Floorwork....EEK.

I used to be pretty smug when it came to the subject of floorwork. When my amazing teachers ( all of whom were over 55) said that they were past the age for floorwork I thought pridefully I can still do it.
Did I do it, though? Not really. Maybe some when I was playing around,maybe a quick drop to the floor, a few kneeling undulations then back up again. That was forever ago. What mattered to me was not that I did it, but that I could do it.
Onto the present. Like zills, floorwork is something that even a serious skilled dancer can successfully dodge if she wants to. Why would you want to dodge those things? Don't know. For me,the reason I never really devoted any energy to floorwork is because I was too obsessed with other things....zills, sword, perfect layers. But now I find myself ," floorwork deficient". My body ain't what it used to be when I was so smug ten years ago. I am afraid my floorwork window is closing, and that if I don't get with the floorwork program , in ten years my already cranky lower back, and my somewhat testy knees will become assholes to deal with.
I certainly don't think that floorwork is limited to any age. There is an amazing dancer in Richmond ( where I am from) who is 65 and can do amazing things on the floor, but the trick is, her body is conditioned to do it,she has been doing it since I was toddling around sucking my thumb.
       I am gonna buy This DVD. I have some tapes of Delilahs bought years ago,but I am ready for something new. Maybe I'll give it a go and get down on the floor and decide that no, this is not where I want to be, and I'll be one of those dancers that so elegantly decides that she is past her floorwork prime.
But I hope not.

Cool Site

Love this! The Bellydance Dictionary ....this lovely dancer has ( and is still in the process of) compiling all dance moves, and different names for moves. On a lot of the moves she has taken the time to do demonstrations.....



Worth checking out and supporting. She also encourages dancers to email her if you see a move that she hasn't listed...worth checking out!!

Lover thy name is..Powerbelly weight belt

O.k. I know I said I was getting one of those Powerbelly weight belts for Yule/c-mas. WELLL, Santa ended up spending all his money on the kids, so I had to wait a bit. But guess what! momma finally got one of the things.....and I am in LOVE. ( cue sappy Lionel Richie music). It is every bit as wonderful as I thought it would be. Now let me just say that I searched for a weight belt via internet, and sporting goods stores,( unfruitlessly I might add), until hubby said something to the effect of," you really should get one that is made for bellydancers,you know".So I plunked down the dough ( and they aren't cheap) , forgoing a new pair of Saroyan zills.
It came last week. I got the XL, reading in several different places that you should go a size up to make sure it fits ( and they run small). The XL has 14 lbs that you can add. I started with seven, and ended up adding all 14. I expected that it would work my muscles, but what I am really impressed with is that it makes you FEEL each move. This is the best way I can describe it, it is like you can feel each muscle working.
Get one!!!
Naaga's covering her ass personal disclaimer: I have a big ole Armenian butt and hips. So adding fourteen pounds was not a problem, my butt can support it. I also took it slowly doing only ten minutes at first with the belt, like Delilah recommends. But if you aren't careful, I could see someone throwing their back out with this thing. It is awesome, but when in doubt, use less weight.

Dance Names

Dance names are so personal. I can't tell you how many names I have heard a name and thought," ugh." or on the flip side how many times I have gotten that reaction to my name. (Which is Naaga, and it is a play on the nagas, a snake- like creature in hindu mythology.)

Watching someone pick a dance name is agonizing, too. It is so important that it embodies who you are, but more importantly,who you are when you are on stage,which is often a more accurate reflection of ourselves. ( it is my belief that no matter how much we smile, or "turn it on" that we can't hide who we are when we dance.)

What I mean is, we come into this life not really getting to pick our name. We are given it from birth, and we sort of grow into it, fulfill the expectations of it ( which is why, even though we liked the name Coco that I did not name my daughter that). Names are powerful and each name has a different vibration. Do you know what I mean? Say different names out loud, finding ones with a softness to them and ones that sound hard. Try Jade * Michael* Scott .....now try Sonia* Dan* Lee.......different sounds carry energy, and the vibration ( I believe) affects us on a certain plane.

I took me FOREVER to come up with a name I liked. I must have toyed with about three seriously. And once I chose my name I had to stand behind it,no matter what people said about it. ( for instance my husband HATES my dance name, and tells me frequently......of course I tell him to kindly shove it).

Names carry a history and a vibration, and I think when we pick one it should come as closely to who we are as possible.

And maybe a little bit of who we want to be.