Thread: Belly Dance Fundamentals for any Style?

I've been noticing so many new intro level belly dance videos have some blurb in the advertising that says the video will teach basic technique that will give the dancer the foundation to dance any style of belly dance. OK, I can see why someone would want as large a market as possible, but can it really be true? The longer I dance, the more I think some styles under the belly dance umbrella are so fundamentally different as far as the aesthetic, the basic posture and how the moves are generated, that I don't see how there could be a technique video that would prepare you for all of them, unless it teaches basic poise, conditioning, and presence that would really apply to any form of dance.

So what do Bhuzzers think? Is this just an advertising ploy, or are their fundamental moves that can just be tweaked to be gothic tribal fusion or Egyptian baladi or Turkish Romani? (just throwing those out as random examples)

Originally Posted by Zamira

I've been noticing so many new intro level belly dance videos have some blurb in the advertising that says the video will teach basic technique that will give the dancer the foundation to dance any style of belly dance. OK, I can see why someone would want as large a market as possible, but can it really be true? The longer I dance, the more I think some styles under the belly dance umbrella are so fundamentally different as far as the aesthetic, the basic posture and how the moves are generated, that I don't see how there could be a technique video that would prepare you for all of them, unless it teaches basic poise, conditioning, and presence that would really apply to any form of dance.

So what do Bhuzzers think? Is this just an advertising ploy, or are their fundamental moves that can just be tweaked to be gothic tribal fusion or Egyptian baladi or Turkish Romani? (just throwing those out as random examples)

Not an advertising ploy. Stripped of their labels, they are universal shapes that the body makes. Sure there is tweaking per style, and various emphases on which anatomy are engaged, but they're all there.

I think there are basics that are pretty universal, even if there are differences (posture, size of the move, emphasis, etc.)

What styles do you think are completely different?

I think at the most basic, beginner level there's so much body mechanics to teach that yes, it can easily belong to any style. And the basic movement vocabulary -- circles, hip lifts & drops, various 8s and undulations -- is universal, although one might change up the posture or speed or level of isolation for different styles.

The differences between styles are ones of degree, not fundamental differences. I think there are some very marketing-driven teachers who like to suggest that their style is radically different but it really isn't. There are myriad different ways of walking but in the end it's all about putting one foot in front of the other.

It makes sense to me. If the fundamentals were totally different, then they wouldn't be different styles of a dance, they'd be different dances. Right?

technique comes with focused time. to us there are basic steps in each step group. so each group is taught with its basic first.
circles, weight change figure 8, another direction for the body, then your basic camel and arabic, shimmy.so you have pelvic rock front , back., "s" with body w/camel, side to side w/ weight change and 8's, circle with turkish and egyptian hip circles, a basic knee driven shimmy.
this is what our start up dvd covers, and what you get in our classes.this is fundamental to us.2 qweeks later zills are put with the basics.all students here learn zills with basics.

we are interested in what you ladies who teach, teach on the first lesson.what i wrote includes "arms" and simple floor moves that work on upper thigh strength.if they are good with steps in place, we get them moving.i can tell with a walking hip circle, if a student is going to find problems.

Actually this is true. That is why I like the Suhaila technique classes it is a universal technique that can be used in any style of dance. You learn muscle control, after that using the same principles you adapt that muscle control to fit the stylization of dance your performing.

Suhaila ! she has an old tape.it is just her, on a stage.she just does steps....it is great! i watch so many before i went into that end of things.just her, and basics.fantastic.

It makes sense to me. If the fundamentals were totally different, then they wouldn't be different styles of a dance, they'd be different dances. Right?
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wow, a canumdrum!
basic positions of the feet, once thought to be just "ballet", are used in all dance.same with spotting!
hmmmmmm

What everybody else said . . .

Deborah

back at ya!

Originally Posted by zamora

we are interested in what you ladies who teach, teach on the first lesson.what i wrote includes "arms" and simple floor moves that work on upper thigh strength.if they are good with steps in place, we get them moving.i can tell with a walking hip circle, if a student is going to find problems.

Posture, shoulder push/shimmy, hip rock, washing machine (a twist). That's it. The first lesson has quite a bit of talking/video watching though. Big hip circle (horizontal) comes in lesson 2. I think I'd been dancing four years before my BHC was really decent, but that's why we introduce it early - because there is SO much incredibly useful technique and body awareness involved in doing one.

Originally Posted by LeylaFahada

It makes sense to me. If the fundamentals were totally different, then they wouldn't be different styles of a dance, they'd be different dances. Right?

LOL - Well, that question has caused long and bloody threads here, and I don't want to start one of those.

thank you zunarrad...yes, very diff here.