Holy Moly!

Well, it's been a while since I posted about anything!  

The Hubs and I prepared to go to the states so he could meet my family.  I really love Autumn so going back in October was really nice!  

After that, I prepared like mad for an event that I would be dancing my first 20 minute show at!  I picked Raksa as the first song I would ever make the choreography for and it was a bit difficult.  I think the song is a bit too complex for a beginner, like me.  However, I did manage to get through til the end and had something I was happy with for the event.  

The event was held by my hairdresser.  He had recently started a band with his friends and wanted to put on a live show.  The Hubs was also in the show but he played with a different band.  They stuck me in the middle!  Here was the set list for the event...

Raksa

Raks Al Asaya (choreo: Virginia)

Lonely lullaby (veil fusion piece)

Crazy drum solo (by Serkan)

I was really happy with how the event went!  The audience was a bit shy so convincing them to get near the stage was difficult.  I had dance time but only one guy humored me.  I did surprise a girl as she was coming back with her drink.  I was going through the crowd to exit and surprised her.  No drinks were lost!

He asked me again to perform!  I would like to do it but it depends on my schedule. Hopefully I can!

It was a really good learning experience.  It definitely showed me that I have to approach this kind of crowd (one that doesn't  regularly attend belly dance shows) more differently if I want them to dance or be involved!

It's almost December so I'm taking a break from shows and just enjoy being a student.  This year was pretty full of shows and events!  I'm looking forward to next year being the same too!

Oh....  Happy thanksgiving !

September Shows

I always tell myself that I will take a break from shows in order to practice on my own technique, improv skills, and such.  Well, I half keep the promise!

I only do shows if someone asks me or it is offered to me.  That way I save the trouble of having to find a partner and dancing the same choreography over and over.

I have a show at Siddique Palace in Azabu Juuban on October 28th (WED).  Very very nice restaurant and really good food! 

I also agreed to do a show on September 28th (SAT) at Nuland by Zoshiki station.  It'll be my first time there and I'll be dancing with a very nice woman  :)

In other news...  I haven't touched any sewing stuff in ages.  I just don't feel compelled to finish stuff.  I also think, "I could be dancing, not sewing" but, I should be doing both. 

Today at the studio, I decided to arrange my own choreography to "RAKSA" by Amir.  I got through about 2 minutes in 4 hours...  Mind you, this is my first attempt at making choreography so, it's a learning process!  I'm really happy that studio time was very productive!

Dance

I have a show next Wednesday!  This one I'm really looking forward to because all my dances are solo and the other girl is solo too.  We both feel relieved because thinking of formation is a bit tedious.  

I've been in a bit of a creative rut.  I feel like I want the challenge of a completely solo show.  I've been learning a little over three years now and I'm a bit spent with duo shows (main dancer plus two of us support dancers).  I think the problem is I'm not challenged enough.  Not so much choreography but I want to be challenged in improv and getting deeper into the music.  I'm looking for someone to help me but I'm thinking this is something only I can do for myself.  After the show next week, I'm going to practice improv.  

I might do a show by myself at my hairdresser's live event!  That would be cool!  I have to practice some other choreography or a simple song to improv.  I think drum solo might be easiest....  We'll see!!

Speaking of hairdresser, I badly need a haircut....  I haven't gone in a year!  My fiancé and I are going soon, I hope!

Yes, that's right!  I'm getting married!  Yay!!  And we are thinking of moving to Hawaii.  It keeps me going to work for something achievable!  It's also fun to plan and research!

Aloha!

Excursion vol.3 at Alhambra in Nishi-Nippori

I'm on my way home from Farasha's Excursion show!  I'm starting to go out and see the dancers I really like.  I've been lacking motivation recently, and seeing shows like this really inspire or help me get the motivation.  

This show is mostly a student troupe showcase but my favorite Japanese dancers were guests/teachers!  Sali, Izumi, and Farasha!  I've worked with them or danced at the same shows with them so it's nice to go and see their shows.

It was really wonderful!  I'm so glad I braved the Japanese heat to see it!  

