Thread: baladi progression critique

With the two topics on baladi progression, I would love to get some critique and feedback on my own recent foray into baladi progression/taxims. I took one private lesson on it, studied youtube videos and read threads on here in preparation. I love baladi and want to be as authentic as possible.

Here's my best effort - a short example as it's just the baladi section of Shik Shak Shok:

[ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RaJjJpL7LHM]YouTube - Just the Baladi[/ame]

Oh and I'm in a bedlah - it was part of a contest and I did an entrance, shik shak shok, a little assaya, and a drum solo.

I think you did really well! Here is my critique though...

At points it seemed you were ahead of the music, dont be afraid to take your time. Also, the best thing you can do is slooooow down, your hips don't have to hit every note. Taking pauses in between sharp accents or drawing out a hip circle painfully long makes your dance more dramatic and interesting to watch :)

Heres a good one by Asmahan
[ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pIVcaQUADm0&feature=related]YouTube - Asmahan III[/ame]

Silly Nepenthe, don't you know that you should always wear a galabeya for a baladi progression!

You KNOW I'm just kidding, please don't throw things at me!!!

I liked it. Very expressive and nice. The costume looks great on you -- wow you have nice curves.

I'm no expert on baladi, but I'm wondering if your arms should be generally lower for baladi styling?

Nice job Nepenthe! Your torso moves very well to the taxim. Yes, I would say slow down and let the music ooze through you, and less arm movement overall with more concentration on torso articulations. Slightly more varied moves might also help, especially once you're into the accents section (more variation in the first few accents instead of the same hip drop...the latter ones are very nice). The crazy hip circle level change thingie at 1:18 was awesome! :)

I've just started taking private lessons with a dancer who has an extensive background in folkloric styles. She said the most amazing aha moment thing to me--dance as though your body is suspended by your armpits and not pulled by your chest. So I started getting this image of being a vine hanging from a clothesline and rooting itself into the ground.

Souzan

Originally Posted by Lauren_

Silly Nepenthe, don't you know that you should always wear a galabeya for a baladi progression!

You KNOW I'm just kidding, please don't throw things at me!!!

I liked it. Very expressive and nice. The costume looks great on you -- wow you have nice curves.

I'm no expert on baladi, but I'm wondering if your arms should be generally lower for baladi styling?

Thanks about the curves! :-)

That's what my teacher said too in our private lesson - keep the arms low, maybe just framing the hips. But I want to express with arms and it's very hard for me to keep myself from doing that when I get carried away by the music. Expression should be happening with the torso in baladi style.

Looks nice (even in bedleh ..g.:). Tiny points would be a little less arms at the start - you don't dance with your arms with beledi - and slow down the big hip circle. Make people w--a--i--t for it.

There seemed to be plenty of arm movement in the Asmahan vid - although, not in the same way, less arm darama?