|
Sometimes you just can't get to class. You could be on travel. Weather could be way too
inclement. Or you simply want to augment your classroom work - and become a better dancer,
faster.
Many of us want to practice at home, but have a hard time getting started.
This web page is devoted to helping you get a good "at-home" (or "on-the-road")
practice, using:
- DVD's: Assuming that you can travel with a laptop
and play DVDs in your hotel room - or that you have a DVD player more
accessible than an analog video player at home.
- CD's: Selected CD's to match / go-with DVD's, and
also a "core collection" for basic practice.
- The "Practice Plan" : Ultimately, a complete practice
plan for a simple at-home dance workout, including warm-ups, drill,
combinations, and special practices (e.g., zills, veil, etc.). We'll
try to keep this to three CD's, so that you can get some variety with
a well-chosen investment.
Practicing At Home
CD's for Your At-Home Collection
Best CD
for Drum Solos |
|
|
One
of Alay'nya's Most-Recommended CDs |
|
This is one that we're using in every class right now. Cut #3 ("El Hob Halal," or
"Love is Not Forbidden," is my current fav for doing zills with basic Egyptian-style
cabaret movements. Cut #6 is great for dreamy, mystical (and very physically demanding)
stepping-across-the-floor. Inspiration for our in-class work with both of these
pieces comes from the renowned
Elena Lentini of New York.
Click
on
Secrets of the Eye
to go to the Barnes and Noble website and order this CD
Music
referred by Elena Lentini
|
DVDs for Practicing At Home
My Favorite Introductory (and Advanced Beginner) DVD!
|
|
|
A Good Introductory DVD |
|
A good introductory DVD; excellent warm-up section; I particularly like her emphasis on
breathing and also "breathing into your fingers" - this is a good "at-home class" for even
more experienced students.
Click
on
"An Introduction to Bellydance Technique"
to go to Nourhan Sharif's website and order this DVD
DVD
referred by Ivy Rucker
|
<TO TOP>
Once you've established a decent basic vocabulary, your
next goal is typically to do various combinations that lead to a whole dance.
I recommend using videos/DVDs in combination with either the same or similar music,
so that you can practice first with the vid/DVD and then just alone with the music.
For this reason, all of the vids/DVDs that I recommend in this section are coupled
with a good matching CD.
Precise Small-Movement Step Combinations with Classic Egyptian Rhythms
This is a good technique-building set. Even more, it gives you a grounding in "what
movements" to do with "what rhythms." It also introduces a "classic" rhythmic
sequence for Raks Sharqi, or Egyptian-based dance. Note that not all the rhythms
covered in Hadia's vid are in Hossam Ramzy's CD, nor vice versa, but there is
really a great overlap. These two work very well with each other!
Hadia's
Oriental Dance Raks Esharquie Vol. III |
|
Hadia of Montreal, Quebec,
does a very competent job of demonstrating the different techniques,
and gives sufficient time for each movement and/or combination.
"Oriental rhythms with live percussion for masmoudi, maksoum,
chifti-telli, khaleegy, beledi, saiidi, felahy, malfouf and karsilama.
Each rhythm receives a detailed breakdown, application of appropriate
finger cymbals and dance steps and transitions from one rhythm
to the next. The grand finale features a complete dance routine
performed to a typical rhythm progression."
Order Hadia's vid of Montreal, Quebec.
directly from her.
|
I'll put up the link to Hossam Ramzy's Introduction to Egyptian Dance Rhythms next.
<TO TOP>
A Good Technique Training and Conditioning / Toning DVD |
|
This is a great DVD; excellent warm-up section and good integration of yoga movements and abdominal
muscle control leading into undulation training - excellent approach! But ever so NOT for beginners;
it is helpful to have a strong (intermediate) background in Oriental dance and at least a little
yoga experience before attempting this DVD. Great at-home stretch, conditioning, and technique-training drills!
Click
on
Suhaila;s Bellydance: Fitness Fusion (with) Yoga
|
<TO TOP>
<TO TOP>
<TO TOP>
Q?
A
<TO TOP>
|
