My Dance Lacks Something…

I could not sleep. I ended up dancing the whole night. Then i realized the problem with my dancing. I realize i think while i dance, and i am not comfortable while i am doing it.

I have danced to indian music. Bollywood dancing comes pretty natural to any indian. And i never have to choreograph it. It comes pretty naturally.  Then i realized the issue. With bellydance, i always think that i have to work on it. I think its not my territory because its not indian dance. 

I always think that if i improvise too much, i might offend the artform in some way. 

Tonight I let everything go, and let myself flow through my dance . I realized how good it looked. Almost seamless. Like i was born doing it.

I am huge fan of Michael Jackson, and i read in his book, that one must become the music, the drum, the cello every instrument – pretty much like a drum solo.

That’s what i did. I stopped focusing on technique and let the sensuality flow. Bellydance isnt all about technique, its about sensuality too. Not being too shy or critical of yourself, and taking over the stage. If you keep checking yourself, you are not present on stage!

So ive learnt a lesson today, and i am going to let myself flow through dance. After a long time i began to see more beauty in bellydance, the same beauty which made me fall in love with this artform. Therefore i shall not be afraid to dance, and let myself be me in bellydance!

Blessed be…

Sabreena

Bite Sized Bellydance Drill Videos – Chest Shimmy

Here i am. As promised on facebook, with a bite sized drill video. In this video i go through one of my favorite drills. Upper body drills are excellent to create fluidity in movements, and help work your abs.

This particular shimmy works on your upper abs. Especially the muscle that allows you to do the flutter. Making you chest go up and down might seem strenous at first, but as you keep doing it, you will get fluidity.

REMEMBER IT IS NOT POPS. Your chest moves up and down without locking.

This drill also serves well in a choreography. I love using this when dancing for egyptian pop songs. It has a playful look to it.

More videos would be coming up. Keep in touch with me on facebook

www.facebook.com/genieshanu

The higher res videos are uploaded under the tab VIDEO on my facebook! And join in the discussions!

New drum solo bellydance choreography

Hello you guys. I know i have not updated for a really long time. I had been busy filming and editing my short film – The Flying Chapati. And the good news is my short film had been selected thrice, and i am hoping all goes well. Due to all this, i had no time to upload any new videos. Absolutely sorry about that. 

The video you see here is my new choreography to Hossam Ramzy’s drum solo. Its not that difficult – alot of 3 4 shimmies and upper body movements. I had been doing alot of upper body drills and it gives me alot of fluidity.

SOME GOOD NEWS!

I had been getting alot of requests from people asking me to teach them personally online. I am not a bellydance teacher and learning online is different from a real class setting. But i just found an awesome method to make this happen.

FACEBOOK!

Go to facebook. Search for Genieshanu. Become a fan. And you will be able to discuss, share photos, upload videos. That means i can get in touch with all interested directly, and facebook has privacy settings, so alot of girls dont have to be afraid of putting it up on youtube. 

And twitter for the small little updates – www.twitter.com/genieshanu

I just want to make information more accessible. The only way i get in touch with you guys is youtube mails or my gmail, and things get very messy, and i even miss some of your mails. So i am hoping this method works well for all of us. My blog will always be here to share and teach. Just that i will be more easily contactable.

Apart from film making, i am going to start designing workshops. I hope to make a difference with these workshops. 

MORE GOOD NEWS

After some thinking, i realized that the best videos i can do is bite sized drill videos of my favorite drills. These will all be updated on my facebook. Currently i am trying to re arrange the way it looks.

I have some good stuff to share with you all. Before i sign off, i have a question for you guys.

How do you deal with guys who misbehave with you when you are performing?

Take care. Blessed be…

Sabreena

LIFE AS A BELLYDANCER IS BELLY PAINFUL!

href=”http://genieshanu.files.wordpress.com/2010/01/dsc000381.jpg”>

The more i pursue my dreams, the more friction i seem to face. Being born an asian, let alone an indian can really be frustrating. I have decided to take  dance to the next level, not only am i accepting private gigs, now i have started to dance in restuarants as well. I need a place to perform. Not money, not to give cheap entertainment. The more i perform, the better i will be. I love the crowd, the music and the control i have. Most importantly, i just want to perform.

My family is unhappy with the whole picture. And so are friends. Some atleast. I never dance in front of them or show them what i can do. Its no point. No one understands it. They will never appreciate it.

