Thread: Why is it sooo hard?

Why is it sooo hard for me when it comes to improving?

I can do (what a friend refers to as "the monkey dance") choreography. I also write/perform both solo and group choreos. But whenever it comes to improving my mind just goes blank and I wind up doing mostly shimmies, basic triangle w/ bumps or lifts/drops. Makes me feel like a newbie (when I'm not).

I beleive this little problem is a hinderance to both my professional and instructing career (as how can I teach my students to do what I myself have difficulty with?). The gal I first began learning under myself (whom I still study with) assures me that this will come. But she grew up dancing and is phenominal - everything just seems to look/work fab for her.

Any help/advice from those of you out there in the BHUZ community?

You might want to check out Nadira Jamal's Improvisation Toolkit, just released last month. (Nadira is Bhuzzer jmdruadh). It's a well-thought-out, rational approach to developing improvisational skills.

Improvisation Toolkit with Nadira Jamal of Taktaba

Also, Cheeky Girls Productions is coming out with a dvd featuring Bahaia which also deals with improv, I believe.

Actually, somebody just recommended Nadira Jamal's Improvisational Toolkit dvd to me --

Improvisation Toolkit with Nadira Jamal of Taktaba


I just did an improv that I'm not horribly unhappy with, and the way I approached it was:

1. I TOTALLY knew the music, inside and out
2. I practiced improv-ing to the music for weeks ahead of time
3. I broke each section of music into a theme -- and did movements that I felt were relevant to that theme
4. I had confidence that I would not only pull it off, but also ENJOY the darn thing. I got on stage believing I was just the queen bee and THE most talented dancer. I don't know if the performance was all that great but I had a DARN good time, and nobody walked out or threw anything.

:)

Taj,
Thanks for recommending Nadira's DVD. I had never heard of her, so I wasn't sure. Better improv here I come!

Here is a simple exercise my instructor had me do. Start dancing to music you don't know. Every eight counts or one measure change your move. Just keep doing that, doesn't matter if its the appropriate move or not just keep changing your move every measure.

I still do this today to keep up my improv skills..

Oh and if this is to difficult, Pick three moves to do for the entire song and just do those moves. rotate them every measure. Next song pick three different moves and just use those moves and change every measure.

Originally Posted by aziyade

1. I TOTALLY knew the music, inside and out
2. I practiced improv-ing to the music for weeks ahead of time
3. I broke each section of music into a theme -- and did movements that I felt were relevant to that theme
4. I had confidence that I would not only pull it off, but also ENJOY the darn thing. I got on stage believing I was just the queen bee and THE most talented dancer. I don't know if the performance was all that great but I had a DARN good time, and nobody walked out or threw anything.

:)

I totally second this approach! Especially the part about breaking down the music and starting with a loose structure for the parts of a song based on the instruments and how it makes you feel.

It is amazing how fast every movement you have learned flys out of your head when you are TRYING to think of one! Having a structure to fall back on means you don't have to think of something new if you find yourself in that "oh sh$t, what should I do next?" place. I imagine, however, that very good and experienced improvers hear the structure and variations within the music as it is being played for the first time..... and can dance accordingly. Someday I hope to be there......

Not sure how to put this....but I try not to over think an improv. Thinking slows me down. Let your body react to the music.

And I'll double second the confidence....nervous improvs end up repetative and lack dynamics. One of my nervous habits is I circle the stage continuously counter clockwise. Even if i am doing a different hip or chest movement, it makes it look very repetative. Awful!! Confidence allows you to be more present in the music and your body, so you'll be aware if you are doing the same thing over and over again.

Good luck!!
Meredith

I take a different approach, although I think all of the above are valid.

I watch a lot of videos. I study what they do when the music gets faster, what they do during taxims, what they do for transitions, accenting the rhythm or the melody, how they enter, exit - all of these things.

I also spend a lot of time just improvising. I put on music and dance - if my mind were to go blank (it no longer does), I would think "Oh, that's an kanoun - I could do X here." The videos feed my brain and I absorb how to dance from them.

Originally Posted by Taj

You might want to check out Nadira Jamal's Improvisation Toolkit, just released last month. (Nadira is Bhuzzer jmdruadh). It's a well-thought-out, rational approach to developing improvisational skills.

Improvisation Toolkit with Nadira Jamal of Taktaba

Also, Cheeky Girls Productions is coming out with a dvd featuring Bahaia which also deals with improv, I believe.

Have it, love it, can't wait for the next one!

I too go blank, keep doing the same stupid move again and again or just stand there like a deer caught in headlights. Practice. Even if it is to non-ME music. Find yourself doing the same move? Change it just a little to get yourself out of the rut and into a new move. When I think, I am screwed. When I don't pay attention to anyone around me, it is bliss.

Warning... thread hijack coming...

Just before seeing this message in the "new posts" list I read the latest updates on the "Welcome to the Shira.net In Box" thread. After reading the latest on that thread, and THEN immediately seeing the title of this one, well, my mind went in a direction I don't think you intended it to go when you titled this thread.

Improvising doesn't mean not having a plan! If you more naturally choreograph dances, then creating a loose structure for your improvisation may feel much more comfortable than 'just dancing'.

I wrote an article on my approach to improvising. I'm a bit of a thinker/planner when I dance, so some of my approaches might help you too.

Jewel Bellydance - Belly dance classes melbourne Australia ::: Articles. Scroll down to the 'Art of Improvising' article. Good luck!

Wow, just logged on to check new posts/etc and read all your good advice!
I didn't expect so many response yet...
Will def check out Nadira Jamal's Improvisation Toolkit

Originally Posted by *Shira*

Warning... thread hijack coming...
Just before seeing this message in the "new posts" list I read the latest updates on the "Welcome to the Shira.net In Box" thread. After reading the latest on that thread, and THEN immediately seeing the title of this one, well, my mind went in a direction I don't think you intended it to go when you titled this thread.

OMG! Shira, I kinda missed this thread when glancing over subject titles (but ya just know I HAD to go back and find/read it.) Def had me snickering and chortling. Thanks for being so ummm, open and honest about your "newfound tickleing fetish".
Hmmm, need to see if will work on either my sweetie or my lovely... ..g.: