Thread: Belly dance presentation for 7th graders- help!

Hi all,
I just volunteered for a presentation on Morocco for 7th graders at a nearby school. My friend has asked me to present something on belly dancing. I've never done this before for children! Does anyone have any suggestions?

I did have a djellaba, but it isn't here with me at my new apartment. What is appropriate dress? And what about music? I know belly dance is definitely not the traditional dance in Morocco-- is there any way to make it more "authentically" Moroccan?

Any advice appreciated! Thanks!

I vaguely remember Tipsuda doing a Moroccan pot dance at a folkloric bellydance show (May 2006) put on by Kimahri *waves to KB Entertainment*. She wore a folkloric dress w/belt and headcovering. I believe her hubby Najib was drumming for her. It was really lovely(!) which is why I remember it.Tipsuda? Are you still here in Illinois, or did you leave us for NJ already?,f::

She leaves today. I thought that dance was Tunesian that she did at that show. Maybe i'm just assuming becasue najib was drumming.

I did a presentation for my sister's 6th grade class on Egypt. I actually didn't dance, I did a slide show and a show and tell of traditional dance costumes, hip scarves, zills, papyris, jewelry, and I played some music for them. My sister asked me quesions first of what i'd cover so that she could do a quiz on it.
It was well received.

[QUOTE=rakgirl;95069]She leaves today. I thought that dance was Tunesian that she did at that show. Maybe i'm just assuming becasue najib was drumming.[QUOTE]

OMe-Gosh! I think you're right...I may have gotten Tipuda's Tunisian pot dance w/Bal Anat's Moroccan pot dance piece???
I miss Tipsuda already..cr.: ..cr.: ..cr.:

Yes, they should really like show-and-tell, with lots of costumes, photos, etc. Using questions is good for involving them and holding their attention, rather than just a lecture (eg: "And who can tell me what other countries do bellydancing?").

I think they'd really enjoy learning a few moves, and if you have some cheap scarves for them to use on their hips, that'd be fun. If you don't want to get the whole class dancing, you can call up volunteers and teach them a few moves -with a prop is great. I've used stick with similar aged kids and they loved it (well supervised so they don't hit each other in the head!). Perhaps, if the pot-balancing thing is more Moroccan, you can get a paper-mache pot or a basket to get them to balance.

Kids usually love you to demo a dance for them. Get them clapping for you.

Are they too old for Barbie????
MOROCCAN BARBIE DOTW 1998 MINT NRFB - (eBay item 370003291642 end time Jan-05-08 12:17:55 PST)
wait! I have this doll, and I'm MUCH older then a 7th grader! ..l;,

I agree with jewelbellydance
anything hands-on, demos, or movement should work.
food used to work. . .but many school districts do not allow food anymore-

maybe you can chat w/ the teacher and you (or teacher) can check out books in the teacher's name from the school library-
this way kids interested can look through the books later as well?

maybe even a powerpoint presentation if the school has the means~

Good Luck!

Thanks for all your suggestions. I've never heard of the pot dance... that sounds really interesting but I'd probably fail at it if I tried! I'm also thinking of doing a slide show. I was going to demonstrate (what I saw to be) "Moroccan-style" Berber belly dance, which basically is shimmies...

If I try to teach them some moves, what do you suggest I start with? Figure eight, shimmy, anything else? I haven't taken a belly dance class in...5 or more years!

Cheers! ,r:;

I teach middle school and have danced for 7th graders during a unit on Egypt. Definitely DANCE! and try to get some of the boys up to dance too....they love doing that at that age. I wore a black skirt, black long sleeved leotard, my big coin necklace, and coin belt. It was so much fun!

I’ve done a lot of work with children & danced at several schools in the area. Most schools have a dress code that forbids belly shirts so when I dance, teach and have other dancers come I always ask them to have a tank or something under the costume. For teaching class I wear gym/yoga type clothes. The students I worked with were a little younger then your group and were still excited to try new things. You should show them a few moves, snake arms, figure 8 hips, a hip circle, head slides (kids are so good at) are all easy, oh and they love to try shimmies!

Oh yeah, it’s fun to show props and scarves to kids but once they get their hands on them they stop paying attention and play & fight over them – I’ve learned to do that part last or set aside time for trying and passing scarves, canes, zills – etc.

I really think it is important to distinguish between "belly dance" and all of the folkloric social dances of North Africa. Tunesian and Moroccan folk dances are not belly dance.

Perhaps you should skip the "belly dance" Label and just talk about some general characteristics of North African folk dances -- hip movements, shimmies, arm movements, etc. That is what I would do, and I think it is more age appropriate as well.

Sedonia

I've never seen or heard of a Moroccan pot dance - however there is a tradition of balancing tea trays, and of course tea is important in their daily life, so that's a nice culture/dance tie-in. I agree w/Sedonia, I would focus on Moroccan folk dance rather than bellydance. I think of them as related, but distant cousins. I would find something Moroccan in 6/8 time if you can, teach them how to clap along to that beat, show some of the basic steps (shoulder shimmies, 3/4 shimmies - and I don't think of snake arms as Moroccan), and if you have a caftan that would be great to wear with a scarf.
Christine