People view Bharathnatyam as an art – Bellydance thats stripping! Is it so? The steps passion and patience to learn are equal in both arts. And may i just add that bellydance is far more difficult. I have studied both before, so i can say. I need not credit anyone.

I put alot of effort in my practise, i work my butt off. And guess what, i have no mentor or tutor to motivate me. Everything i teach myself nowdays. I have graduated from one dance school, i want to learn from more dance schools, be better at it.

People are afraid of what exactly. I have one life, and i can tell you that i dont have very much to live. Why do we all have to put on masks, and live for society. The society didnt come and console me when my brother passed away. When i was depressed, society didnt come and make things be better. Dance did! Why should i turn my back on an artform that gave me life.

You can never get married if you have such a reputation? Screw it. I love god, and god loves me. I am not afraid to admit it. I dont smoke drink or sleep around. Ive never done that, and i hope i dont. I can tell u im alot better than many who are wrapped up, and pretending to be saints. If a person loves me for who i am, what i do, then i would get married. If not i will marry dance.

My sister says, you are dancing to the wrong crowd – she has no idea by the way. Well not everyone is a michael jackson, and get a stage in one instant. Even he did small gigs before being somebody. Everyone starts off somewhere small. I need practise performing, and i get it here. I love what i do, and thats all it matters.

They are many people who wanted to tear down this blog and youtube channel. Well now i say, over my dead body!

You know what? Stop living life for others. Screw the sacrficices you made for people. Dont come and say i gave up dance cos my boyfriend doesnt like it. You are born alone. You have a ticking bomb on your head that says, as each minutes passes, you are walking to your grave. You are dying. We are dying.

Instead of writing a bucket list at the age of 70, and trying to desperately fulfill it with very little strength on your body. Do it now. Do it when you are 23, 9 or even 12. Try fulfilling every small thing u wanna do before u die. Cos when you are 70, its too hard. I have my bucket list down. And i am working on it right now. I wanna die happy, not have regrets.

My brother died when he was 32. I might die even now. So let me fulfill my dreams, dance till i drop dead.

And society….a big fuck you to u!

Sabreena

‘<a

BELLYDANCE COSTUMES DIRT CHEAP

BELLYDANCE COSTUME DIRT CHEAP!

Hey People

Here’s a few things i couldn’t say in the video due to lack of time. This is in no doubt cheap – but quality wise it wont be good as the real thing. But it does work for me, cos i need to use a variety of costumes. So hope that helps.

Good Points

-The coins are fake, therefore light. And it helps alot in dances

-uality is not too bad

-they are cheap and affordable

-You can get more in quantity

BAD POINTS

-Not Vibrant as a Professional Costume

-Durability – i havent tried it yet, but professional costumes are expensive for a reason

-Take care when washing – i havent tried it yet 

I hope that helps. And i would be posting more soon, just i am giving higher importance to material and quality in my video. 

Sabreena

ALLEGRA BELLYDANCE- HAPPY NEW YEAR 2010

Hello everyone!

I hope you guys are doing well. I have seen all the emails that you guys sent me. I had been busy with my final year, making a short film and i couldnt find time to upload. I had been doing gigs on and off, but its nothing like making a homevid. 

Ive been practising whenever i have the time. I hope everyone has a good year coming up. I am looking forward to it as well, trying to find my voice in dance.

I had thought of imitating dancers or being good as a certain dancer. But sometimes, looking inside us is what makes us unique. I tried the hair turning thing for this dance. I know that it originates from zaar bellydance. But i decided to personalize it a little, move away from tradition and give it a new oomph.

I would upload the ideas that i have in dance. I always love fast drum solos. And i think i will always be a fan of that. Im cool with slow…but its not me.

I have my own new year resolutions…and i would share them with you as well

-being more organized

-Keeping fit -Gym Swimming and Bellydancing

-Taking up more classes and workshops

-Taking opportunities as a film maker

-Most important;y, looking at things positively!

-More Feng shuing of my house – Ive began to fall in love with that

I also now have adopted a cat…kitten actually…Her name is MIAM!

I hope everyone enjoys the new year and have fun. Now i can safely say, i will be back with more videos!