As I said earlier, I've been in a dancing slump.  I'm not sure what to do.  Yesterday, I went to Miharu's class and really enjoyed it!  It was Spanish oriental.  I like it much more than the previous one!  So, I'd like to keep going to learn more.  

Maybe I've gotten into the mundane schedule of mine and lost that excitement I felt before class or before a show.  It's been stressful recently at work so that might be seeping into my personal life too...  

I should work on costumes!

Belly dancing break

With the last show, I got pretty tired of practicing choreography I've danced several times. Don't get me wrong! I live dancing Tito and Mercedes choreography! But, I just into things that made me feel I wasn't good at dancing.

I decided that I need a break from group practice and shows. Just one month at least. Also the feeling of dancing solo has been really strong.

But anyways! I've been feeling better even this past week with just going to class! I feel I really want to learn more than practice a formation constantly.

Costume fixing

Last month, I bought a costume I have wanted to custom-order but found on a forum used for cheaper. I was so excited when it arrived in the mail.

I took it out and my jaw dropped to the ground... The bra was big enough to hold my face! Also, since the cup was so big, the heavily beaded side was wrapping something awful. I was wondering if I should sell it or make a trade with my teacher but its so pretty that I decided to do some major surgery on it.

After searching online for instructions, I found Shushanna's idea of cutting down the middle of the bra, slicing out some pieces and then attaching it back together.

It took several hours, after discovering the fabric was HOT GLUED ON.... I was in utter disbelief. I heard about hot glues costumes but this was my first time. So, you can imagine trying to sew through that mess... It was almost impossible to peel it off...

Right now, I've put in shoulder pads to make the cups more shallow and will reattach the lining and stuff with cotton. Then it's time to fix the skirt!

Mumbai 6/18

So the Mumbai show went very well! I had a lot of fun and got ready in a much nicer room :)

I also had work yesterday so being active at work and then preparing and dancing is hard work!! I was so tired!! I was so tired I could barely eat the delicious curry :( that was the sad point of the night.

But here's a picture!

Making room

I caught a cold on Monday and really felt icky and tired on Tuesday. So icky, in fact, I didn't go to class... Noooo!

I did go to practice for our restaurant show but I ended up getting a small fever after taking a nap before that practice.

Anyways, I got inspired to practice at home. I know carpet isn't the best thing to dance on but it made me feel inspired to dance! I cleared a room and practiced! I think I'm gonna do this more often.

I feel pretty good about today. I watched Game of Thrones as soon as I woke up, fixed costumes while talking to my mom, got my tax payments in order, got dinner, slept for 2 hours, practiced and watched some belly dance videos to feel motivated again.

Recently I haven't been motivated to dance. I really want to start doing solo shows. My mom thought I just need a break which I might do.

Goals in Belly Dance

Where do I go next?

Sometimes I feel I'm not sure what I should be doing next or if I'm being willynilly about my progress.

Now that the event and restaurant shows are over, I can go back to just self improvement. I wish I could see myself during show time but I have absolutely no video. Usually, video isn't allowed during the shows. I think I'm still holding back when I practiced.

During Golden Week (an end of April-beginning of May holiday in Japan), I helped a friend out with a parody video. I did some improv dancing and I have to say that I look so much natural in my dance than with choreography. Of course, improv is naturally natural! But I was surprised at how much better I looked when I danced to "Gangam Style" haha!

So I plan to take several private lessons to show a dance and get feedback. There is a pro training course audition later this year, so I have six months to prepare!

Amierat 3 :: Soraia Event

Well, it's been a while!  I've been pretty busy with dancing this past month.  I did about 3 restaurant shows and 1 event...  I was so tired!

April 18th was a restaurant show at Mumbai.  The main dancer was Aisha and I danced with Yuyu.  The Sha'abi piece was really hard to get the formation right, so I have decided NOT to EVER dance it for a WHILE...  :(  We also danced an Oriental Veil piece but there were some technical difficulties with the veils and it being a small restaurant.  Somehow, when I went to pick up my veil and exit, it got jammed under the heavy tables.  :(  Fun show but wasn't the best one I've had...

