Comedy POV video

My lecturer uploaded this. So here it is. I didnt want to upload this because one of the actresses didnt want it online. Well the school has put it up, so i have conveniently embedded it here. Ive experimented with comedy and visual elements. I dunno if comedy and bellydance goes well. But well…lol

Sabreena

Bellygram Performance

Hello i am back again. Sorry ive been away some time. And i couldnt do my home videos of my bellydance. I had been performing for the past month. And i hardly found time to make a quick home video. So now im going to upload some of the performances i did.

I am happy to see your support. Ive read the messages and the comments. And i feel alot happier when i see them. It just makes me feel that i am doing better and atleast there are people who appreciate what i do.

Ive read requests to teach bellydance online. I do not mind doing it. But i am no professional teacher. I do not mind at all to help. But its very important to get a professional teacher to help you with your dance.

Its nice of you guys to support my filmy stuff. The feedback was very useful so that i can know whether my use of visuals has bee good or not.

My next video

I would want to do a video centering around problems faced by bellydancers. These are based on my own experiences. So its not super accurate. But it had always been my concern. Many dancers are stereotyped in a certain light. And i would like to express that in my video.

What i have learnt?

Sometimes when we choreograph smtg, we feel really good about it. But as we keep dancing it over many occasions, we get bored of it. I usually love changing my choreographies everytime i get a new performance. But lately due to lack of time i couldnt. But i learnt that, the more you keep practising a certain choreography the more perfect you would be. This applies to drum solos. I found i was able to hit all the beats accurately.

Drum solos remind me of Dance Dance Revolution sometimes. You cant miss a single beat. I am also pretty much against strict choreographies. I usually do skeleton choreographies. Its just meant to be a guide for me. Dance is about expression and relating to your audience. If you choreograph too strictly, you will be concetrating on ot missing the next step.  you lose the connection with your audience

I learnt a few other things. Asian audiences really prefer the dancers on the stage. They do not like it at all if you come too close. Ive learnt how to keep my distance.

The moment you sense they are uncomfortable its best to pull away as soon as possible. If not it wil not create a good impression.

Apology to Tommy

Dear Tommy im sorry i couldnt do your video yet. I am waiting for my busy schedule to get less busy, so i can work on your music. I feel like i should work on it more, rather than posting something random.

Arms and postures

I really feel that practising with wings gives us more confidence with arm movements. I feel very restricted in where to place my arms during drum solos. Imagining having a veil or wings kinds of helps me at times. It makes my hand movements alot smoother. But i realise it has lots to do with comfort and confidence. The more comfortable you are with a choreo or a song, the more freedom n ease you wil have in concetrating on your arms. Bellydance is alot about multi tasking. So it gets very difficult to concentrate on your arms when you are moving numerous other muscles.

I had been experimenting with a flamenco skirt lately. It is pretty neat actually. I am going to learn flamenco bellydance soon. So it would probably add on more weight to my dance vocabulary. I still also make it a point to do drills few times a week. Never give up drilling, it just makes you a better dancer.

Do continue supporting the film making aspect of me at

http://camerastyloproductions.wordpress.com

Maybe in the future i cn make more filmy stuff related to bellydance.

Take care

Sabreena

Zara Zara bollywood bellydance

Hi everyone

I am back again this time with a music video. You guys are aware i study film. A group of film makers and i are launching our very own production team called CAMERA-STYLO PRODUCTIONS. We are film makers who write with our cameras.So this video is one of the 1st i decided to put under our production team.  More from the others will be coming up. Please support us @ our blog http://camerastyloproduction.wordpress.com

We do videos, short films and write articles. You can cotribute your reviews and articles at camerastyloproductions@gmail.com

This vid?

It was part of an assignment from my lecturer. He came up with this cool idea of shooting anytg uder the sun. He gave us freedom to do anytg! So i decided to make it like a mini short film. Unfortunately due to some problms from the co actress i cant upload it. She mite change her mind if she sees your responses.

So with the extra footage i decided to weave it into a music video. Film makers are like tailors…any footage can be changed into new designs.

Thankful to all of you!

Just as you guys support me for my bellydancing…do support the films we do as well. Ive been doing pretty good with my dancing. I had been performing for past 3 weeks and would share all the videos with you.

This video

This was the 1st time i danced with wings of isis. Hmm i wasnt taught how to use it. But i watched many vids on it and did what i thought they did. Some of my good friends camped overnite to get some of the shots here

Wings of isis is fun to manipulate but i believe i have to be more graceful and smooth with it. I believe it certainly helps our framing of hands and veil work. iT also teaches you gracefulness and how to spin smoothly. The only problem is you need BIG space to practise wich i dont have!

