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Sharon Kihara Intensive Weekend – OF DOOM!

Filed under: Classes by hmfullen — Leave a comment
December 19, 2011

Julia and I (Heather) recently attended an intensive with Sharon Kihara down in Pembroke Pines. The event lasted from Thursday to Sunday, with workshops every day, as well as a welcome dinner Friday night and a show at the studio on Saturday evening.

Some highlights:
* 4-6 hours a day of workshops will warp your brain.
* No where that we went served cider.
* The parking garage at the hotel was super cramped.
* Jason scraped a concrete pole in said garage on our way to dance in the show.
* I scraped a car in the same garage the next morning on our way to the last day of classes. (The good news is that they still haven’t called for our insurance information – maybe they thought the scratch was so small that it wasn’t worth it.)
* Sharon Kihara is a lovely and wonderful person, and a very excellent dancer, not to mention beautiful on top of all that.

Other thoughts:
* I’ve found myself inspired to spend more time on conditioning (which I hate) as a result of these workshops. Don’t underestimate how strong many dancers are – they just look dainty. Sharon’s warm ups and conditioning were killer!
* I also love how glittery Sharon’s costumes have been the last several times I’ve looked. She’s an inspiration for bringing that awesome sparkly flavor into your fusion costuming.
* I liked a lot of the angles, turns,  and direction changes in the choreographies and combos we learned – I can’t wait to incorporate that into my own practice.
* Sharon’s workshops were not a walk in the park, physically or mentally, but I would do them again in an instant.
* I love that Sharon is tall, like me. So many of the teachers I have met are very petite, and it was just neat to be at eye level with one another.

Oh, and I have video from our performance at the show! I’ll have to post that later.

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Zill Pattern Drill

Filed under: Class Handouts by hmfullen — Leave a comment
December 19, 2011

Here are the breakdowns for all of the additional zill patterns in the Level 2 Tribal vocabulary, strung together into a handy drill!

Note: “B” indicates to strike both zills simultaneously.

Quarter Notes

1   &   2   &   3   &   4   &   1   &   2   &   3   &   4   &  
R       R       R       R       R       R       R       R      

Eighth Notes

1   &   2   &   3   &   4   &   1   &   2   &   3   &   4   &  
R   L   R   L   R   L   R   L   R   L   R   L   R   L   R   R L

SLINK FWD DROP BACK:

Gallop/Longa – Downbeat

1   &   2   &   3   &   4   &   1   &   2   &   3   &   4   &  
R   R L R   R L R   R L R   R L R   R L R   R L R   R L R   R  

Gallop/Longa – Upbeat

1   &   2   &   3   &   4   &   1   &   2   &   3   &   4   &  
R L R   R L R   R L R   R L R   R L R   R L R   R L R   R   R L

ARABIC SPIN:

3-7-3

1   &   2   &   3   &   4   &   1   &   2   &   3   &   4   &  
R   R L R L R L R   R L R   R L R   R L R L R L R   R L R   R L

ARABIC CHEST DROP PATTERN:

1   &   2   &   3   &   4   &   1   &   2   &   3   &   4   &  
R           R L R           R L R       B   R   B   R   B      

KIHARA TWIST:

5-5-5

1   &   2   &   3   &   4   &   1   &   2   &   3   &   4   &  
R L R L R       R L R L R       R L R L R       R L R L R   R L

EGYPTIAN 3-STEP TURN:

3-11

1   &   2   &   3   &   4   &   1   &   2   &   3   &   4   &  
R   R L R L R L R L R L R   R L R   R L R L R L R L R L R   R L

EGYPTIAN VARIATION:

3-5-1-3

1   &   2   &   3   &   4   &   1   &   2   &   3   &   4   &  
R   R L R L R   R   R L R   R L R   R L R L R   R   R L R   R L

UP UP DOWN DOWN:

3-3-7

1   &   2   &   3   &   4   &   1   &   2   &   3   &   4   &  
R   R L R   R L R L R L R   R L R   R L R   R L R L R L R      

…Repeat…

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Zill Variation Handout – Arabic Chest Drop

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December 19, 2011

In the Shambling Shimmies Level 2 Tribal vocabulary, this movement has an alternate zill pattern.