I look pregnant in this one!   But I'm not!

May 2nd was a show at Siddique with Monica and Yuyu (again).  We danced a gypsy piece and it was much better this time.  I like a stage much better than customers being all around!  It makes thinking of formation easier!  This was my first time dancing with my friend, Monica, as the main dancer!  It was kind of weird but fun!

LASER BEAM EYES!

May 6th was my first show without a main dancer.  Luckily, me and Hiromi did very well with formation.  We had never been to the restaurant before so the Monday before that we went to see another friends' show there.  It was in the shape of a cross but I was so glad we got to see it, since they don't allow rehearsal time.  I danced a choreograph by Mercedes Neito.  It was very fun and I loved it!  I like dancing in groups but I really love to dance solo, because it feels so much more flexible and free.  Plus I got to debut my Sahar costume, which has been sitting in the closet since July last year!

The last event was the Soraia Zaied event!  It was really fun (with some costume troubles....) and really loved dancing with friends!

My next show will be with the main dancer as Yurie and I'll be dancing with Deema on June 18th!  Better start heading to practice!

Thinking about the future (old post)

Happy New Year!  Does anyone read this blog and find it interesting?  haha

Anyways, lots of changes have been happening in my regular life.  Work stuff is calming down but it's about to get more chaotic, so I'm preparing myself now.  Change is always good...  most of the time, but I still can't help but be wary of what the outcome will be.

But this is NOT a work blog!  This is my dance blog.  Last year, I had the pleasure of take Hadia's workshops here in Tokyo.  Around November last year, our intermediate class had a guest teacher, Sali, whose teacher was Hadia.

Hadia has to be one of my favorite current dancers.  I could gush about how our "real" names are similar (that's about it  lol) but I feel like she is the best dancer.  This is just my opinion but I would love to go study at her instructor training next month but 1.  I don't have the money and 2. it's too late to call off.  :(

Over the holiday vacation, I started using one of her DVDs and learning the 9 minute song.  When I read her blog or watch/learn from the DVDs, I really feel inspired to become a better dancer.  Right now, I want to work on feeling and my teacher pointed out that I need to have more.  I want to work towards pro status by the end of the year.  That's my goal so I have to be more diligent in my studies.  If Hadia has another teacher training later in the year, I plan to go to it.

I wish I could gush and write more, but I have to get some sleep.  This month is especially busy.  If anyone is in the Tokyo area, please come on down to Mandir restaurant in Hamamatsucho on January 30th!  I'm not the main dancer but I will be dancing two songs with a partner.  Wish me luck!  I gotta work hard!

Hadia and wisdom teeth

I haven't updated in a long time!

Recently, I moved so that took a lot of time to unpack but my apartment is close to the studio and the places where all the workshops take place!  I'm officially a city girl!

Last week, Hadia came to Tokyo!  I was so happy to meet her again and I got to talk to her a lot.  I also learned so much from her this time around, so I'm really glad I took so many classes from her!  She has to be my favorite dancer/teacher.  The way she teaches and how encouraging she is really inspires me to be a better dancer!  We learned an oriental choreography that I'm going to practice and use one day!  Maybe for the semi-pro group audition next year.  ;)

In other news, I got my wisdom tooth out yesterday.  It's been 24 hours but my cheek is the size of a large egg!  I can feel my skin stretching and while the medicine I'm taking kills the pain, if I touch it it'll hurt.  :(  I'm really happy it's all over with and I can move on to thinking about other things!

Back to dance news...  There was an opportunity to dance solo at a restaurant with another dancer, but I turned it down because I wasn't sure my cheek would be not so swollen by then (the show is next week).  I was kinda upset but it can't be helped, I guess.  I'm keeping an eye out for that kind of show again, or do more shows in April and so on.

I'll be dancing at the big Soraya Event in May with my teacher!  I haven't been practicing so I'm a bit upset I haven't...  But I think Sunday and Wednesday, I will practice. 

This year is about becoming a great dancer and practicing A LOT.  I'm going to try out for the Semi pro group next year!