Thread: Languishing on a plateau...

How do you jumpstart yourself when you're stuck on that old familiar going-nowhere-fast plateau? I seem to hit a plateau a couple of times a year, and boy have I hit one now. I seem to be headed backwards instead of forwards, getting sloppy with my shimmies, sticking to Egyptian pop music instead of branching out into "new" classical numbers...

Suggestions for how to revamp?

Do something totally different for a week or two? Maybe take a hip-hop class or jazz or something that you wouldn't ordinarily do and has a very different outlook on movement than bellydance.

The thing that always seems to revitalise me, when I'm in that state is seeing a show, especially showcase type shows where you see lots of different dancers. Even watching something like that on dvd is stimulating and gives me lots of things to think about, and shake me out of myself.

A workshop with an inspiring and creative instructor always seems to give me the kick in the pants I need.

Maybe get a new cd and find a song that really inspires you?
Personally I get a lot out of attending a special teaching intensive or workshop or festival. Find someone you really like, and challenge yourself to learn something and work it!

Originally Posted by Sonja2

How do you jumpstart yourself when you're stuck on that old familiar going-nowhere-fast plateau? I seem to hit a plateau a couple of times a year, and boy have I hit one now. I seem to be headed backwards instead of forwards, getting sloppy with my shimmies, sticking to Egyptian pop music instead of branching out into "new" classical numbers...

Suggestions for how to revamp?

Whenever I hit a plateau it Feels mental but when I really look at the problem it is actually physical. Your worry about sloppy shimmies is a dead give away. What you need is some different physical input to fire different muscles in different ways. We as dancers rely so much on expressing ourselves physically that if we get caught in a funk in can really drag us down in all aspects of our expression... lack of inspiration all round. Trying something new is a great idea, not just for the mental break but to activate movement in a new way. A stimulated body is a stimulated mind.

Usually a workshop or new DVD will do the trick. Gets me focused on learning someone else's stuff rather than my own, and when i come back to my stuff, I've improved. Sometimes that means a new choreography DVD (mental stimulation) or focusing on a drilling DVD for a few days (to go with Nanda's stimulated body idea.)

To really get inspired, one of those weekend workshop events dedicated to bellydance. I remember coming away from the Dina workshop last year as a whole new dancer, just watching all the shows, taking the workshops - I got so inspired. It put me on a new direction with my dance.

Ya, been there, done that.

Try drilling to your FAVORITE music - rock, classical, whatever.

Try going to Borders and auditioning some new music, then take it home and play with it. Or just buy something new.

Try a workout video such as Winsor Pilates, Crunchless Abs or some other workout. Usually once I get my body moving, I'm more inspired to dance. I also like watching dance videos while I'm on the treadmill, then by the time I'm done I'm ready to boogie.

Another idea: Just go out dancing. Nightclub dancing sometimes help to break the doldrums.

Amira

Good ideas! I think I'm going to do all of them.

lately what's helped me is to just put some random music on and NOT drill anything...just dance around like a damn fool for a while and dont' care what I look like. This gives me the chance to say "OK I don't have to look perfect 100% of the time, I'm just having fun here". My mind gets a break, my body relaxes a bit and actually I've gotten a few cute moves out of doing this :)

"Discover" a dancer whom you have never seen before who just grabs your attention; be open to any experience and opportunity to learn and be inspired (by anything, anyone).