The life of dancers

Well to be honest ive lost more friends than gained after strating all these. Many of my close friends dont even know i do this. So sometimes they find it hard to accept me for what i do. I believe in the intentions of things. If you intend to be vulgar n get attention of men. Yes your dance will become that. If you intend to dance for youself, you will only dance for yourself.

I believe that society has become all about what you wear. If you are a bellydancer you cant have conservative thoughts or religion. I shall be selfish enough to say i danc for myself. N i believe alot in what i do.

This is an issue i would like to focus on. I dont know if other dancers face this. Some of my friends accept me for what i do…but yet they wouldnt want to be associated with me or would never want to do what i do because what the world will think of them. N there are people who want to be associated with you for what you are.

REPRESENTING IN PUBLIC

Also when you represent yourself in public you have to be careful. Especially before and after a performance talk with who you need to talk to. Striking coversations with strangers may not be a good idea for your safety.

If someone tries to talk to you, be friendly and move away. Also cover yourself before and after performance. I dont like walking semi naked and i think its rude. Cos asians find it very very rude.

Sometimes you can get unwanted calls. Just divert them off to pizza hut. It works for me! Atleast they’ll make an order. Or divert off to SPCA. Possibily a police station would be perfect! Im serious!

 

I’ll be posting some of my performances for the next few weeks. Do check dem out. Subscribe and leave comments

MALE & FEMALE BELLYDANCE

What many people dont know is that….There are actually male bellydancers. And bellydance is danced by both males and females in the middleast. Males who dance bellydance are NOT gay. Bellydance is just part of their culture. I decided to do this video with a opening from Daniel mainly beacuse i wanted to fight the attack many male bellyadncers face. Daniel is a totally straight guy for your information. But he developed a fascination over bellydance. And he is very very passionate about this artform. Daniel’s biggest desire is to promote masculine bellydance. I am sure you have seen males who dance bellydance feminiely. Its not because they are gay. Its because their teachers were females and students imitate their teacher.

Daniel here is a fine example of  a macusline bellydancer. He teaches himself bellydance. He has no former class training.

Male bellydancer issues

1stly they are labelled gay. Which they are not. 2ndly they cant get into classes or dance schools easily cos their female teachers find it uncomfortable. There are very few male dance teachers who can teach the masculine artform. So the only thing they can do is to teach themselves.

There are famous male bellydancers such as tito.

Daniel

Daniel is young teenage bellydancer. The reason i emphasize teenage is because ive never met a young person who has so much of passion over bellydance and i wish he never gives up. I told him that in 10 years i wouldnt be surprised if he becomes a star.

Video

We are both dancing to a drum solo. We have interpreted it in our own ways here.

My opinions

I find that male bellydancers can execute steps better as they have stronger muscles. And i admire some male bellydancers as well. The reason i put up this video is to show that male bellydancers do exist and they should be equally respected. The good side of being a male dancer is that you probably would be less sexually exploited. Many people have got bad idea of a female dancer. But i guess its less for  male. You tend to look less sexually at one. I would definitely encourage bellydance to men. Its a great form of exercise and there’s nothing gay about it. It just how the more westernised part of the world look at it. If you look deeply into history its their cultural dance and women, men, kids and even the old dance it.

I hope that this impressions change and people would actually encourage this art form to develop amog men as well. To me, male bellydancers execute the more fascinating n magical steps of bellydance.Perhaps looking more mysterious rather than the feminine bellydancer.

When i think of a male bellydancer. I think of someoe who does mysterious tricks rather than do the more feminine parts of the artform. Again this is my opinion. Its up to people to intrepret.

Updates

Well i guess its important to update about my life as well. My good friend Ray and i attended the MPA workshop and we managed to meet some awesome directors from Hollywood. And the good news is we won a story pitch comepetition. It was an amazing experience getting encouragement from director who made. Well we were most happy when they said we were gifted in comedy. I hope to remmeber that whenever i do work. Well you guys know, apart from bellydance i am a film maker. It will be great to see your feedback on my film making stuff as well. Cos your comments grew me as a dancer and perhaps you comments can help me grow better as a film maker. So you can expect to see some of my stuff along with the belly vids. I had this weird fascination over Ramon Menendez cos he reminded me of spaghetti westerns so much! N he is such a funny guy looool. Well he apparently directed “Stand & Deliver”. Im hell curious to watch it. But these film makers are sooo humble and nice. They dont have the “attitude” you expect them to have. And yes i missed school for this workshop.

Maybe i will upload the crazy comical side of me soon. lol.

