[setanta]

I am an aerobics trainer and had to learn at a 2 year course at the Medical University Sports Faculty in Hungary , where I live, to be able to teach, and then took up jazz ballet. and in jazz the pelvis is always straigth up which means yeah, it is tucked in. However harmful they say it is - in jazz it works and everyone has a good posture, no crunch, no back-aches...so what I learn at jazz classes I try to apply at my bellydance classes. Some students can stand and work with heels togehter feet apart (like ballet positions of the feet but a bit more loose) , some have to use parallel legs. Some can do things with bent knees, some prefer soft straight knees. What I do is try to avoid exaggerating anything, I try to do everything safely and ask for feedback if something feels bad. I first teach mayas heel down and when breakdown is OK and they start to dance with it we go up heels.
It would be wonderful to go to Hadia's course, but, for me it is a bit far...very much far:) Although I have been teaching various tnings from pilates to dance for 8 or 9 years now, I myself face backache and very rarely knee.ache.... So it was very good to read what you all wrote, thank you. I will listen to my body much more, to find out what feels good and keep on asking for feedback from my students. BUt all I know is without the jazz ballet training I would not call myself a dancer. ( unfortunately I took it up 2 years ago. little time... I wish I had had the possibility earlier but I didn't) Jazz for bellydance is necessary, crucial, important, significant, and so on:)
Dance art changes, what was said to be correct in the past might be incorrect now - I hope I will learn as long as I teach to avoid causing damages to anyone.