Don’t Take It Personally
Belly dance can be a cut throat, dog-eat-dog world. If you want to survive in it (or any other competitive “sport”), you have to learn not to take it personally and not to give weight to everything you hear. Hemingway said, “Forget your personal tragedy. We are all bitched from the start and you especially [...]
Teaching Rhythms
Instructors should give their students a well rounded education which includes teaching more than just steps. One of the most important elements of dance is understanding the music and rhythms. By using music in class that is simply rhythms, the beginner students will become accustomed to hearing the basic beats. Examples of these are Hem’s [...]
What To Look For in A Dance Teacher
Taking that first step into dance class can be a wonderful experience. By being selective about whom you hire as your instructor, you can avoid problems that can develop later by weeding out potential issues right from the start. So, what factors should you consider when choosing a teacher? It will depend on your goals. [...]
Myths and Misinformation
I hear a lot of belly dance myths and misinformation spread around by both people who should know better and those who have no clue. I did my share of propagating odd tales back in the day when I was first learning about belly dance too because I didn’t have a good source for true [...]
Miraj, Master of Fusion
Miraj’s fusion choreography workshop on March 27, 2004 in Virginia Beach, VA was the first time in a long time that I didn’t leave the dance area to shop, watch from the sidelines, or socialize. Miraj’s choreography kept me interested the entire time. This may not seem like a big deal, but I am generally [...]
Hill and Veil Win for Reema
Hill and Veil is a student belly dance troupe from Virginia Tech. They made their first contest appearance at the East Coast Classic in 2006. They were first-time competitors who went into it with an attitude of, “Let’s have some fun.” The founding member of Hill and Veil competed the year before as a soloist, [...]