See the Level 1 cues & variations handout that includes the Arabic Chest Drop for information on the movement itself.

Classification: Fast

No changes in the move from L1 to L2.  Only Changes are the Zill Pattern

Zills/Timing:

Timing – 8 count move

Zill Pattern – Gallop/Longa ending on the down beat on the 1, 3, and 5 … then B, R, B, R, B on 6 & 7 & 8 to accent the chest drop.

Zill Pattern / Move Timing Broken Down –

1 & 2 & 3 & 4 & 1 & 2 & 3 & 4 &
R R L R R L R R L R R L R R L R R L R R L R R L
Standard Arabic … Preceding Move … BALL Cue- hands palms down
FLATARMS DOWN BALL BALLARMS UP BALL FLATARMS DOWN BALL BALLARMS UP

 

1 & 2 & 3 & 4 & 1 & 2 & 3 & 4 &
R R L R R L R B R B R B R L
FLAT BALL FLAT BALL FLAT DROP  (up) DROP   (up) DROP    (up/CUE Next)
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Cues & Variations Handout – Ansuya

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December 19, 2011

This movement is part of the Shambling Shimmies Level 2 Tribal vocabulary.

ANSUYA

Classification: Slow

Basic Cue:

  • Typically cued out of maya, cue is lifting the left arm (elbow first) and the right hip.

Variations:

  • Can be done on knees (entire move) or kneeling (upper body only)
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Special Topics Classes

Filed under: Classes, Performance by hmfullen — Leave a comment
December 19, 2011

We previously have held pre-registered small group classes on Thursday evenings at 6 pm.  These have been fun, but they’ve required students to commit to and pay for the entire course up front or by payment arrangement, and we thought that might have prevented some interested folks from being able to participate.

So, for 2012, we’ve changed things up a bit!  We’re still going to have a small group class at 6 pm on Thursdays, and it’s still going to focus on special topics, but it’s going to be a drop-in class!

We’ll go through various topics (in segments of 2-6 weeks, depending on the topic and other factors).  Please see the event calendar to see what topic is going at any given time – I’ve just put up the proposed schedule for all of 2012!  There are a lot of great things – veil, tribal improv with balanced props, tribal improv with fire props, zills, shimmies – all kinds of fun stuff!

The class size will still be kept at 6 people or fewer (if we are blessed with a crowd, we’ll split the special topics into multiple classes), and the price will stay comparable to our small group focused courses.  The big differences are that you can drop in on single classes, you don’t have to pay in advance, and you can use your class card (which means you get to take advantage of bulk discounts on class cards).

Special topics classes that involve fire will be $20 per (or 2 punches on your class card).  In addition to the small class size and dual instructor format, we will be providing props to borrow if you don’t have your own, an outdoor space for lit practice during class (once enough material is covered), as well as fuel and safety equipment/monitoring.  The class is also just a smidge longer to allow time for preparing and cooling down props, etc.

Special topics classes that do not involve fire will be $15 per (or 1.5 punches on your class card).  These will have the usual small class size and dual instructor format.  There will be props to borrow if you don’t have your own for veil, basket, and zill classes.

The special topics classes also include performance opportunities at our monthly student showcase at Satchel’s, and at haflas held at the studio.

We are excited about the new opportunity to study special topics on a drop-in basis, and hope to see you there!

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Christmas Show Preparations

Filed under: Costumes, Tutorial by hmfullen — 4 Comments
December 18, 2011

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We have the monthly show at Satchel’s the Tuesday after Christmas, and we’re going to have some fun with it.  We’ll pick Christmas-y music for one set (at least), and I’m working on festive outfits.  For my own part, I’m going to be a peppermint candy cane, with a skirt and top in red and white stripes!  I made the skirt tonight (start to finish, about 2 hours), and have a few photos to share.  This style of skirt is super easy – 6 rectangles, 6 quarter circles, and one more rectangle for the wide waistband (mine is a foldover style, I like to be able to adjust them for a higher or lower waist depending on how I feel on a given day).

