I love teaching *ATS® belly dance every week, but last night’s class was even more fun and inspiring. Nothing springs everyone back into performance mode as a real gig on the calendar for late August. We haven’t performed in public since October 2019.
Our dance troupe could keep dancing during the pandemic with the help of videos I made and Kathleen and Emily holding zoom classes.
We all came back to dancing in person last April. It was interesting that everyone improved over the pandemic despite not having classes the traditional way. I took 6 months off from dancing and didn’t even listen to belly dance music. I came back fresh and stronger than ever like everyone else.
Since the beginning of this year, classes have been energized with the addition of our three new students. Classes went back to beginners fundamentals and basics. We were all amazed at how fast the three picked it up. I love watching them get better and better each week and having fun, something vital to me.
After we received our invitation via email for a performance opportunity last week, it got me in full-on drill sergeant mode. While everyone was has been at classes and dancing every week there was a lot to do to get ready for a real public gig.
Maria and Trish have minimal performance experience but are super excited and were the first to say they were in. Callie, who has performance experience, and I will round out our quad for the gig. As soon as everything is finalized I will post more about the gig if anyone local would like to attend. It’s always nice having familiar faces and encouragement in the audience.
Last night, we reviewed what we needed to work on and my expectations. Everyone in the class, not just the ones doing the gig, got as excited as I did and were happy to drill their asses off.
They want to correct their technique and go over what moves they aren’t comfortable with. They also want to practice leading starting and stopping songs. I encouraged Trish and Maria to practice zilling at home, so it’s one less thing to worry about at class and the gig.
Right now, I am concentrating on everyone’s arms and posture. No more sloppy or limp arms; I am preaching about how proper posture is even more essential to help all the moves look better.
This was a great place to start. Over the next few weeks, we will also be working on stage presence and group dynamics. We are an ATS® group improv belly dance group that is only as good as the energy the dancers put out to the audience.
So what exactly is stage presence? It is not being dressed up in costuming and makeup looking good. It’s the way you hold your head, have a smile, or at least a pleasant look on your face.
Dancers should act professionally at a gig since you are “on” at an event, even if you aren’t on stage. Showing up on time and ready to go is a must and reduces stress before the gig. It sucks when it doesn’t happen and is hard to let go of before going on stage. This may be my biggest pet peeve of all when performing.
The most significant part of stage presence is being confident. Walking on stage or at a gig with a confident air about you automatically makes people think you know what you are doing. It’s “fake it til you make it” in the beginning, and that’s ok. Hell, I did it for the first year. It’s doing everything with a purpose, even if you fuck up. “I meant to do that”kind of attitude goes a long way.
Group dynamics is when a group of dancers is having fun dancing together. It’s getting into each other’s energy zone and feeling what they will do next. It’s encouraging each other with smiles, little “yips” and zaghareets when they do something extraordinary. Ramping up the energy gets the audience excited that something fun is happening.
So what in the hell is a zaghareet anyway? Here is an excellent description I found on the website Kesavah Bellydance.
“A Zaghareet (also known as an ululation) is a loud trilling that sounds something like “loo loo loo loo loo….” and often ends with an “eeeeeeeee” sound. It’s a combination of a high pitched, quite loud, “shriek” for want of a better word, as well as the “loo loo loo loo” trilling of the tongue layered on top.
The sound is made in celebration at weddings, births, and other auspicious events. Women usually cover their mouths while zaghareeting – some say this prevents evil spirits from entering; others say it’s to be polite and hide your open mouth.
It is an expression of joy, excitement, encouragement in the arab culture. It’s totally welcome to do when another dancer is on stage, also in a Zaffa (wedding parade in front of the bride and groom). It lends an air of excitement and charges the room/dance with a lively electric current.“
So last night was like someone lit a match under everyone’s ass. The class had fun and is genuinely excited to work hard on their technique and get better by “dancing” together, not just stringing together a series of dance moves and calling it dancing. There is a vast difference.
One of the most complex parts of ATS® group improv dancing is there isn’t any choreography to follow, so everyone is dancing in the moment. We can dance to the same song ten times in a row, and it will never be the same. It’s truly organic and beautiful. People can’t believe it isn’t choreographed; we have heard that by hundreds of people over the last 18 years.
How ATS® group improv dance works, each dancer takes turns leading the group with small cues or gestures. Everyone hears and feels music differently, making it fun and ever-changing. Since things are changing all the time you have to pay attention.
One of the hardest parts about learning to lead is getting out of your head and letting the dance moves come from within and not overthink them. This is when things go wrong and look forced. That smile or pleasant look on their faces goes away, and they look like they are concentrating too hard.
Dancing from within takes a long time; it took me a couple of years not dreading taking the lead at gigs and enjoying it, plus feeling confident about it.
Kathleen and I laughed yesterday during our practice time about how whenever we step into the lead, neither of us knows what we will do ourselves until it happens. We are as surprised by what moves come out as much as the other dancers.
To get people to feel comfortable and not afraid of taking the lead, we start our new students right away by learning how to step in and out of the lead position. Once they feel comfortable with that, they can lead a move or two.
The new dancers are always amazed that everyone knows what they are trying to do and can follow along. I don’t push anyone past their comfort zone because, after all, dance is supposed to be fun and not stressful. Everyone moves at their own pace.
I haven’t been this excited about dance in a very long time. I have an upbeat and enthusiastic teaching style, but now it’s on complete overdrive.
Driving home at 8 pm on Wednesday nights after three hours of teaching classes and practicing with Kathleen, I am exhausted but always have a massive smile on my face because I am so proud of how my students danced, how far they have come, and how much fun we had.
I haven’t written about belly dance for some time, but I think I will be much more in the future! Yip! 😉
*ATS® stands for American Tribal Style Bellydance