my feminist mind on the topic of Middle Eastern Dance and our attitudes about it. And then I tend to second guess myself and keep quiet because they feel like two separate worlds. If I engage [...]
2 Comments » - Posted in Culture by Malika
Saturday, August 2nd, 2008
How to Handle Stage Fright
If you suffer from stage fright, when there’s a performance looming, you probably find yourself questioning why you even dance. Let alone, why you’re considering performing.
When there isn’t a performance in the mix, and you’re feeling unconflicted, the answer is easy. You dance because you love it. And you love it, because it allows you to express something innately true to yourself.