 

(Tom Musca, Ramon Menendez & Ira Deutchman & the lawyer guy adrian smtg smtg)

(Joshua ray and i )

Requests

Well the next request im gonna do is to dance to a drum solo by Tommy Tabla. I have quite a handful of requests still. So i;ll try my best to fulfill all of them over the time. But do keep sending in your suggestions. It will take time, but i will fulfill dem. Do send me comments, feedback and subscribe to me. I’ll be uploading alot more.

BELLYDANCE COSTUMES 101

This is a request by Maggie. I am sorry i took long to do this cos i had to do some research on this topic. Most of the opinions on this video are not from costume experts. These are opinions i formed and learnt through mistakes and experiences when performing. So i hope its useful for you people.

Importance of Costumes

Costumes are very vital when it comes to dance. If you observe traditional dances carefully… you can see deep thought put into costumes. Like how flamenco flowing skirts add dimenison to dance or how ballet costumes make the dancer look so nimble. Costumes are about illusions. Bellydance costumes create illusions as well. But there are so many types of costumes, beaded, coined, fringed. Its always important as a dancer to get a few types of costumes. Professional costumes are very expensive. But there are ways to cheat thru. Mix and match cotumes. Buy a bra…and match it up with a belt you got somewhere else. Or sew your own.

As i mentioned in this video, its important to look at yourself and see what will suit you or flatter you well. Just beacuse a costume looks beautiful, it does not necessarily need to be beautiful on you. That is why looking at your body type/ character is very important when choosing costume.What you wear is who you are on stage.

Also look at the genre of dance you are doing and whether it works well with you. Get a few types of skirts, tight, flowing ones. This can be very useful for you!

Colorwheel & tones

This is smtg i learnt from my makeup artist friend. She mentioned that each of us have a undertone and we have to neautralise it with certain colors. Some of us have a yellow undertone and certain colors will be a NO NO to you. One good way to is to find your tone at a makeup outlet. What colors are bad? Do you have too much red in your undertone…so red will just make you look bad? I have a friend with too much red…so she needs a costume that can neatralise it. So red will be a NO NO for her!

COMFORT

I have to keep stressing about comfort. Many of us make a bad decision with costume. We spend 100s on a costume…but dont spend enough time thinking whether you feel comfy in it. Its better to get something comfy than trying to spend more time perfecting it to suit you. Also perfecting costumes are added costs. So think and think well before splurging on your next costume.

My style

Most of my costumes are mix and matched by myself. I dont buy a profesional costume. Cos i cant get ones with sleeves so my only option is to buy here and there and match it. I also believe in looking unique. Cos thats your identity and its important to have your own style in clothing. For an example, Rachel Brice’s tribal costumes. Most importantly, dress according to your character that feels like your own skin. Its much better than trying to compromise into fitting into a certain image.

My advice…

Dont rush when buying costumes. They are expensive. I made mistakes. In fact my most expensive outfit…i cant wear it at all. Firstly, its very low and i thought i could alter and cover more chest. But i have to get it sewn on. Thats expesive. Also the costume is very uncomfy to dance with. So its a total waste.I can only pose for photographs using it. Its very useful for that though lol

Personal attacks and the pain i go through making my vids…

Well many people advise me not to write my personal life on a public blog where people can get their hands on. But i feel its important i share some part of me with people who bother to subscribe and comment on my videos. Making videos are not easy. I face a handful of problems. Just as i get praise for my work…i do get negativity. Especially from my own friends perhaps not my family though. I come from a conservative society that finds it difficult to digest my semi nakedism in my videos and my performances.

Even then…what keeps me going is the positive comments. Some of my friends feel shocked and upset about my work here not quite understanding my noble intentions. I am not saying i am doing this solely for the benefit of the world. I’ll be honest…i started dance to cope with my brother’s death and also my health. Later on, i just wanted to share it on a blog. I never quite knew that this would get attention. I believe if this could help me…it can help any women or men.

Many people who have subscribed to me understand i am not dancing for attention. Maybe people find it hard to accept a dancer or look down upon a dancer and associate them with whores. I’ll just tell one thing. A women who covers up isnt a saint…and a woman who shows off her body isnt a whore either. I dance for myself and its an expression and it makes me human. I bet many dance artists go though this as well.

I feel i should share the pain i go through in putting this up. Its sadder to face cricisms from your own friends than unknown people. Really.

I;ll thank everyone who supports my blog and my videos. And yes i will continue helping the bellydance community. I dont mind giving information for free. Dance to me isnt a business but an education. Education can never be spread well if one has money on their mind.