You should use stretch fabric – 4 way is ideal, but 2 way is fine as long as it stretches horizontally to give you room for your tush.  The rectangles should measure from where you want the bottom of the waistband to sit, to the floor, plus an inch for seam allowances.  Their width should be approximatey your hip measurement (take a little off if you want the skirt more snug) divided by 6, plus an inch for seam allowances.  The radius of the quarter circles should be the measurement from your knee to the floor.  The waistband rectangle should be twice as wide as you want the band to be, plus an inch for seam allowances, and as long as your hip measurement, plus an inch for seam allowances.

Sew one quarter circle to each rectangle to get 6 bizarre, sort of L shaped pieces.  Then sew those together such that there is a quarter circle in between each long rectangle.  Then sew the short ends of the waistband together, and fold it in half lengthwise (right side out) and pin the open edges together so that they don’t shift.  Pin the waistband around the top edge of the skirt and sew it down (a zig zag stitch is probably good for this part, since it will stretch more than the other seams will).  From there, trim up your seam allowances if you need to, toss a half inch hem on the bottom, and you’re good to go!

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New Year’s Resolutions

Filed under: Uncategorized by hmfullen — Leave a comment
November 28, 2011

I know the year isn’t even over yet, but we’ve already started thinking about our goals for next year!

One of our big goals for the future is to have all our classes consolidated at one location, so that we can really focus our efforts on making the space an ideal environment and providing the very best we can to our students and fellow dancers.  To that end, we are saving up for the expenses involved in such an endeavor.

If you want to help, please consider purchasing something from our etsy shop (http://www.etsy.com/shop/shamblingshimmies), sending a friend (or yourself, of course) to our classes, sharing our information with others that might be interested in belly dance, or giving to the studio fund directly.

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Cues & Variations Handout – Ghawazee Spot Turn (Combo Addition)

Filed under: Uncategorized by hmfullen — 1 Comment
November 10, 2011

This movement is part of the Shambling Shimmies Level 2 vocabulary, it is an add-on to the end of the Ghawazee Combo learned in Level 1.

Classification:  Fast

Basic Cue:

At least 1 8 count of Ghawazee Step turning between 45 and 90 degrees to left.  On the 8 count immediately before you want to begin the turn YIP on 7 (this will be on your R leg) to indicate the turns will begin on the following downbeat (the 1 of the next 8 count).

Variations:

In Level 2, this will always be a combo addition to the Ghawazee combo (following the half turns), never cued by itself and will always be 8 counts long (4 turns).  In higher levels, the move will be able to be cued by itself for any number of turns (within reason).

Zills/Timing (Level 2):

Timing – 8 count move not including the cue – 4 turns

The full Ghawazee combo including the spot turn is a minimum of 64 counts (16 measures)

Zill Pattern – Standard longa/gallop pattern OR optional R zill only on each “spot” of the move.  (this option may be easier when first starting to spin)

CUE (Following Half Turns in Ghawazee Combo)

1   &   2   &   3   &   4   &   1   &   2   &   3   &   4   &  
R   R L R   R L R   R L R   R L R   R L R   R L R   R L R   R L
Right Foot

Begin Turning

 Left Foot

 

 Right Foot

 

 Left Foot

 

 Right Foot

Fully Turned

 Left Foot

 

 Right Foot

“YIP”

 Left Foot

 

MOVE (Standard Pattern in Black, Optional Pattern in Blue)

1   &   2   &   3   &   4   &   1   &   2   &   3   &   4   &  
R   R L R   R L R   R L R   R L R   R L R   R L R   R L R   R L
R               R               R               R              
Touch (Spot) Cross Turn Touch (Spot) Cross Turn Touch (Spot) Cross Turn Touch (Spot) Cross Turn
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