Thread: Little things that make your dancing unique

A lot of us like to identify or classify others within styles.

"Me? Oh I do Classic Egyptian."

"She does Tribal Fusion."

"My instructor does a mix of American Cabaret and ATS."

Even if you classify yourself or others, there is always something special about the person that makes their dance uniquely them. It can be as small as a special way they flick their hand to as big as their own signature move or combination.

I have been told by several dancers that I present a form of athleticism to my dancing, while managing to keep it graceful. Upon hearing that I started really paying attention to myself when I practice and noticed that! Lots of traveling, dramatic up and down, high kicks and sweeping motions (I try to limit the kicks as I know it isn't preferred THAT much in MED, but sometimes I just got to explode with a big circle skirt on!!). Perhaps it's based on my general love of movement, cardio, and acrobatic training, but also my unnaturally energetic personality (go me!).

Alongside that I noticed something small that sort of went hand-in-hand with athleticism. I appear to be "lifted" most of the time in my dancing. Being "lifted" lends itself to the athleticism but it made me self conscious about when I did Egyptian pieces. And so with that knowledge I armed myself with the concentrated effort of really grounding myself for said Egyptian pieces, which I figured really helped me to work to become a better dancer in the long run. It is a characteristic that has it's place in being both good and bad, but either way it is unique.

I like to think that my uniqueness in my dancing stems from my personality. What about you? What are some things (actions or expressions or just states of being) that you do or are, that offer a form of uniqueness to your dancing? Based on your own recognition or that of others? :)

What a great topic. As a dancer develops, it is indeed those "little things" that create a personal style. I'm in that process of determining what my personal style is. For me, looking back over the last 5 years of my dancing, I am seeing those little things that I now want to cultivate and work on to define who I am as a dancer.

My favorite compliment that I get regularly is that I am an engaging and enthusiastic dancer (haha! usually that is not always taken as a compliment...enthusiastic) and that I am fun to watch. I like that. I love the music, it comes through in my dancing. Therefore, I tend toward Turkish style. I like the energy of Turkish, lots of kicks and spins and hopping.

On the flip side- I respond to Arabic music just as much-to the juicy side of standing still and focusing on a move and a muscle. Therefore, I try to cultivate that as well. Sometimes I feel a bit split personality, trying to define what it Turkish and what is Egyptian. But I love both and will continue to develop both styles to my own satisfaction-and to my own dance style.

When people describe me they often use the words "elegant," or "graceful." Funny, because I am such a clumsy person and still see a lot of clumsiness in my dancing. But those are some things I work towards.

There is a level of introversion in my dancing that definitely comes from my personality. I like to really work it when the piece calls for it, but when I'm presenting something happy and joyful, when I want to entertain, then I try to stray away from that.

Graceful, lyrical, strong, focused, emotional. That's what others say about me. I tend to think that comes from my ballet background. I danced the roles of a lot of dying swans. . .

{{{HUGS}}}

I generally get strong, high-energy, and emotive.


And...my belly. My belly gets a lot of complements here...with language issues making the comments more creative. Included in the tummy-remarks: "Your stomache is like mother earth","I love your belly, I just want to take a nap on it." and "Your stomach has facial expressions."

I don't get much any more now that I seldom dance, but curiously I used to get "elegant". People would talk about my moves a lot, which is odd because I don't really do many, and I got a lot of "stage presence" remarks.

Oh and actually - something I don't usually share but that I am going to because I don't "meet criteria" for what this usually entails - I get "sexy" a lot. From other dancers. Approvingly.

People say "intense with great hands" - weird, hands were my weak point when I started - and that I have "good musicality" ("great technique" doesn't figure). My style is a relaxed beledi - but I do have a mobile face - and show my enjoyment of the dance.

I get "earthy"... and once, "evocative"... whatever that meant.

Ozma that's hilarious!!

Based on the comments you've received, do you agree with them? Like Zum, you said you've been called "sexy", though you don't feel you meet the criteria...looking back at videos of yourself or how you felt you danced in certain numbers, do you feel you really did emit that? Or Vanillacherry, do you feel you've been (LOL) evocative in your dancing?

Like Zum, you said you've been called "sexy", though you don't feel you meet the criteria...looking back at videos of yourself or how you felt you danced in certain numbers, do you feel you really did emit that?

I seldom view video of myself any more, and never liked doing it even when the opportunity was there, AND I think ephemeral qualities like that are a) often lost on video and b) not something you readily recognise in yourself anyway.

But I added it because I've noticed that "sexy" gets equated a lot by dancers in Bhuz discussions with young hardbodies - the idea that if people only want young hardbodies they only want sexy, or they only want sexy so they insist on young hardbodies - and I have never been a young hardbody dancer. Sexy doesn't seem to be anything one does, it just *is*.

Originally Posted by eden_eyes

Ozma that's hilarious!!

Based on the comments you've received, do you agree with them? Like Zum, you said you've been called "sexy", though you don't feel you meet the criteria...looking back at videos of yourself or how you felt you danced in certain numbers, do you feel you really did emit that? Or Vanillacherry, do you feel you've been (LOL) evocative in your dancing?

Somewhat. I do enjoy stomach fun, that's true. While I would also agree with strong/emotive/high energy I think some of it is also reflects some Japanese cultural expectations of my specific foreign nature.

