Beladi’s question on weight belts in bellydance

Weight belts in bellydance

I have made this video to answer a very controversial topic in bellydance ; the use of weights in bellydance. Some dancers are very against it. Some swear it helps them. This has been the argument among dancers for some time. I am not going to state what is right or wrong. I am just going to show some exercises i do with weight belts. I have used weight belts for over a month, i do not have any injuries. But that does not mean its totally safe.

Benefits of weights

Why are weights useful. By adding on weights on your hips, you are adding resistance to your movements, By moving harder than your usual self, when you remove your weights, you find your movements much more fluid and easier. Some claim weight belts help you learn faster. Weight belts can help you identify your muscles and move them individually.

Dangers of weights?

By not knowing how to move with your weights, you can hurt and injure your hips. You can damage your muscles. It may even cause strain on your knees. Rememeber, its not how fast you learn to be better. You as a dancer must last long enough. If you injure yourself in the start, you may not even be able to dance anymore. As a dancer, your health is very important.

Who can use weight belts?

Intermediate or advanced dancers. Again, i am not an expert. I am stating my opinion. Basic dancers do not know the basics of moving the proper muscles for certain steps. By using weights, wrong postures or wrong movements can seriously injure you! Its important to have a proper class training so your teacher can monitor you and see if you are doing your steps properly. An intermediate or advanced dancers know the basic movements, they are just adding weights to improve themselves.

Where to buy them?

There are proper weight belts for bellydancrs in the market. However, they are pricey. After much discussion with a few bellydancers, i realise scuba diving weight belts fits the same purpose. Scuba diving weight belts are much much cheaper. They are not pretty as your professional weight belts but they work the same.

What to look out for in weight belts?

Your weights MUST be distributed evenly. I use two pounds in each side of my hip. You can see in my video how i distributed them. Please start off with small amounts of weight. Weights in the market come with a minimum of total weight of 7 pounds. I started out with 4. The moment you feel uncomfortable, stop using the weights. Or you may get hurt.

Exercises to do with weights?

Its your normal drills. In this video i did various movements. Hip circles, umis, inner and outer figure eights, walking figure eights, inner hip circle, mayas and shimmies. You can do all your basics with weight belts. Honestly, i dont feel quite right about shimmying with weights on. If you ask me, i wouldnt advise it. I usually do undulations and belly rolls with weights. Weights can also help in teaching you isolations.

Short note

There are no miracles or fast learning way to be better. The main principle is practise and your love for this artform. If you love bellydance, you will practise. Weights can only help you to a certain extent. You can acheive a great standard even without weights. The main idea is practise. In singapore, you can get this weight belt for about 30 dollars inclusive of weights from any scuba diving shops. In US and UK i think its alot cheaper. Or you can just try ebay.  I hope i have helped. Please do keep mailing me your questions and requests. I am reading them. Sorry if i am a little late in uploading replies.

 

Sabreena

A CLOCKWORK SHANU :)

Well, i recieved an email from Sarah from UK. She asked me to demonstrate and breakdown the step of the UMI. If you guys have questions do keep mailing me. I am going to keep this short cos i am itching to write about ma new obsession.

A CLOCKWORK ORANGE.

I was interested in this movie when i was reading my film art textbook. But i kind of knew i could not get hold of it. But somehow i did! Nah not from our school library. N well ive gt that film with me. And how should i descibe it. Its GENIUS. Its like having an entire course of FSV (Film sound video) in one movie. If melanie asks me to write reviews, i can write an entire thesis on it.

A clockwork orange is about a young man whose primary interests are violence, rape and Beethoven!

After watching the movie, i was itching to get that book. And yes my comrades i did

What does a clockwork orange mean? Well according to Anthony Burgess (Burgess. A, 1986, p. 911) a clockwork orange is an orange which looks entirely juicy and real on the outside but its a mere mechanical device that can be tuned by God or evil to be Good or Bad. Interesting isnt it? Well apparently Mr. Kubrick removed the last chapter of the book from the film. It ends portraying our droog Alex as an evil little devil. But according to the book, Alex would start thinking about marriage as he got tired of vioence. Kubrick and the publisher didnt want that ending as it doesnt seem as catchy! Anthony Burgess was upset cos human beings change, There is no such thing as a clockwork orange!

Ive been analyzing Kubrick’s amazing work. I am not a kubrick fan. Cos i didnt like THE SHINING! I read the book and the movie kind of failed to scare me as much as the book did. But A CLOCKWORK ORANGE is very very very close to the book. In fact, Kubrick simply ripped off the dialouges from the book and used it in his movie.

