The recent purchase of Ranya Renees' dvd,. Egyptian Baladi Improv.has certainly changed my posture for easier execution of the moves and knowledge of true Egyptian folk or country styles of dancing.done by the people of Egypt. This dvd has it all, including the various music styles and the terminology of the dance and the music. The first dvd in the two dvd set has how mens' music differs from womens'. traditionally. Then great demos of all rhytmns and how to count the rhythmns to each rhytmn. Shr uses props to really explain how we should hold our body and great style of teaching, which, helped me learn in ways I did not find in class..I now can determine what is acceptable and proper dance technique in different areas of Egypt and how to recognize the adaptations of the music, that we use in non middle eastern settings. I now can read a videos' title and know what they are referring to, and how the people of Egypt actually dance.She demonstrates and discusses the music and the musicians play and do examples of different beats and their names and meanings. She then has you follow her in practice and you dance and learn to count music beats that are used in bellydance. I was exploring online for other dancers who dance unchoreographed Egyptian Baladi styles, and have really enjoyed their interpretations of the music and their own unique styles. This form of dancing is especially appealing to me, because, although one should familiarize oneself with the chosen song, their are no memorized, step by step, ways to interpret the music, as in cabaret styles and troupe synchronized steps. If you use live musicians, they may not play a piece note for note, as a recorded piece would. This helps me relax more and learn to let my body feel free to feel the music, and produce my unique expression through my own body. I strongly recommend her dvd. It covered what was not covered in my egyptian class setting, and helped me use all of my senses to learn in a way that helped me understand whatt is expected of my body. Every student learns in their own way, but I believe we should use all five senses to learn, some approaches work better for others, other methods more than others, but once you try using several approaches, you will know what works for you. I bought my copy at amazon and saved money . Their used copies that are listed in new condition are fine, most are sealed, unplayed, and you can always buy new on site and they are great when it comes to customer satisfaction. As a student, without an available teacher, I have had to use several learning tools to learn bellydance. Even with the presence of an instructor, it may require another teachers' style of teaching for one to have that ever wanted lightbulb to brighten our minds. I had no terminology or props and explanations given to me in live classes that helped me as much as this dvd is helping me. It is good to have an instructor, but if you leave class, hungry to know what baladi means, or how you are told there is only one sense you need to use the most, or your body type requires some adaptations to perform a certain move, or just never are getting that everneeded feeling of praise for your positive efforts, maybe you need a different teacher, even on a dvd, to provide that for you. Never receiving any positive feedback can be very discouraging to a new dance student. We need that as much as we need constructive criticism. If you aren't getting this in class, before you give up, try a dvd, or write choreographed dances down on paper, oreven search for a class with a more positive teacher, just don't allow this to drown your desire. It is not always the students' fault they are having a problem with learning a new thing. This dancer is performing baladi in the style explained in the dvd, and is quite good and looks as though she is having a good time. And that is what we should strive for while we are learning, to have fun while we learn,good luck, keep dancin,gypsy.
No comments:
Post a Comment