Some of what is said about me I might also miss in translation. In a Japan Bellydance blurb under my picture from the Karim Nagi show:

母性と強さを感じさせるターキッシュロマから一転、ユーモアもたっぷりにkarimが次から次へ繰り出すア ラブリズムにのせ、しなやかなドラムソロで魅せるOzma.

Which I take to mean something akin to:

From a maternal (?!) and strong emotional Turkish Roma performance she completly changed into a performer with ample humor. Karim unleashed one Arab rhythm after another as Ozma did a bewitching drumsolo.

Maternal. That one is new.

Originally Posted by eden_eyes

Ozma that's hilarious!!

Based on the comments you've received, do you agree with them? Like Zum, you said you've been called "sexy", though you don't feel you meet the criteria...looking back at videos of yourself or how you felt you danced in certain numbers, do you feel you really did emit that? Or Vanillacherry, do you feel you've been (LOL) evocative in your dancing?

I'd like to think I'm "earthy" in my interpretations... Unless a piece calls for otherwise.

"Evocative"... That was a tricky one... I think we all hope to "evoke" the spirit of what we're dancing to, but since I was fairly certain the person in question was misusing the word... I have NO idea!

Evocative of.... a thing.

I think people who don't know the word well are probably going to use "evocative" to mean something good. It has a sort of mournful, crystalline sound that reminds me of caverns and high gothic ceilings. /weird language brain.

I've been told that I look very "natural" and that I remind people of dancers they have seen in the Middle East (which is strange because my style is not particularly Egyptian or Turkish). I think maybe it's that I've been doing this for so long that I'm very comfortable with it.

People who have seen me dance before say I'm emotive, graceful, and passionate. Which those are 3 things I do try to convey. Each time I perform gigs at a restaurant or event, everyone is in disbelief that I'm from the USA and coin me as an "authentic" dancer. Hearing a Middle Eastern or Turkish person call me an authentic dancer is my favorite compliment. It means all this work I've put into my performances is coming through and I'm acurately representing what I want to portray.

I, on the other hand, tend to find that my signature style involves ALOT of turns. I also have a weird habit of being overly exaggerative with my left hand. What are your favorite compliments?

I've really enjoyed all the responses so far, though I think Ozma's wins by far!

I've been called "magnetic" and "mesmerizing." But I think a small part of that I don't actually have any control over. I'm interesting to look at - I have a very angular face and big dramatic eyes.

But I do intentionally use my eyes and face a LOT. With an Indian dance background, my face does more than just smile. I respond to the music (and sometimes sing along). Maybe it's a bit Dina-esque, maybe not everyone's taste, but that's how the music comes out of me.
Also even though I'm petite, I have a lot of stage presence - in the way I carry myself, the lift of my arms, the articulation of my hands. I have become comfortable and confident on stage, and people pick up on that.

I've also been told that I "flow," that each movement flows naturally into the next. I think this has to do with my developing musicality, especially as I become more comfortable with Arab music (but it applies to my alternative choreographies too).

I've been told my dancing is 'cheeky' and 'saucy'.

I'm not very good at the 'emotive' and moving sort of performance, so instead i go for light, sweet and slightly naughty. Lots of interaction with audience members, the (not so) occasional cheesy move, and a bit of a vintage feel to my cabaret stuff.

My troupe, Women of Mass Distraction, dance in a similar vein, and our introduction on-stage almost invariably includes phrases like 'lock up your husbands', 'loosen your collars' etc. We don't do anything particularly improper onstage, but compères seem to love to play up the 'wild and dangerous rock chicks' idea.

Originally Posted by LilithNoor

I've been told my dancing is 'cheeky' and 'saucy'.

I'm not very good at the 'emotive' and moving sort of performance, so instead i go for light, sweet and slightly naughty. Lots of interaction with audience members, the (not so) occasional cheesy move, and a bit of a vintage feel to my cabaret stuff.

My troupe, Women of Mass Distraction, dance in a similar vein, and our introduction on-stage almost invariably includes phrases like 'lock up your husbands', 'loosen your collars' etc. We don't do anything particularly improper onstage, but compères seem to love to play up the 'wild and dangerous rock chicks' idea.

That wild dangerous rock chicks thing...it's a rush! It's like screaming "we are about to have a lot of fun!"

I ...smile?

I'm usually too afraid to watch my videos (I buy them though!), and if I dance by myself I'm usually making it up as I go along.

But I must be doing something right, people keep telling me they like my performances

Seriously, I'm usually just smiling the biggest smile I can hold. I try to use music that works with smiling...if I ever have to do a "serious" piece, I'm not sure I could (well, I could, but I'm not sure I could sell it as well, dance-wise).

I'm not sure what makes my dancing unique, I'd love to get feedback on that! I do know I love traveling around the stage maybe a little too much! I would NOT call myself athletic tho

I've noticed that often, transitions are where people "add" their unique touches (like head tosses, hair flips, hand cirlces, little kicks etc.). It can be fun to watch for in a performance -

Originally Posted by ozma

I generally get strong, high-energy, and emotive.


And...my belly. My belly gets a lot of complements here...with language issues making the comments more creative. Included in the tummy-remarks: "Your stomache is like mother earth","I love your belly, I just want to take a nap on it." and "Your stomach has facial expressions."

CACKLE!!!!!

Nail sideways bellyrolls and you'll rule the world!

Originally Posted by Doozer

CACKLE!!!!!

Nail sideways bellyrolls and you'll rule the world!

I am working at it. No joke!