OUL TANI KEDA – EGYPTIAN POP BELLYDANCE CHOREOGRAPHY

This is a simple choreography i did for bellygrams. I did not use very complicated moves. Its basically lots of 3 4 shimmies, undulations and some free styling. I ususually dont choreograph to precision when it comes to egyptian pop, especially when doing bellygrams, because when dancing for people, alot of things can change. And it just makes the dance more interesting to them. If you know the music really well, then this shouldnt be the problem for you. And yeap bellygrams except us to smile all the time… Talking about bellygrams, it always makes me wonder. I had always done egyptian pop songs, or arabic pop songs. But living in Singapore, where we are open to western, indian, chinese music, arent we bellydancers suppose to also dance for such songs for our audiences…Thats just a random thought. But most arabic songs are pretty tailored for bellydancers, you have the drums there. Perhaps you can try your luck with indian music, you have the tabla there…

and somehow music style or structure is pretty much the same. I notice this about arabic and indian song. I dont know how to say this in english….So i’ll write my own english translation.

An indian song is made of paragraphs and intervals

Song core (the song starts…e.g here oul tani keda

1st music Interval (music)

Paragraph 1 (in this song it is…enta meen fil hawa w fil shou)

Song core (Back to oul tani keda…)

2nd music interval

Paragraph 2 -el gharam lessa badri alaik

Song core (oul tani keda)

 

This is very similar to how the indian song structure it, with pallavi and charanam…and most arabic songs also seem to follow the same structure. This structure is not seen in western music…This is why perhaps indian music takes 5 minutes Knowing and memorising song structures have been useful for me, especially in choreography. I choreograph in parts Anyways, thanks for reading. Please do credit me if using this choreo and post vid responses is any dare to…Take care and peace Sabreena

NEW CHOREOGRAPHY UP SOME PERFORMANCE VIDS

For some reason, i can never get anyone to camera this choreo well enough for my performances. So here it is guys! I know it looks awkward cos of my feet, i did it cos some dancers wrote to me they wanna see my feet to learn from. Hope that helps.

Also i tried something out. Closing my eyes and bellydancing. Becos i wanted to feel the music. It helps me concentrate better.

People always tell me never to write personal thoughts up on a public blog like this. But i guess this is the only venue where anyone actually listens to me. I had been thinking alot lately about my career and what i do. And it struck me pretty bad on what people around you value you as. Its just not bellydancers, any form of artist i guess. People think you are a sort of public property with no feelings of your own. Sometimes it saddens me. People viewing you as a sex object. You cant change what people think of you. But i am allowed to write out my thoughts. Sometimes i wonder and fear alot about that. These are some of the nightmares i face with my work.

 

Once someone asked me about starting a bellydance career. Stigma comes along with it. Especially when you are young and you are doing this on your own. It does hurt me pretty badly. Sometimes i feel rather alone. It seems pretty cool to many that i fight against a closed society and dance. But really, you are left alone. People who choose to stick with society, applaud you. But in reality, they would never do what i do. And that makes me feel isolated.

Dance makes me very happy. Performance makes me even happier. Seeing my audience. Honestly, i live for my dances. I dance for myself. Its not about looking good, or being the center of attention. Its for myself.  I donno if other dancers go through what i go through….but this is what i feel…even with friends and relationships…sometimes you wish people viewed you as one of them…and not as something else….

Even though i had  felt uncomfortable with the strictness in indian classical arts, i felt the strictness taught by the teachers give students almost a religious-tic love and respect towards the dance. The aim for perfection too comes from there. Many of modern dancers have become way too casual with what they do. So much so people developed the mindset that bellydance is something casual. Sometimes we dancers are not called up for formal dance festivals, in fact most of us get our jobs from wedding dinners and parties -the question of entertainment arises. But entertainment is also just not shaking your hips a little and making everyone happy. There should be a strong balance between good skill and entertaining people.

One form of entertaining people which is emphasized alot among dancers is – smile smile smile, look at them, address them, sometimes dance with them. But there are other forms of entertainment too. I am not saying there is something wrong with smiling. What im saying is, bellydance itself is astounding. Its like magic. We can make audience be in awe. And maybe more dancers should touch on that by showing off marvellous skills-making people wonder -can our human body be capable of this?

Thats what i wish more dancers will touch on. One good example of such a dancer is none other than Rachel Brice. She is VERY ENTERTAINING-she doesnt smile at all…but every one in the audience got eyes on her.