I have a few more requests to fulfill, Your requests are not forgotten. I am working on them. So im pretty filled for now. So do wait patiently. I take requests seriously…

Sabreena

A Bellydancer’s Sad Story (edited)

Well i just got time to blog about this performance. Cos i fell pretty sick after this performnce. Its now being a norm for me to fall sick right after a performance. Mom claims its evil eyes. Lol. N josh will probably laugh over the chillies again. Cos my mom believes chillies ward off evil eyes!

Well back to the topic. I am a very honest person. And i will admit that…

This wasnt my best performance. N i know it. But mistakes lead to perfection and i am not ashamed to admit.

Well that day was a bad day. Cos i had a severe fight with my sister a day before. N it was all on my mind. She was supposed to help me out for this day. Well she did in the end. But it affected me cos i was trying to get someone there with me to get my clothes on right cos ive a phobia of clothes dropping off in a performance. So my mother’s friend was nice enough to pop by. Unfortunately…no one could come over and lend a little hand. So the day of my performance was spent searching. I couldnt relax at all.

Well family is family. They all came down and supported me. Usually i dont bring my family along cos my mother doesnt understand the art of bellydance. But she did come down and lend her support. N so did this guy called Chin Eng. Thank you very much! He took time to come all the way to jiayou (cheer) me!

So my day was rotten. To add more onto the rottenness….my sister forgot my coin belt. So 5 mins before the performance.. i was freaking out. I felt miserable!

Also honestly i dont work well with choreographies. I am rather used to do doing solos and freestyle. Cos choreographies make me think and doesnt put me in the “feeling”. N if you are doing a group performance…if you do smtg wrong…it will be VERY OBVIOUS!

This choreo was actually taught by my teacher Ms.Yuki. She is a amazing lady with lots of charisma. I love her lessons. She is full of energy and she perfected us and prepared us. But she couldnt be there for the show! Cos she had to go China to judge a bellydance contest.

Dramapro & Dance

Well My lecturer Mr, Millians taught us smtg which i think is really true. He teaches me about drama at my school. This applies for acting and dancing as well. Cos dancing is another form of acting according to me He said…we should be in the MOMENT. When actors are given too many instructions…they think too much when they are acting and cant be the character. You cant pretend…you have to be it.

Well my face is a fine example of bad technique. I was thinking of… “Shit…do i do it left or right”. So i looked lost according to my sister.   N i know i did. I am usually happy when i see my audience. I become a character  in the stage. I smile…i interact with them. But that day…i couldnt. We are all actors…we act everyday of our lives. What i am on stage is totally different from what i am in real life.

Also i am doing a choreographed dance aftter a long time. So i couldnt be in the moment.

Shame on me! Cos audience are important. They spend time transport to come n see you. N you dont even smile? That really sucks! So i felt terrible after everything. My 100% wasnt there!!

What did i learn?

Yame is a fellow dancer…i know her from youtbe. She said to me not to worry and dont think of aytg when you r on stage. Even if you screw up…they would not know. Just dont show it. I think its true. We all screw up. Its human nature. I rather learn now that this could happen…Then never.

I also have decided to get things ready before a performance. N get reliable people to be there and help me work this through. Or learn how to adjust costume cockups.

Professionalism

Well i am learning…and i will never end learning. I am planing to go and do bellydance courses after i graduate from my current school. Cos you will definitely pick up more. Especially from different teachers,

I watched my teacher perform and i really could feel i have to learn more. I take dance very seriously. I look at her and see how she transitions from oe step to another. Its a part i am trying to work my way through. I am not an expert nor am i perfect. I will have to work my way to perfectionism. Cos dance is serious business. She flows and be someone on stage. I have to be that character on stage too.

I am glad that many people are nice enough to leave comments and make me feel better. My main objective is to make sure i never disappoint anyone with my dance. There were two nice gals who came up to me ad said i did a good job. But i had this inner guilt that i know i didnt reach my own expectations, In fact i failed miserably.

Oh yes.. Did i tell you i lost my earrings as well :’(

Costume & Makeup

Many people liked my costume. My costume was bought online. N it was tailored for me cos i cant buy regular bellydance costumes cos i like certain designs and i usually dont dance in a bellydance bra. Cos i prefer people ogling my dance rather than my body. Bellydance is ART not sex. Also i like certain colors and certain designs especially coins. So i get it tailored for myself. It also helps me stand out from regular bellydance costumes. So i kind of prefer it this way Well this costume is technichally a bra. But i got the gaunlets really long to make like a sleeves. My long hair covers the fact that its actually a bra. It makes me feel less naked and helps me concetrate on my dance rather than… “Oh … is my boobs gona pop out?”

