Belly dance bloggers

I am sure many of you are already avid readers, but I thought I would share with you one of my very favourite belly dance bloggers- Belly Lorna: http://bellylorna.blogspot.com/

Lorna is a Scottish belly dancer working in Cairo- living every belly dancer's dream, even if you are a beginner like me- and blogs on her dancing, her life in Cairo and all sorts of interesting things really! She has a great, accessible and fun writing style and when I first discovered her blog I spent the whole afternoon and evening reading all the past blogs- I just couldn't stop reading!

She sometimes comes back to the UK- I think only once to London though to do a workshop. A friend from my belly dance class attended her London workshop last year and said it was a really great experience and that Lorna was an amazing teacher! I am definitely going to be looking out for her next visit!

I definitely reccomend having a read and then a little dream about belly dancing in Cairo!

Happy shimmies!

Belly dance poetry anyone?!

The other evening I was having a five minute boredom rummage through my very untidy bookcase, and came across a well-thumbed book of Ted Hughes' poems. I am a bit of a lover of poetry, any kind, really, but I love Keats, Hughes and Wilde the most!
Anyway, I digress, I was reading 'Remembering Tehran' during my casual flick through the much loved book and came across a verse in the poem that is about a belly dancer encountered in Tehran, Iran.

I thought you might like to read it so here it is;

Chastened, I listen. Then for the belly-dancer
(Who would not dance on my table, would not kiss me
Through her veil, spoke to me only
Through the mouth
Of her demon mask
Warrior drummer)
I composed a bouquet- a tropic effulgent
Puff of publicity, in the style of Attar,

And saw myself translated by the drummer
Into her liquid
Lashing shadow, those arabesques of God

That thorny fount.

I hope you liked it, and it will inspire you to create your own wonderful arabesques of God!

A learning plateau....

I had my private lesson last night which I enjoyed, as always! However, I really feel like I am in a bit of a learning rut, and that my dancing improvement has plateaued so much that I might be getting worse, not better... Has anyone else had these issues? I know it's not my teacher, she is wonderful and we learn different things each week and use different music etc., so it must be me! Or maybe I just need to practice more. Anyway, I am just a bit miffed and a little bit sad that I don't seem to be getting a lot better at the moment :-(

I hope it gets better soon! I would appreciate any advice, reassurance or possible explanations!

Burning off that turkey and chocolate!

Well, I made it back to London for today's lesson! I was so happy, even though it continues to snow and be so, so cold in the dance studio that everyone's feet were like ice! Just the feet, everything else was elegantly sweating!

It was a really great lesson today, everyone was totally up for it. So many smiles and woops! This is what belly dancing is all about for me- the atmosphere, all women together, totally feeling the music and the dancing! It was great. I didn't have my belly on show today- I am still a bit flab conscious from my Christmas over indulgence but I was loving the dancing today and I was feeling a little bit invincible..... a bit odd seems I am only a beginner, but that's what the dancing does to you I suppose! I was really pushing myself with the more advanced moves and when we were doing group work, I contributed more than usual (I am normally a bit shy when it comes to suggesting ideas, even if I have them....most of the time, I am idea-less however!).

We also practised 'travelling' today- the grapevine step with the belly roll incorporated. I love leaning into the corners, but when we build up any kind of speed I just loose my form and well, concentration, and it falls apart a bit. I think I just need to keep practising this, but like I have said before, it is important to me to learn to travel and move around the floor a good deal, because some dancers I have seen tend to be quite static- they are amazing dancers, of course- but I think using all the space and allowing skirts etc., to flow around you looks really, really great!

After dancing, I went to do a bit of belly dance shopping! I really wanted a hip belt that doesn't jangle, just one with tassels, or something similar that shows movement but is not so noisy. It's not that I don't like the bells, but when I'm practising I prefer for my housemates to not be too disturbed! Anyway... I went to the Elephant and Castle market (near to where I live) and found some shawls from a lovely Nigerian lady's stall- they're beautiful, I got a black sheer shawl with hot pink sequins in flower shapes and a hot pink sheer shawl with, yes, some more sequins! They have tassels around the edges- see photo! I'm excited to get practicing with them! I love belly dancing!

I am stuck at my Mum and Dad's, still! I travelled west for Christmas and New Year and due to the SNOW I am still trapped.... It has meant I have had the opportunity to have a few lovely walks in the snow and take some photos like this one- but still, the only exercise I am getting is of the snow shovelling variety!

I have practiced belly dancing a total of four times over two weeks! I am disappointed with myself, as you know, I wanted to practice properly over the holiday. However, food, family and friends have taken priority....

I will let you know when I am back and dancing- I so hope it is by Saturday in time for my belly dancing lesson! Oh- AND, my friend has decided with much urging from me to take up belly dancing to help make some friends in the new area she has recently moved to....all Basingstoke belly dancers look out!