journey of a bellydancing student

danceonclouds · Joined: 03 Oct 2005 Posts: 83 Location: uk

today is my fourth belly dancing session,my strength is building quickly.

it makes me feel wonderful and move like a dream.
i am so exited!!

i have been very inspired by lebanese belly dancing,with a stick,looks very energetic and lots and lots of fun!!

i wonder what color belly dancing outfit i will choose in january,i havge black hair and olive skin,I wonder about pink,i love pink!!

well thats all for today!!

danceonclouds
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danceonclouds · Joined: 03 Oct 2005 Posts: 83 Location: uk

the more i see the belly dancing,the more i want to do it,particularly the lebanese belly dancer,she is just so amazing,fluid,strong,supple,she is so very immersed from start to finish.I had a go at dancing with her just now,i have an aim to be like her,i wish i knew her name,but its just a small clip i found.
her muscle control to rythm is astounding also....wow.

just had to come write about it.!!is great to feel uplifted and inspired.
i winder how long it will take with daily practise to achieve the whole routine...we shall see!!i think about 6 to 8 months.which isnt very long at all!!

danceonclouds
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danceonclouds · Joined: 03 Oct 2005 Posts: 83 Location: uk

wow my muscles sure are feeling it!!yesterday i had achey arms,today it is achey legs!!my belly muscles are aching but arent painful,it feels wonderful.
today I just did what I could.a little each day,then I am always learning,i realy want to be able to bend backwards,thats my most admired move other than the camel walk.

i lost four inches off my waist in the last 2 weeks...yey!!

danceonclouds
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dancersdreamland · Posted: Tue Dec 27, 2005 6:28 pm Post subject:

It's so inspiring to read your enthusiasm! It's wonderful when you find something you truly love and can excel at it, even if it is a little at a time.

If you have the opportunity, about three months from now try dancing next to someone brand new to belly dance and someone very experienced. Do it again and six months, one year, and so forth. It helps you see how far you've come and what you can still achieve.

All the best!

danceonclouds · Joined: 03 Oct 2005 Posts: 83 Location: uk

thankx so very much for the support ((hugs)),realy is very much appreciated.

I danced again tonight,wow now I am realy starting to enjoy this,I get immersed deeper and deeper!!!

I am learning with Jackie chapman,I like the way she keeps things simple and effective.

my sister in america is going to learn also,she has lost huge amounts of weight and dreams of being a dancer too.:)

so,i have been watching lots of different belly dancing-so many different styles...how fun!!

must pop off to bed,love to ya

danceonclous
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dancersdreamland · Posted: Thu Dec 29, 2005 5:00 pm Post subject: Re: ooh!!

[quote:9c85479e8c="danceonclouds"]...wow now I am realy starting to enjoy this,I get immersed deeper and deeper![/quote:9c85479e8c]

The obsession and joy will only continue as you learn new moves and are able to stretch/bend/undulate farther. It's very relaxing and addicting! :D

danceonclouds · Joined: 03 Oct 2005 Posts: 83 Location: uk

it sure is,I see exsacly what ya mean,I feel so happy that I have found this amazing dance!!

I have an obsession for stretching,toning,dancing,learning.....wow invigorating!!

how long have you been belly dancing,tell me when you started and how it was for you,i cant wait to heaR!!

hugs

danceonclouds
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dancersdreamland · Posted: Thu Dec 29, 2005 10:53 pm Post subject:

I've been belly dancing for about four years or so. I started thinking I would just go through the beginner class and then progress through advanced and be done. Turns out I fell in love with the dance and am now a part of a performance troupe.

I started out very unflexible...my ribs barely moved...and have progressed to a state that even amazes me. We taped our last performance and I was amazed at how much flexibility I actually have. I remember really admiring this amazing dancer in my class and wondering if I would ever get to that level. Watching the video of our last performance, I felt that I had begun the progression to actually being a belly dancer, not just someone taking classes and learning. Does that make sense? I don't mean it in a stuck up way, just that I can definately see the changes from three or four years ago to now.

You'll love the journey, and its so much fun to look back. If you can, video tape yourself now and then go back in a few months or years and see how much you've grown in your dancing. You'll be amazed!

danceonclouds · Joined: 03 Oct 2005 Posts: 83 Location: uk

wow thankx so very much for sharing!!I wish i could see you dance!!
tonight i am just going to do a bit of improvisation.

four years is quite alott,realy.u must have learnt a huge amount!!how often did you dance at first?

and howe often now?

i bet its awesome to dance with a troupe,none exsists where i am :(

but thats ok.

hugs

danceonclouds
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dancersdreamland · Posted: Fri Dec 30, 2005 3:10 pm Post subject:

When I first started dancing I would take a one-hour class each week. I loved it so much I found myself adding belly dance moves to other styles of dance I was doing. I also showed a few steps to my best friend.

After a while I was invited to join a troupe and we would practice twice a week for a performance later in the year.

After that performance I ended up moving and took a vacation from dance. Partly because my life was very hectic with the move and a wedding, and partly because I couldn't find any dance offered in our new hometown.