Anyways…I tried new makeup. My friend taught me blending. This is one thing i should thank her for. N i am atleast happy that came out well Well scroll down for pics. I used Black track MAC…Mac Kohl…and Red Earth brown eyeshadow with loreal mascara Also the foundation is Bobbi Brown.  The lip stick is a mixure of NYC & ZA. I also put foundation on my lips as a base to give that nude look to bring out my eyes. N i covered with the above two lipsticks. If you guys wanna breakdown of how i did it. Read the makeup section of this blog.

Requests and unfulfilled requests!

I recieve many requests everyday. And i would say yes to them if they are decent and good teaching material. But sometimes i am overwhelmed with it.  And it could also happen that i am unable to do yours anymore. So please dont feel upset about it. I am schooling as well so i can only do ones that i have time for. Or it could be that your requests may be done even a couple of months later. So i hope you can understand my situation.

Also i cant teach you choreographies that dont belong to me. Cos its a bit unfair to the actual choreographer. So i am extremely sorry about that.

Do send in your requests still. If i am able to do it… it will certainly be up. But you have to be patient. Sometimes it can take even months. i usually take all my requests seriously except for ones that try to defame bellydance.

Bellyrolling tips (edited)

How i overcame Bellyrolling problems…

Well this is my story. Bellyrolling doesnt come easy for everyone. Atleast not for me. Its just ot natural for my body. And i struggled alot for it. All we bellydancers have a problem. We practise what we are good at and leave out what we hate. And thats what i did with bellyrolling.

Everytime i squeese out my constipated bellyrolls…i watch the little humps rolling down my stomach and i tell myself… “Shanu…you r never gonna get good as Rachel Brice”

So how do we overcome this…

Simple..Make your practise interesting…

Daniel i owe you THANKS

Daniel is a male bellydancer who gives alot of thought in bellydance practise. He told me he practising 60 bellyrolls one shot. And then an idea pop into myhead. Why dont i belly roll to an entire song?

The problem with bellyrolls…

Many of us get discouraged in seeing our pathetic camel humps taking a lazy walk down the arabian desert of your tummy. (Nice way to put it eh?) We get discouraged demoralised and terribly upset. Bellyrolls are about relaxing your muscles. When you see yourself…you feel tensed and you cant roll well. Soo dont look at yourself.

Lying down and belly rolling is alot tougher than standing. Lie down face the ceiling get your mp3 and roll. Dont look at a mirror. Think about daily events…think about friend…dog ..or me

The main idea is to not focus and make belly rolling a part of  natural movement. So you dont have to push yourself but it flows.

Ab building helps..

People told me this be4. I said its bullshit. But i say now…its some shit really. It helps. It makes your abs strong! Go do crunches…familiarise with your darling abbies. Sucking in your diaphram helps too. Do it nonstop for 2 songs. You would be great. Do it for a week you would be super great.

The key to bellyrolling is practise. Make your practise fun…and you will enjoy that movement. I enjoy it much more now. I even feel its relaxing! I hope this helps…

 

Asena

Well i have been observing didem for some time. Everyone keeps arguing on youtube that Didem is alot better than Asena. I was curious and went to find out about this dancer. Initially when i saw her i thought she was bad. Really. Recently i kept watching her vids and i realise that Asena is just not any dancer but a true artist. Asena’s style of dancing CANNOT be compared to Didem. After watching and analysing her dance moves…i can safely say that Didem is shallow compared to Asena’s technique. I am a fan of Didem’s flamboyant moves and floorwork. She entertains and amuses her audience with her cute smile and attitude, But observe Asena. Watch the drum solo ive embedded. You will realise anger .. a sort of i dunno how to say in the english language…determination….power? Asena has alot of feeling in her bellydance. Her moves are alot more simple and basic compared to Didem’s…But she “talks’ through her dance.

When i sit thrugh didem’s performances…i get a feeling of happines…amusement…shock at her gorgeous dance moves. And thats it. Its like watching a hollywood film packed with action…you come home and describe the story to your friend as… “There was alot of Dooom Boom n Gooon in the move…wah!”

But Asena’s…i was glued. When she started trembling i was literally glued feeling her “power’ take over my lap top screen. Even though i am not a fan of Asena. I have began to appreciate her. I still like Didem more. Cos Didem owns what i believe…i believe in flamboyant movements. Thats just my style. But Asena’s style cant be ignored. Asena does a mixture of dances. But i dont quite like her style. But its her style and i think people shouldnt compare one artist to another. Its best when artists are different so we can appreciate them for who there are.

LEAN ON ME

 

My dad says “God must look like Morgan Freeman”

Maybe because Morgan Freeman was God in Evans Almighty and my dad is a fan of the movie. My dad also said “Morgan freeman is God”…he also said, “I wont be suprised if we realise on the day of judgement that Morgan Freeman is REALLY God and he might just say ‘GOTCHA’”

Please take a look at GOD in the picture below.