“Whats it going to then, eh?”

Where do i start? On the misc en scene or on the cinematography or about the acting the music? In fact i think they used everything from the film art textbook lol! The use of colors, shadows, lights and set makes you remmeber the film for a lifetime. Apart from that, the music is pretty shocking. Kubrick probably used the music cos our droog Alex loves Beethoven. And when he goes about doing the murders the music is used to indicate that he is enjoying it as much as he enjoys Beethoven. The music could also be in his mind. I laughed the most when Ludwig’s 9th symphony was played during Alex’s orgy scene. It seemed to me like he was having a marathon with the two women.

MOLOKO

Alex uses alot of Russian words like Droog (friends) Moloko (Milk). It was the same in the film as well. The fact he drinks milk makes him look halfway between innocence and maturity. I loved the fact kubrick used alot of shadows in the movie.

Drunken man;s shadow can be seen.

N slow Alex and his droogs are introduced. Only the shadows first. I loved that very much.

Ive been playing around with the lights at home to achieve that. I like exploring myself honestly. I know im not very sane. I dont like hollywood movies alot. But this is the perfect film. No nonsesical effects. Just genius work to achieve shock that many new movies with all the effects could never do!

I loved the low key lighting. The strong sharp light from the side illuminating the shape of his face.

Apart from cinematography, the designs of the set were very futuristic. The colors were cleverly used. Expected of a film in the eighties and seventies. Now you dont see that much. The colors can speak out alot. The objects used. The posters.

Our droog Alex

Hmm Well this role was acted by Malcom Mcdowell. Kubrick once said that if Malcom wasnt available he wouldnt make this film. I will show you why!

Thats a really evil looking “15″ year old teenager. I can see why Kubrick wished to keep young Alex evil. I really think no one else could have done this role better than him. And he was 28 when he was doing this movie. The rape scene with him singing “singin in the rain” is really disturbing. Very scary.

Apart from his young look, Malcom did carry out the role really well. Closely following Alex’s character. Even though in the book Alex wasnt really singing and raping. But it was Bizzare!! Cos in the book he was raping 2 ten year old which was replaced with the orgy with 2 teenage women. In fact in the book, most of the raped victims were ten year olds. I think if Kubrick had continued with that, he could have been shot dead! N most of Kubrick’s film used this sinister expression. Even the shining has it. Hmm if ma son was drinking his moloko as sinister as this, i think i would jump off the window!

Malcom nearly died in this film. He was nearly drowned in the water trough scene where his old droogs were trying to drown him. Apparently his water pipe came off. He also had cracked ribs in the humilation scene. But he is very much alive today.

Yes young Alex is our Mr.Linderman from HEROES!

Hadnt really changed his ways yet eh.

Why ban it?

I think almost every country banned this movie. Its a genius film but it triggered off copycat murders. There were a few cases of some rapists singing “singin in the rain” to their victims. Haiz that song has now become a rapist’s favourite.

I would say the movie has loads of nudity sex and violence. But we are looking at it from Alex’s perspective. Honestly, i dont like nudity much in movies. But this film had to use it. N i think they used it wisely. Not like some useless films that show tits to attract attention. Kubrick just showed whats happening in reality. This is how cruel our world is!

 I do not really agree with the ending after reading the 21st chapter of Anthony Burgess book. People change. No one is a clockwork orange!

Beladi’s question on FACIAL EXPRESSIONS in Bellydance

 

Hi there, This time i am back to answer an interesting question posted by Beladi from united states. The question was on facial expressions in bellydance. There is not much of emphasis on facial expressions in bellydance. Ive only heard people telling me to SMILE SMILE SMILE and only SMILE. However there is only one genre of bellydance that involves alot of expressions and that is gothic bellydance.

So…I have to smile?

Smiling is not a MUST. As i mentioned in this video, it really depends on your personality. I am a serious person by nature. To me, smiling may not be appropriate. I only smile in my perfromances when it is necessary. Apart from smiling you can have so many other expressions. You can even have a serious look on your face to make yourself look fascinating the eyes of your audience. Before you decide to smile, there are other factors that you have to consider.

MUSIC

LYRICS

PLACE OF PERFOMANCE

FEELINGS YOU WISH TO INVOKE IN AUDIENCE

Music you dance to is really important. If you have a drum solo, smile. Tease your audience. Play with them. If your music sounds somewhat hypnotic, have a more serious expression on your face. If your music has a sort of sad tune, you can enhance it further with your facial expressions. Like your feeling and melting into the music.