We can do the same with other form of bellydancers – drum solos as well are pretty fascinating stuff. My fav step which always makes audience go woah is floating around in a long skirt with choo choo shimmies…thats my fav step…I stopped using it in later performances…but i decided i will bring that cute step again…

My opinions on costuming is changing. For the better actually. Maybe wen i get an ensemble of one, i will talk to you guys about it. Always be unique…thats the only way you will stand out…and thats what i try to do always…

Take care

Hugs

Sabreena

I haven’t really started dancing yet….

I haven’t really started dancing yet. I just learnt that not really long ago. I thought i was dancing. But i dont think i can call that dance. Performing is a ritual. There should be magic in it. After meeting some bellydancers from Singapore. I realize there is a big difference from a PAID entertainer and a artist. Paid entertainer dance around the audience….an artist makes the performance from where she stands. I dont like going around and performing. Where i stand is where the performance is. And if its good enough, people will turn and look. Then you as an artist have passed!

I changed a few strategies. I dont know if its making any difference in this video. But i told myself i will be better. But as i look in the video. I feel a little disappointed. Especially with my 1st performance. But i did like my 2nd performance better. Just a little more. 

I began to realize that i didnt take dancing seriously yet. I have to. Its like when you are performing….you have to melt into what you do on stage No thinking should be done. No worrying about steps. Its just like acting. If you are thinking while you are acting, you can’t deliver your character. 

You get the adreline rush….you melt….you address the audience. There are no instructions. This is why i hate choreograhies. I have a problem in following rules. I concentrtae on the rules more than the actual dance. 

Drum solos…what is a drum solo….you become the drum….thats what you aim to be when you are on stage. I am tired of dancing that seduces and pleases people…people should be in awe….bellydance is like a magic trick…it makes people amazed….thats how it should be performed…you become all the instruments….you become all the music…its not you competing with the music and getting all the steps…ALL THAT should be done in rehearsals!

Its the intention. It has to change. You should grab a certain power when you are on stage. And become IT. Then your shimmies everything will become powerful/ Make use of the adreline rush given to you when you walk into that stage. I saw a significant difference among audience in the 2nd performance.

 

I love performing alot….you become someone different….And i think if you consider each dance as religion….then you will see the difference i am aiming for.

 

WORK IS GOD

DANCE IS RELIGION

                       -SABREENA SHANU

RVSAID1989′S REQUEST

Hello people. Okay time i am fulfilling a request i got several times from RVSAID1989. I am sorry i took some time. I had been busy with filming…i think some of you know that i recently started a production company, and it takes alot of my time. So i am commiting myself to posting tiny bits of information for you guys.

So well nothing much quite to say here. I am just updating stuff with you guys. So here in this video i am just basically breaking down a move. And do post responses back. I am not a professional teacher, but i might just be able to tell you whether it looks right enough. 

UPDATES UPDATES UPDATES!

I don’t usually watch my old videos or anything i post on youtube. Because….I’m shy. Lol. So when i was preparing for a performance, i had to look at my old videos. I was watching the first Sahra Saidi drum solo i did. 

It was hmmm….When i look back, i think ive improved a fair bit. And i realized how important drilling is and how much it can help. Last time, moving those hips was not that fluid for me honestly. Sometimes i end up having muscle cramps. I have to thank all those drilling sessions i had. Its the same old Mantra i tell you all the time. Dance that step throughout that song. Well thats what i do atleast. Alot of us don’t have the patience to see ourselves grow. We want results instantly. Honestly thats not going to happen, The more we try, the better we be. Thats why ive to thank alot of those who gave me comments and feedback on my dancing. Feedback sure makes a difference. I am still looking forward for all your feedback.

MICHAEL JACKSON…R.I.P

I am NOT over this man yet! As a kid i used to watch him…i grew up looking at him. And he inspired me in many ways. I used to remmeber dancing late at night – Not bellydance…But whatever i could imitate off him.

Well, he is good human too….He was so humble and helped so many…

Something more interesting i want to share with you people is the things he taught about dance. I was reading his biography and watching his interviews. He mentioned something about becoming the instrument when you dance….the worst thing a dancer can do is THINK…and to just feel your way through. And ever since that, i did just what the guru said. I became the drum for my latest performance. I was so sad about him, i thought of him and danced lol…Like a tribute to guy you grew up listening to. And i can tell you, i felt the difference. I am all excited to post  info video about all that we bellydancers can learn from the king of pop. He can never be forgotten. God bless him. And god bless you all as well. Take care guys!