Thi picture proves he is God cos there is a light behind him. Can you see that? So he is GOD.

Anyways, I did watch Lean on me after Keenan’s uper strong recommendation. It was an awesome movie and much better than Dangerous minds actually cos it was funny. Dangerous Minds is more on to the serious side. Apparently Lean on me is a true story which makes it alot fun to watch. It is a story of Eastside high school which was a reputable school until it got rotten and then its situation got way much better when a tyrannical pricinpal Joe Louis Clark came in. He was a tyrant man! One who would walk the schools with a bullhorn and shout at students. He would expel anyone mercilessly including teachers. He chained up the school from drug pushers and force students to know the school song by heart.

So i read up a little on Joe Louis Clark…and yes its true! He did even pose with bat in TIME magazine.

The Real Joe Clark.

I dont want to spoil the movie for you. I didnt quite watch it for the film style even tho i learnt quite a few things. I enjoyed it for its biographical value. I am glad this movie followed quite closely to Joe Clark’s biography unlike Dangerous minds. Cos if you read LouAnne Johnson’s book you would realise that LouAnne had a lot tougher time dealing with the “dangerous minds”. In hollywood…things are alot easier…n full of action. Anyways…i still love the movie.

Well…in my sister’s secondary school things were pretty bad too…until this principal came and he would walk around with his cane and just hit anyone. I dunno if i agree with this sort of tyrannism. Cos i dont like the idea of hitting or insulting students or kids. Maybe it works. “Spare the rod…spoil the child?”

Maybe the principal has power cos he doesnt directly deals with students…unlike a teacher who has to worry for her/his safety.

I dont quite agree with his methods…cos i wont do it. I rather let someone else do it. But he does have a point about discipline. I respect him alot for it as well. Maybe we are being a bit too easy on young people for the wrong things. I mean some things. Young people think they know what they do…quite forgetting that older people have walked the same paths they are walking now.Well its pretty normal for the young. Its that age where we jump for everything. N as we get older we become slower n we think before we jump. Sometimes we think too much.

Anyways im thinking too much already. N writing too much of what i think.

This movie is really very good and makes me realise why i loved 80’s movies alot better …cos when they made movies…they really made them…nowdays computers make the movies with all the CGI and crap..

I hate CGI..CGI is like monosodium glutamate,…add little…for taste…dont overkill and run ur entire film on CGI. Anyways i still find this character pretty hard to digest cos i believe very strongly in treating people with respect. I rather choose LouAnne’s treatment anytime over Joe Clark;s…just a personal preference. Well Joe Clark is a cool man…even though i cant figure out whether he is a good man or a bad man…maybe BAT MAN

Dangerous minds/ My life as a teacher…

Hmm this is not really a movie review. It was a movie i heard about many years back and never really got the chance to watch it. Yesterday i finally managed to get my hands on the movie. Film style wise i can say its very 90’s hollywood. But what really touched me was the story. Its about a high school teacher making a difference on students lives.

This story reminded me alot of the time i spent teaching technical students. Its not that high school kids from other countries are worse off. Its smtg like my sis said. Society. You give them guns and drugs…Singaporean teens would be as bad as them. There are no real difference between youngsters from different countries,

I had always hated our education system that labels and classify students ability basing on their PSLE results at a tender age of 12? Where they are labelled for life…and everything is pretty much planned for them by the ministry of education.

When i was in secondary school, i never had much contact with anyone from the techical side. I only got to know them when i was teaching for a period of 1 to 2 years. Many teachers looked down upon them, dont bother to teach them…and tell them to their face that they are gonna be blue collar workers.

Technical kids are not stupid. But i do agree they dont think like us. My elder sis still teaches them and she says she sees a difference. Maybe because all their life they have been labelled hopeless and they dont think for themselves anymore? Its the same pattern in every school. The teacher doesnt even conduct lessons.

I worked closely with this techical student, Alisha. She used to give me the same complaints. And i realise just like this film…i kind of used the same methods as the teacher. Anyways this movie is based on a true story… The actual teacher even wrote a book “My posse don’t do homework”.

The problem with them is…you have to grab their attention. One of the teachers call it “Edutainment”. You have to be them..to teach them. That requires you to be as “cool” as them. Even if its saying vulgarities..better not let the principal know this…

I didnt use vulgarities…but i had my own methods. Stories…jokes…smtimes unique ways to teach them…even if its a little sexual. Its like packaging information in the most entertaining ways. Like “what is stronger…iron or steel” So i created a story on the “iron man” and the “steel man”. It helped them remmeber. Or why north poles of a magnet…can NEVER attract. Sometimes it scares you when you realise these guys cant read at all. And you have to be really dedicated to help these guys. You cant shout over them…scream at them.They have dignity. You have to be “friends” with them.

