Hips To Make Your Audience Go Wow
Leyla and I decided to follow up our little sit down chat about Beginning Belly dancing with a chat more targeted towards the beginning-intermediate, to intermediate dancer and more specifically about what it takes to get (what I like to call) “Hips to Make Your Audience Go Wow!”
After going back and listening to this interview for a 2nd time realized just how much good information she comes out with and if you can get by the fact that “Dan’s having a bad hair day” I think there’s some very valuable information that will help you as a Belly Dancer in different ways.
About Leyla Najma
Leyla,
What great information! It is so important first and most to be true to yourself. I think that when we first get into the dance the one thing we do is compare ourselves and say I want to have hips like hers or I want to move like her. I know for myself I did that when I first started. Suhaila Salimpour is a great dancer and I would say and think I want to move and be like her. The thing is we need to realize that each one of us move in different ways and each of our bodies move differently and we express ourselves differently. I think when we compare ourselves to others we set a trap for ourselves. It took me years to realize this and I wish I would have had someone to tell me this instead of learning the hard way. Video taping yourself is a great way to really see yourself, I always video tape my performances and I will replay them over to see what I need to improve on, what did not work well and so forth. This is a tool that will let me know what I need to work on.
I have a question though…I have tried to video tape myself at home and I can’t seem to forget the video camera is there…. I will look at the video camera watching my moves while I am dancing…….any suggestions?
Hugs!!
Najla
Hello Ms. Najla………sorry it took me so long to respond. Been moving from townhouse to our main house, doing interviews and the monthly video!
The best thing to do is to imagine the camera as your audience. It’s fine to look at it………you don’t want to ignore it but realize that it will show you exactly what the audience will see. I still to this day see things that I have been working on for years. My arms always need work and I strive for more complicated hip work. If I don’t see it on camera then I know that I need to work more on those areas. It’s a tool everyone should use. This past video I did for you guys………..the traveling steps and turns video………….I had to redo it 4 times. But that’s the way it goes. If I don’t like what I do then I redo them because we all have standards and my videos have to meet my standards. So just keep videotaping yourself so you get use to the camera being there and eventually you will relax more.
Hugs,
Leyla
Its ok Leyla, did you get everything moved? My husband recently bought me a tripod for my camcorder so I can video tape myself when I want to and that is where my issue starts. When I am practicing and he or anyone else is holding the camera my body automatically goes into performance mode. But when I have the camera on the tripod it stops me dead in my tracks…..just can’t seem to focus or I will think no thats not good or no I don’t want to do that or wonder what it looks like…..I am the same way when I do see performance videos of myself and i do also see things that I have been working on such as arms or complicated hip work. In fact, the last performance video I was watching with my daughter i was pointing things out and she looked at me and said “Mom, cant we just one time watch a video of us dancing without you critiquing it? Oh to be 17 again!! So I will keep trying…it just seems weird dancing in a room by yourself with just the camera staring at you!
Thanks!! Hugs!
Najla
Najla,
The video camera is your friend because it is the one friend you have that will be honest with you.
I love being in front of a camera because all the little things that I do that are distracting are right there in front of me to see. The one thing you have to remember not to do is to critique your inspiration to the point that you take away your joy of watching yourself dance and doing something you love. How can belly dance be your passion if you can’t enjoy watching yourself doing it?
The camera helps refine your dance. The best way to get past the uncomfortable feeling is to do it every day. Just capture a 15 minute performance a day and look at it with an unconditional eye.
Make it part of your practice routine. I think it’s just a matter of changing your view of the camera. Hope that helps.
Hugs,
Leyla
I was performing at a Kurdish restaurant on Sunday late afternoon and there were quite a few other belly dancers performing as well. I was watching each dancer as she was performing. There were tall & short voluptuous, tall willowy & medium build dancers and I noticed that every dancer does move differently according to her build and each of us need to realise that we are individuals & should embrace our individuality as dancers.
Leyla, I was watching your Drum Solo workshop DVD with your drummer Issa yesterday and the information you both gave made so much sense to me and will definitely help me in interpreting drum solo music or working with a live drummer.
Thank you so much. This is really a lifeline for me as I’m starting to have to do alot of things on my own dancingwise. I’m busy training up one of my students to become a performance dancer. We have already done 4 or 5 performances together and she is super keen and dedicated. I am short & she is tall and she calls the two of us David & Goliath and me, Tiny Tania. She’s very creative when it comes to our Tribal costumes and I focus on the dancing & choreo aspects. I think we’ll make a great team !!
Leyla you are now officially my belly dancer mentor from afar !
Love & Thanks, Tania xxx
Tania,
Issa was a good sport even though he reminded me of Eore (the depressed donkey from Disney)
Individual interpretation is the best part of this dance or any other dance because apart of the freedom of being an individual is what keeps us healthy and sane. If women could enjoy the diverse aspects of self expression interpretation, I think we would have a better world.
Your realization is a huge benefit to your students! They are blessed to have a teacher that sees how beautiful women are together and how each style mixes with each other to create an intoxicating alixer of joy and happiness!
Hugs,
Leyla
Thanks Leyla!! You are right!!! I just need to change my thinking and make it a part of my daily routine each day. So tonight will be my first night of putting it into my daily routine.
Hugs!
Najla
Thank you so much for being such a wonderful and fantastic inspirtation and teacher!!!
In this dance it is always a two way street! You inspire me and I am grateful you are in our lives!
Annnnddddd………..I found your present for the article. When I was moving I saw which box it was in so……..give me a few days and i’ll send it to you!