04/21/2011 23:42
From Latin Heat to the Middle East....
So, to be honest, since my carnival ride at the Latin Heat class I haven't been back to try again - but I did get my Zumba kit, and I have to tell you, it is FUN FUN FUN!!! They break down all the moves, and really explain all the steps in deep detail, which has restored my faith that anyone can do this. I'm not saying it's easy by any means, because when you bring it up to speed it gets tricky. But even with that - when you start out on the first DVD, it's still not so fast that you can't keep up! Imagine that!!!! So, I am giving the REAL Zumba 5 Stars!!!! Caliente~!!!!!
And now.... something I actually know a little about, and have a great passion for. From Brazil to Middle Eastern Dance. Bellydance! All this music, and shaking, and dancing around got my passion going. So ..... after about a months haitus, I pulled out the chest. No pun intended. The big white beautifiul chest, filled with layers of shimmering hip scarves... irridescent veils.... beaded skirts... silk harem pants... the bright colors, and just the singing of the coins as they jingled just makes me a happy happy girl!!!
No. It's not Halloween.
I'm not really a bellydancer... yet. I'm a self proclaimed intermediate bellydancer. lol. I started learning, in my living room with a DVD by a gal named Dolphina, about 7 years ago. Now if you've ever seen this DVD, it's called "The Goddess Workout". At the time, I thought it was the coolest thing since sliced bread. She's so cute and sweet - kind of like sticky sweet - she's malibu barbie in a genie costume. Always smiling, always telling you, "You deserve it. You're a Goddess." I liked that. I AM a goddess. lol. I liked her a lot, cause she believed I was a goddess. Everyone should always have at least one person who thinks you're a goddess. Dolphina believed I was, so we were tight. Every day I'd get up at 5am, grab my coffee, and start my Goddess workout with Dol (I call her Dol, she calls me Ess) and with a little patience, before I knew it I was shimmying all over the house. Alas, our relationship wasn't to last. Soon, I would meet the twins. Neena and Veena. Now, if you know Neena and Veena, they laugh at Dolphina. Because really, after meeting the twins, I realized, that Dolphina was more of a cheerleader in a genie outfit than a real bellydancer. I was disheartened, but I also realized my time with Dolphina had given me the confidence to try something I never thought I would have. So thank you my Zen Dolphina! I then began my friendship with Neena and Veena - who became my new mentors in the bellydance world - and as you start to grow up you learn that calling it "bellydance" may not be the proper politically correct term to everyone. Nope. It's "Middle Eastern Dance". With it I graduated from sweats and a t'shirt to leggings and my first hip scarf.... rows and rows of gold coins, tied around my hips. I never wanted to take it off, I just walked around the house, spinning in front of my husband, doing the dishes, cooking dinner.... shimmy shimmy shimmy! Believe me, the first time you put one on, you'll understand. And Neena and Veena would twirl, and spin with their veils, shimmy their shoulders while balancing a sword.... this was the real deal!
Or was it? Oh, I had a lot to learn. I signed up for classes. I walked in my first class, terrified. I expected a room full of Dolphina's, and Neena's and Veena's... all baring their tummies with perfect abs, size 2 20-somethings with hair down to their waists..... boy was I in for a surprise.
I walked in to a room full of women. Beautiful women, of every shape, size, age, race and color. There may have been a couple bare belied women there, but for the most part, no. There were women ranging in age from 18 - 80!!!! And as for the size 2 theory - there was one woman, who must have weighed over 400 pounds, and before you think I'm getting on her for that, let me tell you. She was the BEST dancer in the class. She was the most graceful, beautiful woman I think I've ever met, she just glowed. When she danced, NO one could compare to what she could do. It made me cry. I had found my Mecca - a land where all these women lovingly accepted each other for who we were. And the 79 yr. old, maybe looked in her late 50's.... she too could outdance any of us! There were beginners... there were intermediates... and there were professional dancers. And we were all welcomed with open arms. And I learned that Neena and Veena were more like Las Vegas buble gum dancers lol. Oh, they are good - don't get me wrong. But as I had mentioned, I had a lot to learn. And now it wasn't just Bellydance. It wasn't just Middle Eastern Dance. It was now also Raks Sharqi - Oriental Danse - Dance of the East.... so many different names. So contraversial. I learned that so many people thought "bellydance" conjured up thoughts of pole dancing for many. Or strippers. Not even close. While it's true that when it came to America, it was seen that way and portrayed that way (by of course the men who had the women portray it that way - it wasn't even true bellydance). - The true art form, and it is a true art form, is not that way at all. It's a wonderful excersize the works your core, your hips, and is truly designed for the womanly form. The movements couldn't feel more natural. Did I mention it's fun?! And of course, then there's all those glittery sparkling costumes! That's just icing on the cake!
I've been taking classes off and on now for the past 5 years, and I love it. I still use DVD's at home, and some of my most recent finds are Rachel Brice - she's my new BFF, and what I now consider a real bellydancer lol. If any of you have ever seen her, you KNOW what I'm talking about - her type of dance is called Tribal Fusion, and it's mind blowing. She's pretty famous for going into a layback (backbend from standing) all snake arms, with pop and locks (there's your fusion/ sort of hip hop) and as she completely mesermizes and hypnotizes you, and you wonder how on earth she can stay so still in that position, she suddenly and without warning drops to within 2 inches of the floor in that same position, and holds it for what seems like an eternity!
And at that point, that's when I turn on Dolphina..... "Hello Trish, I've missed you. You know don't you, that YOU are a GODDESS"........
Some great videos to try:
Dolphina - The Goddess Workout/Warrior Workout, Ect (fun, fitness type, very Zen; sort of new "agey").
Neena and Veena - there are several fitness and also actual beginning bellydance instructional videos; take your pick!
Better:
The Bellydance Superstars: Beginning Bellydance - This is the BEST for REAL instruction; they really break down the movements, also a great workout!
Rachel Brice: Tribal Fusion; Serpentine(This is NOT for beginners! Use Tribal Fusion first!)
Jillina - Anything by her!!!!
To find a class near you: Check your local community college, or your local community center; Some LA Fitness centers offer Bellydance, and also some local dance studios!
Shimmy On!!!!!!