Then there is this politics among teachers…where some assholes dont like your efforts..They expect you to give “worksheets”. Seriously…fuck your worksheets. Cos this kids aint  gonna do dem. You have to teach them visually and they learn visually. And these “assholes” have to interfere and tell you how to teach. Dudes…did your methods work? The kids listen to me! Not you!

Truly enough the teacher in this film faced the same issue as well. I gave them “express” stuff to do. I didnt tell them i was giving “express” stuff to do. Cos express to dem is sooo high up there. N sadly “express” students look down upon them…like they are alien or smtg. I told them…they are not any different.

1stly, i had to be like them. I had to joke around. Dont worry…the class is never quiet. Its alright. They dont get alot of basic stuff. Even proper grammer in English. Dont be disheartened. They will improve over time. Get them to like you! They need to feel safe with you.

Dont scream shout or make them look small. They are only gonna be harder to work with, Sometimes they sound rude..not because they want to be rude…they dont know how to talk. Many of them either have a problem with their brain (honestly) or they are from dysfunctional families.

Praise them. I did that with Alisha. I told her she was intelligent. These kids never get praised all their lives. Saying “Good”, excellent…mean alot to them. They feel encouraged and they want to impress you more…so they will take efforts. Alisha told me that her teachers thot she was hopeless…and i told her “Na…its they who are hopeless”..I bitched about her teachers with her. Bitching helps…it makes you “their” friend. When they talk about problems…listen to them.

Candies.I bring sweets always with me..whether its preschoolers…primary or secodary. Those 1 dollar sweets make a huge difference in their lives. When they make effort…i throw them a sweet…and they find it mor fun to partcipate in class. Dont get upset when you see some of them sleeping in class…after some time they will join in the fun.

Ghost stories. It always works. The more gory the better…and if its about their school…even better. I would ask them to switch off the lights…close the windows to create the “atmosphere”.

 I dont like saying sexual jokes. I rather  stick on the horror side. Sharing with them personal stuff help as well.

I try to avoid telling them my age…cos im pretty young to teach…i was a contract teacher during the time i was handling them. N among all three streams…technical was my favorite. Cos they are grateful creatures. They remmeber you and they will love you. Unlike express kids. These guys smtimes want to sit with for lunch or even help you carry books. The scary factor is these guys are big..and its pretty scary to seem them jumping around…but they are actually kids in heart.

I really wish MOE does away with their streaming. Many boys arent very matured at 12…and they screw up their exams. Technical kids need really dedicated teachers an they are NOT HOPELESS. Many of them were suprised that they were doing “express” maths and they started trusting their abilities more.

This film kind of confirmed the same methods i used. I managed to help Alisha top her stream. And she topped really well. Her marks were excellent and she surprised her other teachers as well. I couldnt help everyone. In reality, its impossible. There were a few which were sadly beyond hope.Sometimes you wish you could do smtg for them

I wasnt NIE trained. I was a contract teacher with little training. What really matters is dedication. It takes alot of energy to work with them..but once you start loving them…you really apreciate them for who they are.

In the indian lagauge there is a saying “Mata (mother), Pita (Dad), Guru (Teacher), Deivam (God)”. The teacher ranks the 3rd….giving us a very high position. N we shld never abuse our position by discouraging them or labelling them. What we say…matters to them alot. I had a terrible experience with a primary 5 teacher…and i told myself if i evr teach…i wont be like her. N im proud to say…im definitely a better teacher than her. Alhamdullilah.

You should watch this movie. Its excellent and lets you think … It available on youtube in 10 parts. Flo i recommend you to watch it…maybe we can discuss abt it

Secrets to isolation in bellydance/ GLUTES WILL WALK ALL OVER YOU

Lol. This must be the weirdest exercise ive ever demonstrated->Glute exercise. Something Suhaila Salimpour been talking about. At first I thought it was mad. Later on, I realise how correct she really is. Glute exercise though boring and embarrassing can really help you in bellydance. You can find it from her dvds Bellydance buns.  This was a request from sonilixxious. Sorry for the late reply.

SECRETS TO ISOLATION?

Everyone wants to be an instant bellydancer. I wish i could. Unfortunately no matter what. The secret to perfect isolation is practise. Ive  tried my best to explain. Drilling can really really help you. If you are skeptical in adding weights to ur exercise routine,…you can tie more hip scarves. This was what my teacher taught me. I hadnt tried it before. I just jumped straight onto weights.