Then this passed summer I found a local belly dance class and picked it up. Shortly after my instructor formed her own troupe and invited me to join. I typically have classes on Friday and troupe practice on Wednesday. We have a huge performance coming up in mid-January so now we're practicing a few times per week.

Apart from belly dance I also enjoy tap, jazz, Irish, line, ballroom, latin, swing, and hula. I am just picking up a few classes in Bomba as well, which is a traditional Puerto Rican dance.

Performing is the absolute best feeling in the world. There is something about dancing in front of a group of people...it changes the dance entirely. When I'm in class or practice I tend to be all business and very serious. I mean, I have fun, but I really work hard to learn the steps and choreography. But when I perform, I am an entirely different person. My face just lights up with the joy of dance and I feel fantastic. It's quite a rush!

Just wait...you'll have the opportunity to perform sometime and you'll see what I mean. It's so much fun!

danceonclouds · Joined: 03 Oct 2005 Posts: 83 Location: uk

well,hello you!!how inspiring you are!!thankx so much for sharing and caring.

i have had the joy of performing with my singing/music,buit not as a dancer yet,its like i can feel it already.

you are amazing to dance so many styles,you are a huge pot of energy!!with a rainbow smile.

I am so very exited,I didnt get to dance yesterday but am tonight.i am so very exited!!!!!

thankyou,hugs and friendly kisses

danceonclouds
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danceonclouds · Joined: 03 Oct 2005 Posts: 83 Location: uk

[color=purple:5414f17ff5]hi there,well tonight was an awesome dance,already my body is changing shape to something more womanly,more beautiful.
see throughout my life I have had a problem of my mid section being actually swollen ,I get up in the morning,and my mid section is all flat,but by mid day its all swollen.most irritating and uncomfortable too.
I am learning now,that my chakra has been stuck,I know it,i can feel it de clogging and beginning to move.I looked at my reflection tonight and wow,below my breasts is getting flat and I have control of pulling it in,only a little but a couple of days ago I couldnt bear to look at my reflection as I danced.what a milestone!!small but large.

my movments are getting smoother,I was even adding my own little touches here and there tonight,realy enjoying myself.

Its only a week since I started this belly dancing journey,and already I made changes,in myself and my body ,it is a true delight for sure,I am so very grateful that I came accross belly dance.

though when I was a little girl I saw belly dancers in turkey and greece and was so very taken by them then.

my dream to dance has been held in my heart ,waiting for this time ,and now is the time to release it

love and hugs

bellydancingonclouds
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danceonclouds · Joined: 03 Oct 2005 Posts: 83 Location: uk

well here we are in 2006 !!!yey!!!

this is the year I become a dancer,every day in every way making my dream come true.....how exited I am!!

ok I am at tyhe point where I cant go a day without doing something to help my body gain more tone and flexibility,I am thoroughly addicted!!!

I have recently started yoga,I must admit before I lost weight with the callanetics which I am still practising,I could do the moves,but I realise by the last few days how much strength I have gained,and alott of flexibility in my neck/back/shoulders,thats where I notice it more than ever.

my nwrists are still a little weak ,but are much better than they used to be for sure.

I am so exited that with each day passes I am a day closer to being a dancer,I figure I can call my self a dancer when I choreograph and record my first routine.my aim is april 15th to make the video to go with my own music.

hugs

danceonclouds
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dancersdreamland · Posted: Tue Jan 03, 2006 7:15 pm Post subject:

You are such an inspiration! It is a true joy to read your posts and feel your enthusiasm. You definatley have a love for dance and life...what a passion!

Your dancing will only continue grow as you nurture it with love and practice. Yoga and stretching will do wonderful things for your dancing as well. They will help keep you toned and flexible. If you enjoy yoga you may also want to look into pilates. It's the latest craze in the dance world as it combines yoga type exercises while increasing your flexibility, toning your muscles, and building your core.

May I ask if you are taking instructor-led classes, self-paced home taught, via video? If you are taking classes strictly by book or video, be very careful to ensure you are doing the correct movements and breathing. It would be a shame to put the hard work and energy into something only to find out the incorrect way is causing harm to your body. Even taking a few classes in person can enhance your abilities and then you can apply the technique toward videos and learning at home.

I am excited to hear you are finding peace with your own self image. Keep in mind belly dancers will always have a belly "poof" if they do not do other types of exercise...which it sounds like you are. Also keep in mind your stomach bloating may be caused by lack of water... It's true that not drinking enough liquids can in fact cause your body to retain water and give you the bloated feeling and look. Raw vegetables can have the same effect.

Looking forward to hearing more from you and providing you encouragement as you continue your journey. I highly encourage you to keep a personal journal of your journey as well. It would be fun to look back years from now on how you got started, your enthusiasm, your drive, your accomplishments...

All the best and hugs!

dancersdreamland · Posted: Fri Jan 20, 2006 7:33 pm Post subject:

Haven't heard from you in a while... How's it coming along?