Once upon a time back in the land of 2001, there lived a busy young morning show host. She had to rise at the ungodly hour of 3AM, drop her infant off at grandma's house and be at work at 4 to be on the air at 4:30. The bellydance classes that she started in 98' had to end abruptly, just when she had moved to intermediate, and had started to play with zills a little ( a cheapo Turkish pair that slid around when she tried to play them becuase she was too stoopid to get the right kind of elastic). So this radio host one morning, got tired of not dancing. She said to herself, "self, I may not be able to go to classes,because they start right at my bedtime,but I can get a tape." So get a tape she did....by a blond instructor with the name of a fish well known for its sea world-blow hole-we like humans tendency....
She practiced every day. EVERY DAY. For an hour sometimes more. In a month or two she decided that she was bored with the fish woman's DVD, and so she called up a well known instructor and said to herself, " self, we are making good money now, we can afford weekly private lessons".
So the instructor came. Saw her undulations. said ,"very good". Saw her shimmies. said," you have been practicing and it shows". Saw her whole repertoire of movements and nodded with approval. Just when things looked like they were all peachy she saw her hands. HER CONSTANTLY ROTATING HANDS. OTHERWISE KNOWN AS ,"STUPID HANDS". Her hands, like the fish womans moved like little helicoptors, circling at a frantic pace when she danced.
The instructors smile turned to a frown and she said,"WHERE did you learn that?" pointing aghast to her hands that twirled like a kid who had had too many fun pops.
" From the Fish Woman's DVD" The radio show host/bellydancer said timidly.
" well, unlearn it now." The teacher said. Shaking her head at the variety of crap put out there that is marketed as bellydance.
So what is the moral of the story, my friends?
Just because something is on DVD or Youtube, or even taught in a class doesn't mean it is worth a shit. Think before you dance, and don't ever ever twirl your hands around like a fucking low rent/video taught bellydancer.
3 comments:
haha, funny story! i get so bored with video, but there are some good ones out there too. i plan on reviewing and giveaway rachel brice's new one soon. i too have a wacky schedule ans sometimes only get to do privates, i always feel like i am missing out on the "community" when I do that.
Yeah I think it is important to know the reputation of a teacher, her training, etc before buying a DVD. So many "teachers" are underqualified glorified exercise instructors who see bellydance as a new market and a moneymaking goldmine. And a lot of people don't know any better. :)
Love the story. :) Def right on the "dance from the heart not the dvd".
Post a Comment