Thread: Share Your Favorite Bellydance Tip(s)

Hi - ,
I'm a new member here.
I am a writer and a bellydancer. I recently wrote a post on my blog "Ultimate Bellydance Resource Guide".
If anyone is interested in sharing their personal favorite tips on that post, there will be a link (if you like) back to your blog or website.

Anyone who leaves a tip, I will add their bellydance website within the guide.

Thank you all!
Best regards,
Sayyida

Oops, forgot to give the link to the Bellydance Resource Guide:

http://lifelearningtoday.com/2012/03...ostumes-props/

Thanks!

Hi, Sayyida! I'm sorry your first postings have gotten such an awful response. It's not that folks here are unfriendly, but like most other Internet communities, if you join and ask an open-ended question, sometimes people make assumptions that you're some noob who came out of nowhere and somebody else will step up to help you, and next thing you know, the thread has rolled off the page with no answer. Please don't be discouraged by the frosty response, and pop your head into some other threads so folks here can get to know you.

I notice you are lacking two of the larger information sites, Shira.net and middleeasterndance.net in your list. You might want to add them, in addition to any dancers you particularly like or regular events you attend. With a bump, maybe others will chip in some recommendations, or at least links to old threads that might be useful...

Just a few issues. First , as a single page it is way, way too long. Something like this needs proper naviagtion over multiple pages. Next, it is trying to run some QuickTimeScriptable object.

Reconsider the name. Many years ago I attended a course called "Modern OO Progamming" - at the time is was hardly cutting edge. A year or so later it was old hat. Calling your site "Ultimate Belly Dance Resource" is placing yourself in a position to look bad. For a start the information is very biased (way too mauch Sadie!!); actually doesn't seem to be evaluated in any way; doesn't include such as All About Belly Dancing, by Shira or Welcome to Morocco's Meanderings

Belly dancing originated in ancient cultures thousands of years ago. It was originally done by women, for women.

Please, please - remove this incorrect, foolish statement. There is no evidence belly dance can be traced back to "ancient cultures" - unless you accept any dance in the region must have been belly dance (it wasn't anything like what is called belly dance today) and it is a social dance for men and women. The "by women, for women" can only be traced back to the writings of the feminist separist spirituality movement - basically 1970s - widely disseminated by people like Wendy B.

First I just want to second Kashmir, there is too much for one page and the name is over reaching. As you add more information the site will become even more unreadable than it is right now. One person will never have enough time to develop the ultimate guide of anything by themselves.

I would also note you have broken links to music. As for the costuming and props, you might want to move away from the "airport specials" and have links to trusted suppliers like Dahlal, Isis Exchange, and BellyDanceStore.com, just to name a few. And a bio page so people know more about you so that they can evaluate if your likes match theirs would also be helpful. Keep polishing it and I'm sure you will get there. Shira.net was not built over night (nor by Shira alone).

Originally Posted by Scarlet Faeriewind

First I just want to second Kashmir, there is too much for one page and the name is over reaching. As you add more information the site will become even more unreadable than it is right now. One person will never have enough time to develop the ultimate guide of anything by themselves.

I would also note you have broken links to music. As for the costuming and props, you might want to move away from the "airport specials" and have links to trusted suppliers like Dahlal, Isis Exchange, and BellyDanceStore.com, just to name a few. And a bio page so people know more about you so that they can evaluate if your likes match theirs would also be helpful. Keep polishing it and I'm sure you will get there. Shira.net was not built over night (nor by Shira alone).

I also want to say that not only do you not come across as particularly experienced in bellydance - there is too much other random stuff on there. You could ercommend dvds through Amazon instead of other random books etc. About you does not even mention how long you have been dancing - or even that you dance at all. I haven't bookmarked the site as I doubt I will return. If you want to provide a GOOD bellydance resource you will need to do LOTS of research about what is out there already - and a bit of humilityIe I SO AGREE ABOUT CHANGING THE NAME.

I would also suggest that if you want to do the other life style stuff you use separate sites, or at very least separate them a bit more.

OK I just found out that you link directly into Shira's site without using any of the logos she provides and without any direct mention of her site. This is totally UNETHICAL. There are clear guidelines on Shira's site on how to link - and you even have a section on other useful websites.

I certainly don't and won't recommend your site.

True, there are some issues that raise red flags about the source's expertise (a conspicuous absence of links to sites that more experienced dancers would know about). Without additional information, the reader has no way of knowing if the site's creator is naively self taught, just starting, or the victim of less-than-expert teachers. On the other hand, we can hardly expect every enthusiastic student to emerge fully formed as an authority. We all started somewhere, and the OP did come here asking for help to improve her site.

After first being ignored, she's now being treated to a rather harsh blast of honesty. Perhaps it merits being said that one shouldn't bite off more than can be comfortably chewed, and we all benefit from the occasional humility reset of our egos, but let's not scare folks away...

Hi Tourbeau - thank you for your kind and thoughtful reply. I really do appreciate you reaching out and encouraging me. I also appreciate your feedback. I will add those 2 sites that you mentioned.