Lyrics???

Most songs are in Arabic. How the hell are we to know the lyrics? Thats not really hard. Trust me. There are some useful websites up in the net that has lyrics. Dont embarass yourself or offend cultures by dancing to a music you shouldnt be dancing to. Like i said in the video, someone dance to an arabic verse of the Quran which can be quite offending to people of that religion. Dont embarass yourself. Learn before you dance.

Place of performance

This might be almost impossible to control. If you cant control your surroundings. You can tune yourself to your surroudings. If your music is jovial, and you want your expressions to tease the audience but your “stage” is super dark and sombre, then you might have to rethik your wardobe. Dress in a color that you can be seen by your audience. Wear makeup in such a way, that your expressions can reach out to them.

Feelings in my audience?

You control what you want your audience to feel. You can make your audience think of you as friendly, professional or aproachable. Its all in you.  You dont haf to smile all the way. You can use expressions to cue your audience. Like i mentioned in the video, if a backbend is the highlight of your performance, dont smile like a noob and spoil the suspense. Play with your expressions, suddenly look quiet and then perform the backbend. The impact will be much greater.

There are NO strict rules in art. Ive seen people who criticise Rania for her unfriendly look when she dance. Maybe its the nature and her style of dancing. Maybe to her dancing is more onto the serious kind of business. And for Maria Shashkova she makes it a point to tease her audience. Dont force expressions that arent from your heart. It will never reach the audience.

If you cant smile, its alright! Its better than looking constipated forcing a smile.

Trust me, i find it hard to force an emotion. Ive learnt to smile when i need to. Ive seen bellydancers who even overdo expressions. They wink TOO MUCH. Until you wonder if something is wrong with their eye. Never overdo an expression. Plus every bellydancer is a representer of the artform. By doing stupid actions like flirting may add on to the wrong idea that people have over bellydancing!

Its not only facial expressions…its also body language too. Ive seen dancers who act flirty giving a real bad impression of every bellydancer. Always take note of your facial expressions. Sometimes our faces may twitch in concentration. It happens! You are only human. But do keep a check on it.

There is no specific expression. Be comfortable. Dance is an expression. Not a drama. You dont have to put a fake mask on stage. If you love your audience, be honest with them. But dont frown and look unfriendly. It really turns people off.

I am not an expert again….I dont smile. Sometimes  i think i look unfriendly. Well i am trying to change that.

I hope you guys find this info useful. Do keep mailing me. I am reading your questions. And i will try to do videos when i can. Take care and happy bellydancing and belly watching

Sabreena

Youtuber Seema’s request->Hip drop kick

Youtubers’ requests

I am back again to fulfill a request from a fellow bellydancer Seema. She was interested to know how to do a hip drop kick with a turn. I tried to find some background information on this particular step in bellydance. Unfortunately, there is not much information on the net. I once remember watching the dance dvd of Neena and Veena and they called this dance step playful and lively. Hip drop kicks are really fun to watch. Especially when done with a smile.

I am glad to recieve feedback and suggestions. I do not mind doing up video requests. But if you guys want a particular step, you might have to show an example video. Thats because in different countries they address the same step with different names. So it would be a bit difficult for me to find out what you guys are trying to say. Do keep sending me requests ad questions, i would certainly try my best to help you.

Learner friendly videos

In this video, i tried to make it learner friendly by showing a close up of the feet movement. After all, i am a film student. I might just have to use some of the knwoledge i learn from my course. Now i am directing my own videos. The room needs to be a little more less messy i guess. But i have a tiny room. So its like i have to make arrangements before doing a video. And most of the stuff ends up on my bed. And it is a major distraction.

I should start thinking of mis- en- scene. Maybe it will be better practise for me. I am now shifting my interest towards how a scene should look like. How a set should look like. The colours used. The textures on the wall. Music. I am pretty interested in that field for now.

 I should also thank my dad who got me a tiny tripod. (Not a great one, it came free with the camera). But to me its useful. I can mount my camera somewhere safe finally.

I shall try my best to remove distractions so you guys wont lose focus. Do tell me what changes and how you want to be taught better. I can try to make stuff easier. But expanding my room is impossible. Sorry.

Improve bellydance how? 

