Hey
Everyone
I will be
honest with you: I am buzzing with excitement for next weekend’s workshops with
Jillina and Heather Aued, but I am also pretty darn terrified. Although I have
been taking Belly Dance classes for more than three years now, I’m still a workshop
newbie and I get freaked out easily. So today, to allay my own fears and to
give you the lowdown on what to expect, I will be giving you the (not
definitive) Workshop Survival Guide.
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| Balkan Gypsy workshop with Ajsa Samia. |
Photo credit: Belly Buttons Harties
1 Pick your outfit carefully. While
the weather will have an influence on your choice, consider wearing layers as
the temperature outside will not be the same as inside the venue. Loose, baggy clothing
is not advised as this will make it difficult to see your movements. For Belly
Dancing, you are welcome to wear anything that makes you comfortable: crop
tops, cami tops, sweat pants, leggings, flowing skirts, etc. Bring a coin belt
and a non-chiming hip scarf and veil. Other props will be necessary as the
class dictates. Shoes are a controversial issue. Some studios/venues will not
allow you to dance barefoot and, as many dancers can personally attest,
sometimes it is dangerous to dance barefoot (see Sandy Ashton-Smith’s article
in the new Zills-O-Mag to read her harrowing story) Wear comfortable shoes that
have enough traction, but not too much as it may be necessary to spin and turn
with ease. Socks may be okay, but on floors that are used for ballroom dancing,
you might want to be careful! A few fresh pairs of socks are also a good idea
if you plan to take more than one workshop per day to ensure that your tootsies
remain fresh.
2. Be early! There is a saying that
goes “Early is on time, on time is late and if you’re late, don’t even bother.”
You will need to register before the workshop starts and you may also need time
to do your own warm up. Also, it’s a great time to network with your follow
workshop-goers.
3. Find your spot. If you’re anything
like me, you’ll run to the back of the room and stand as far away from the
teacher as possible in order not to be picked on. This is a mistake! If you’re
at the back of the room, you’re losing the benefit of training with a
specialist in the field. You will not be following the teacher – you will be
following the people in front of you and inevitably you will pick up their bad
habits and not the choreography as taught by the teacher. For best results,
pick a spot towards the middle front of the crowd, standing towards one of the
sides and ensure that you are not directly behind the dancer in front of you.
The workshop is likely to be crowded, so mind your personal space as well. Be
careful when you go all-out with your moves that you don’t knock your
neighbours in the face.
4. Make notes when you can. During a
break in the workshop, make a few quick notes to remind yourself of something
new that you learned. Also, remember to record the choreography when the class
is done – only if permitted! Illegal recording will only get you tossed out of
the class faster than you could say Gwazhi.
5. Eat something light but filling
before the class to ensure your sugar levels don’t drop during the vigorous
dancing. Also remember to keep yourself hydrated, but only if you’re allowed to
drink inside the venue. Keep your bags on the very edge of the room, safely
tucked under a chair if possible.
6. Bring a small first aid kit. If you’re
doing a whole day of workshops, you are likely to overexert yourself and you’ll
need a few emergency helpers: Bandaid strips to cover any blisters, antiseptic
ointment, stretch bandage – if you are prone to sprains, bring your guards – Ibuprofen
tablets for muscular pains, asprin/paracetamol tablets for headaches and an
anti-inflammatory ointment (like Deep Relief or Voltaren) for aches and pains.
7. Remember your manners. Be polite to
the other dancers, make eye contact, smile and introduce yourself to others.
Clean up after yourself and don’t let your kit lie around. Remember to bring a
small hand towel – just in case you get sweaty.
8. Bring cash to support local vendors
and also the teachers of the workshop – they will have merchandise available
for sale and it’s always a good thing to get a memento from the experience.
9. And a few important don’ts:
a. Don’t forget to switch your phone
off.
b. Don’t chat with other dancers during
the workshop – keep your networking for before and after.
c. Don’t stress about getting the
choreography down 100% - no one expects you to be perfect. You are there to
learn and absorb all you can from the teacher, not to be her/his copycat.
d. Don’t be afraid to ask questions if
there is any part of the choreography that you don’t understand. It’s quite
possible that you’re not the only one. If the teacher do not allow for
questions during the workshop, try to ask afterwards, but remember that the
workshops are usually scheduled back-to-back and time is limited.
e. The most important DON’T of all –
DON’T FORGET TO HAVE FUN!
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| Eliran Edri Amar Workshop IODF 2012 |
Photo credit: Theresa Warner
I hope
these tips will help you to get through the fear of workshops and that you’ll
go and have fun. The chance to learn from a respected dancer doesn’t come
around frequently, so enjoy every moment.
Please
share your workshop experience with us by commenting on our Facebook page.
Happy
shimmying!
XxX
Marina