Exercise like the glute ones help prepare you for more stronger and vibrant hip drops.

Glute Exercise benefits

Well i experimented. My shimmies, hip drops, hip drop kicks were all instantly strong. Take some time in squeesing your glutes. I know this sounds funny but it can really keep you strong. Oh yah plus point you can get a prettier butt…Maybe lol

Apart from squeesing glutes, i do rib lifts or suck in my diaphrahm. I suck it really in so my bellyrolls will be really good. My flutters have improved tremendously. Small isolation exercises like this are good enough. There are really no secret. Its just drilling and drilling means doing the step over again for atleast 5 to 10 mins non stop. Good enough!

Tribal fusion

I am not against any dance form. I just wish to learn all styles. But i was pretty disappointed to hear from my teacher that tribal style was imagined and it doesnt have roots in history. But i am not against any style. I like them all. I wish to learn them all. Mainly cos i love bellydancing alot.

I invented this strange weird costume and i realise how cheap it can really be. Even though i guess i look much better in a tradition egyptian or turkish costume.  I decided to break down the costume cos i guess not many people know why people wear this and that.

My Teacher was awesome to teach us to interpret different musical instruments how to intrepret them and move accordingly. It helps me alot. Many times we cant fully choreograph. I go by ear most of my time. For me, i have to be free. Then i can interact with my audience

Music and me

I love music and i respect musicians. I dont play any instruments. I wonder if the turkish zill counts! lol. I was with Keenan while he made music. I felt pretty useless most of the time cos i really want to help him. But i cant. I wish i had the knowledge of piano or some classical indian music. I really wish to learn the arabic drum. Cos i like immersing into an artform compltely getting lost in it and merge into it. I love bellydance and thats why i wish to learn all styles no matter what they are. Its an expression. I cant do tribal for now. I wil imitate till i find a tribal teacher.

FLORIAN LAUR (blorian)

Yeap and he was here this holidays. We didnt had the same energy to travel all around singapore again. We did what we could. Talk. We had some family time together. Dad cldnt play games wid him so we chatted bt history

Flo is matured and better at decisions now. So i dont have to keep mummying him. N i dont want to. It was fun having someone who has the same mindset as you around. We wish to travel together some time. We found Singapore flags hanging around some really weird danger signboards. Is it patriotism or someone trying to act funny? I wished he could stay longer. We could have discussed alot more. Seems like he likes movies i like too! So i got introduced to David Lynch. N i found a new line of cinemas i can watch and analyse.

Artwork

Ravi Verma’s paintings are just awesome. He is Malayalee. So ive another reason to be proud of. N i looked at some old paintings of the sultry beauties from Kerala. Even as a women i tell you….its sexy…more to sensual.

Wet after a bath…skin showing through…a bashful face. POetry i tell you! Poetry in a painting. How many artists can do that. Paintings to me are in a way scarier than photographs. Photographs capture whats there in reality…maybe in a subjective manner. But in artwork,,,an artist thoughts feelings and emotions get locked in it. Its scary to keep a fragment of someone’s mind….long dead in your home.

But i still love it. I would appreciate collecting stuff like this more than commercial stuff. My elder sis understood me well and got me paintings from UK instead of clothes and shoes. I like collecting historical items. I am going to collect artwork because it inspires me. I wish to collect the painting with the nipple showing. Except my parents might cry out loud its PORN! I guess olden times Kerala Ladies were topless…thats what someone told me.  But its BEAUTIFUL. N Its embarassing cos ive a dad at home. N it might be disrespectful to hang dat picture in my house. As Hes da only male inda house other than my rabbit Mr.Panda

I also hear drum beats from mRidangam and tabla lately. It calms me and give me ideas. I begin to read poetry as well. Even tho i took tamil at school instead of Malayalam. I am very familar with great tamil poets like Bharathiyaar and Kannadasan. Their poetry makes you think. We lack poetry in our lives and movies. I wish to bring it back. Like what Jean Renoir does. Im beggining to see poetry in the littlest things we do in life. I wish people will appreciate the beauty of their own culture. I am not Tamil…I cant speak Tamil…But i love Bharathi.  N many tamils i meet here dont appreciate him or love him as much as i do. I am refferring to some people only. The most beautiful qoute Bharathi ever said in my opinion is… MANATHIL URUTHI VENDUM meanining…THERE SHOULD BE FIRMNESS IN YOUR HEARTS NO MATTER WHAT HAPPENS!

REQUESTS

Requests welcome. Mail me in my youtube inbox. M happy to help my bellydancers

Sabreena