Some bellydancers ask me this. The main problem with many of us is we have no problem dancing in class. We find it fun. But when we get back home. Some HARDLY parctise. The reasons are… “Im not motivated”, “Lazy”. I watched a video on a bellydancer who advised that dancing in restuarants help her. She is able to see and control the space she dances in. Not all of us, dance in huge stages. Sometimes our dance floor can even be a teeny spot, depending on your location. So its important you practise on big and small spaces. Having an audience or a dance partner helps. Recieving comments and constructive criticisms. Another way is to camera yourself. Watch it. See how you look on stage. Review your mistakes. Tape again. This helps you gauge your strength and weaknesses.

“ I only like drum solos!!!” 

Another pattern of thought i found in many dancers are that if they are good in a certain genre of that dance, they will stick to it. Honestly, i was like this. I only liked drum solos. Cos i am a really fast dancer. I CANT move slow. I ALWAYS go faster than the beat. Later on, i forced myself to dance slowly. I started bellyrolling. Bellyrolls need tons of patience. The slower the better. Thats how i could start dancing to slower music.

When a youtuber requested me to dance to “trust in me”. I was trying to avoid it and run away. Cos i thought i cant move slow. But eventually i was able to. I am not great in it. I am somewhere.

So its always important to explore. If you doing egyptian. Dont just stick to it. Try tribal or turkish. Try fast, slow movements. This widens your circle of dance and you can dance to aything. To me, a good bellydancer is someone who can dance to any music.

How much do i have to practise?

Everyday. Honestly, i dance everday. I dance in my shower, when i am changing, when i am watching tv. Its always hard to put on music and review steps. No one likes that. After every class, i record my steps so i can review back and practise at home. This helps me to remmeber the choreography taught in class.

Well thats all for now. Do keep sending me requests and emails. I am reading them. I am no expert. Just a regular dancer. But always keep in mind to seek help from a professional teacher. Videos can only help to a limit. Its never like being in a class.

 Sabreena

bellydance makeup n questions

Casimera asked me a question on undulations. I did a quick video to explain to her as much as i can. Undulations look similar to bellyrolls. But they are different. Undulations also require the control of your muscles. Like ive explained in this video, there are three muscles in your stomach. You have to suck in the 1st(diaphram), then slowly the 2nd muscle…lift your chest and then the third muscle.

Another topic i touched was on Bellydance makeup. There are very few sites that explains how a bellydancer should groom for stage. I had always been a fan of arabic makeup so i tried a soft one using gold and greens. I used mac colors humid and woodwinked. Its advisable to wear corn shadestick and then apply those colors.After blending them, i applied eyeliner all over my lid and topped it off with mascara. Its pretty simple to do. I have put some pics on this page.

My hair has started to have really tight curls. Unruly hair. Some asked me to rebond. I dont think i ever will. In a world where there are so many straight haired people, i am standing out. Well i know i look alot older than my age. But i really love my curly hair, i dont think straightening my hair would ever make me look younger. But i must congratulate my darling Ray to have been trying all sorts of hairstyles on me to make me look younger.

My flash sucks. It makes my skin look real bad!

I dont usually wear makeup. I am lazy. My mom prefers me without makeup. Honestly, i do too. My features look kinder without makeup. I wear it when i have the mood or if there is a necessity to look presentable. I guess i would invest on a mac shadestick soon. I have no regrets getting mac humid. I remembered someone saying, “You can never go wrong with green.” I love mixing colors with gold. But then again, i am indian and im brown. So gold should sit well on my skin.

I am just enjoying every minute of my holiday doing what i really like to do. Dancing. I enjoy my bellydance lessons alot. Apart from that, i have to thank Ray to have put some sense on to me. I no longer should brood over what happened to my brother. (Sorry Angel, this personal issue might help people out there.) Its time i move on. People are not used to seeing me quiet. Especially my classmates. I am better now. My brother would only be happy to see me move on. I guess its every pain that makes you stronger. Ive seen quite alot in this short life of mine. Things had only made me stronger. There is a reason for everything. And is God decides it, it will only be for the good.

I needed time to brood over the issue. To chew on it mainly because i couldnt grieve when i needed to. I am done chewing on the issue. And yes i will visit Kerala soon enough. This time to entertain my bro’s mom. Kerala is my Kerala.

And i take real offense with people who speak bad about my state. I was about to slap someone who offended my state without having proper knowledge about us. As for the documentary, work is going alright. Slow but steady.

Well my obsessive nature always keeps me busy with something. I hope you guys enjoy reading my blog. This was really long one.

Peace on you

SHIMMY HOW TO VIDEO

This video is done on special request for Yusor. She needed to know how to do a shimmy. But, i would just like to tell you guys i am not a pro dancer. I am learner mysef. Ever since i switched school of dance, i realised how many mistakes i have been making. I dont know if i should blame my ex teacher to have been so careless. But, i felt upset that man techniques she had been teaching me isnt right at all.