I am new to this forum, but not new to bellydance. I have been dancing for 5 years. I've had some great teachers.

My goal with this resource guide was to provide the things (resources) I knew I was looking for when I was a new student which were - where to find great bellydance music, recommendations of videos that would be helpful in supplementing my local classes, belly dance tips, and some pretty costume items.

That's why I called it a resource guide, not a "guide to bellydancing" which would be something different. I included reviews of videos that I have personally used. I didn't review other videos that others mentioned because I don't know them. I will check out the others that were mentioned though. That was the kind of thing I was hoping folks might add as a comment on the posting - videos that they like.

The other comments here have helped confirm what I realized as I was writing the resource guide which is that the topic is really too broad for just one posting. As such I'll probably be creating a new site to share more information.

"Ultimate" guide is supposed to be fun use of the word, not something which is meant to be taken so seriously. This is the best resource guide I was able to put together thus far. It's meant for students who are looking for bellydance resources. Hopefully it will be helpful to those who come across it. I doubt anyone would begin and end their search for belly dance resources at my posting.

Scarlet - thanks for alerting me to the broken music links. I'll look into that. Also thank you for your encouragement. I'll check out the other stores you mentioned. The ones I have listed, I have purchased from and have had a good experience so that's why I have them listed. I agree that it would be good to add bio info - maybe at the end. I didn't originally because the guide was getting so long! :-)

JencUK - Regarding charging me with being unethical, I'm not sure how linking to someone's website and thereby promoting their site would be unethical. Unethical would be if I took their material and tried to pass it off as my own. I'm sorry to hear that you so emphatically dislike my site, but I wish you all the best.

Tourbeau, Thank you once again for your kindness and encouragement. I look forward to becoming a more active member here in the Bhuz forum.
:-)

Originally Posted by Sayyida

My goal with this resource guide was to provide the things (resources) I knew I was looking for when I was a new student which were - where to find great bellydance music, recommendations of videos that would be helpful in supplementing my local classes, belly dance tips, and some pretty costume items.

That's why I called it a resource guide, not a "guide to bellydancing" which would be something different.

Personally I think the most important resource for new dancers is knowledge - not things. You can be a belly dancer without a hip belt or a costume or Isis wings but you cannot be one without knowing what makes it belly dance. Maybe it could be called the "Ultimate Belly Dance Stuff Guide"

Originally Posted by jencUK

OK I just found out that you link directly into Shira's site without using any of the logos she provides and without any direct mention of her site. This is totally UNETHICAL. There are clear guidelines on Shira's site on how to link - and you even have a section on other useful websites.

Jen, thanks much for looking out for me. I checked out Sayyida's blog page, and found one link to my site. People often want to link directly to a certain page of my site that they like, which is what Sayyida did, and I'm comfortable with that. The "link logos" that I provide are optional, for use by people who enjoy designing their link pages that way, but it's okay with me if people don't use them. The thing that makes me cranky is when people copy large sections of my articles or my graphics and post those on their sites, but Sayyida didn't do that, so I don't have a problem with her page.

The reason I designed my site the way I did (with the "bread crumbs" on the top right, and the navigation buttons down the left side) is so that people who come in directly to a page inside my site can get an idea of what else I have to offer. That's actually the most common way for people to enter my site, is going to a page deep inside it, usually as a result of search engine results but sometimes also as direct links such as Sayyida's. So the onus is on me to make sure that folks want to linger once they get there!

Originally Posted by *Shira*

Jen, thanks much for looking out for me. I checked out Sayyida's blog page, and found one link to my site. People often want to link directly to a certain page of my site that they like, which is what Sayyida did, and I'm comfortable with that. The "link logos" that I provide are optional, for use by people who enjoy designing their link pages that way, but it's okay with me if people don't use them. The thing that makes me cranky is when people copy large sections of my articles or my graphics and post those on their sites, but Sayyida didn't do that, so I don't have a problem with her page.

Thanks Shira! You have a wonderful site that truly is the ultimate resource!

Originally Posted by kashmir

Personally I think the most important resource for new dancers is knowledge - not things. You can be a belly dancer without a hip belt or a costume or Isis wings but you cannot be one without knowing what makes it belly dance. Maybe it could be called the "Ultimate Belly Dance Stuff Guide"

Shira - Ah so true! Knowledge is the most potent resource!
I bellydance in my kitchen all the time while cooking and it doesn't matter what I'm wearing!

cute suggestion on the "stuff" retitling.

Happy dancing to you!

Hi Sayyida! I really like your blog! Would you mind if I share it with my students as a kind of go-to guide? These are my favorite tips to give to my students:

1) When all else fails, shimmy!
2) Nothing is more impressive than a dancer who knows her music and can articulate it with her body.
3) Be sure to keep your entire body (not just the stomach and arms) toned. Your body is your tool in this profession and your technique will greatly improved if you take good care of yourself.
4) Always know the lyrics to your music if there are words.
5) Practice letting your emotion show on your face. When the audience isn't staring at your hips or beautiful costume, they will be looking there for your personality. A strong technical dancer is boring compared to someone who looks passionate about what they're doing.