Raks Ava day 3: oriental

[mekyria]

Saturday I woke with the refreshing feeling of not needing to run through my choreography any more or work on my costume, as the hafla was already done. Huzzah!

Instead, I went downstairs to the tiny supermarket below our hotel, got some yoghurt and breakfast and walked to the venue with Sophie. Today was all about oriental, and the program was left blank as to what this oriental would be. Ava got us started with 'storytelling': listening to music (Yearning) and creatign a story in your head. Then using the story to give meaning to your dance. It was interesting, as I felt Western music worked better with this exercise compared to Arabic music.

According to Ava, there is a distinction in the dance world between a bellydancer and an oriental dancer. An oriental dancer is more formal, in the sense of using arm placement, spacial awareness and storytelling. A bellydancer is aimed at entertainment and uses more traditional bellydance elements, thus sending out a different vibe. Overal, Oriental, formal dancers are more respected because their body language during a performance demands respect and distance.

We went over the use of space on stage, and what lines and positions work best . I liked her quote on practice: 'Practice and think of your technique in class or at home. Never on a stage!'. Thus leaving room in your head to work with the stage, with contrabody, storytelling and such things.
'Always go on stage with a purpose. Wheter it's a character you choose to be, or an element you wan to express like fire, water or air, or a story you want to tell.'

We were all a bit exhausted from Friday and we didn't dance much, instead working woth exercises to practice with emotion and storytelling. It was great and I will use some of this stuff for my own classes. After class, Sophie, Jannie (her boyfriend), Jessica and me went out to eat for dinner and had a yummy lambburger with melted goatcheese. We then walked to the square next to the station to meet up with Artemisia and Ava for the 'Pois and toys' play night. It might sound a bit suggestive, but it meant we brought our poi, voi, zills and other props and played around. I tried the poi and I got to do a couple of basic moves. Somehow my body remembered the practice I put into it over five years ago in my livingroom. I managed to hit myself multiple times with my own poi (this is common) then gave up and sat down for a mocktail (alcohol free cocktail). Ava was obviously tired, I think she needs alot of rest to recover from teaching all day plus dancing. Earlier she said 'most people are suprised that I'm an introvert'. No Ava, I am not suprised. I recognize your reservation in behavior as saving of energy. She is a very warm and sharing person but it does take it's toll on her. The further we got into the intensive, the more of her quirky side came out which was nice. She smacks like a squirrel when she tries to change the subject.

Around 22.00 we called it a night and I hobbled back to the hotel for a shower, skype session with E and a good night's sleep. E later told me that he was very worried about me being so far away with the baby and everything and he actually cried during a movie. Probably not because of the movie but because he missed me. He's so cute, when I'm upset he's always being the strong one and trying to make me smile but when I am feeling better I know he has his insecurities and worries too and we then talk about his side.  I was happy because it wa sanother fabulous day, and sad because tomorrow would be the last day.

Comments

[abbie-normel.livejournal.com]

DDaawww you guys are cute.

oriental dancer v. bellydancer.

I never knew anybody who used the term Oriental because they were afraid the GP would think Asian.

purist would use Middle Eastern dancer. Tamra-henna, Ca. was a big stickler for that & was considered a very serious dancer to point of no fun. I was an student/acquaintance of her's yeeeeeaaars ago & I believe she had a hard time "lowering herself" to participate in the bd com.

there are similarities the with Ava. yeeeaars ago Ava was a snot & if she hadn't been well really connected & good her career might not have gone anywhere.

Both of these ladies have mellowed because age & dropping marketability will do that.

Fahtiem pointedly did not do the Bd com till frankly her last restaurant job fired her for being to old.

there used to be a brighter line between pros & not & you would not see the pros on the bd com till they got old. now it's soo mixed & some pros are just convention creations.

the sharki mafia used the term Bellydancer as a slight insult. the connation was you weren't a serious dancer , you just like to dress up.