I didnt realise my snake arms was wrong. Until my teacher corrected me and told me how to break down each movement. When i started doing it, i realise it looks really like a snake arm. She really corrects all my movements. I even learn a tummy unduation. She would literally sit down with me and make me push my muscles. Every minute detail is taught.

I am glad i didnt continue with my previous classes. I cant imagine having to pay so much and coming out only to be embarassed that my techniques are not right or corrected. I just realised my journey of bellydancing will take a long time. And most importantly, the foundation has to be right. I am tempted to also get a private tutor to refine my steps.

It will probably cost a 500 a month. Its expensive. Very expensive compared to a class setting. But i guess i can save up. Its better than nothing. If i am going to learn something, i rather learn it thoroughly.

I was very tempted to take out all my videos on realising some mistakes. I dont want to teach anyone wrongly. A pro dancer can easily see through my mistakes. But i guess, one day i will be real good. It may take a few more years. But honestly, i dont care.

NVP 3 PROJECT

I am glad to see Chakky again. I guess i am a mother hen in this project too. I have to oversee some of the potential problems, so i always bring up possible side effects to certain ideas, I have nothing to say to this semester. Its really stressful. I have never written what i felt here on this blog. But i am emotionally dry and physically dying. I tempted to write a letter to whoever who organised this semester. I really hope they can understand that we are suffering. Please dont tell us, “if others can do it, we can too”. Not everyone is the same. I am yet to get over my bro’s death. I am waiting for the coming holidays to cry like hell for it. Please plan it with some humanity. Its not that we dont care about the course, we really want to do well. Please spread out the deadlines in such a way, we have ample time to give our best to our work. But then again, i am just here to study. I dont want to write a letter to someone up there, and he gets pissed and starts scrutinising me and making my poor life hell. Smtg like this happened to my sister in JC. Just because she decided to voice out something.

The world doesnt quite work this way FSV. We dont have deadlines everyday for work. Its been days since i sat with my family or rabbits. Its been days since i played xbox with my dad.

I guess i will tolerate as much as i can. I am not gonna write any letter to anyone. I am tired. I dont want you guys to pick on me. I seriously wanna graduate and just get married. Or i swear , i will marry while finishing this diploma lol.

Even that would be a sucky idea, co i bet my husband would divorce me cos i wouldnt have enough time for him. And god help me, if i get pregnant. I think me and my kid will die just finishing modules in FSV.

hmm

Drum solo video with animation

The first part is a lame animation done by me. I had to play with after effects to practise 4 a test. I was desperate so i decided to do something simple for  my video. Rockets and planets have no relation with bellydance.

This video is something i uploaded again. I had to edit the video as my teacher wasnt too happy with the idea of sharing art. So, the rotation shimmy and drum solo demo is 4 all of you. Enjoy and practise and add it to your dance vocabalary.

Today, i sat down and read deeply about child art therapy. I had researched on it a long time back. I wanted to explore it deeper. I borrowed a book and read it. I decided to heal myself with art.

I sat down and drew whatever that came into my mind. I thought abt all the frustrations. Starting with the anger towards my ex, towards men in general. Towards liars. And i focused it all on my 1st piece of art. I gave the character a name and a story. I also thought about my brother as i drew. It looked very disturbing and scary. Like i am some sort of lunatic.

The 2nd picture was disturbing as well. A gal looking out of the window. I made it the same character. The sceneray outside is of a path with trees. Its all colorful. But herself and the room is black and white. I thought abt where those who passed on went to. I created this path that led to there.The window was the only barrier between my character and that world. That world is colorful.

The 3rd picture was of that world itself. All the lost people, animals and things now belongs to that world. The world is happy. No one dies. No ones disappears.

I will upload them soon on this blog. It looks scary and disturbing. But i feel happy. I feel like i created a world and put my bro in it. Its colorful and happy.

I thought abt stress in my school and drew a big black never ending hole which reflected the stress i was goinng through. Its never ending.

This art therapy helps. I know many people find it hard to believe it. Especially, my script 4 last sem was of this. It was a distubing story. I can bet my lecturer hated it. But i dont know why i wanted the script to talk abt this subject. I wanted people to know abt such a therapy. Even my photography teacher was freaked out by my story. Even i am.

I will continue to draw and make things to reflect whats in my heart. And dancing helps me alot as well. My holidays started. I will start my personal research on drum solos and upload videos about it and write about it. Do keep reading this blog. Take care

Sabreena