ISSN 1177-2808
MEDANZ News Middle Eastern Dance Association of New Zealand December 2010 / January 2011 Upon excitedly attending my first MEDANZ Festival back in 2001 my dance teacher suggested I focus on remembering two exceptional things from each workshop. Two exceptional things that I could bring to my dance.... and that anything else remembered would be a fabulous bonus (or words very loosely to that effect). I know this may sound like a costly way to learn our craft but it has helped me. It has taken the sweat and self-inflected stress out of attending workshops and allowed the pleasure of my movement, less concern about sloppy dance notes and trust of my dance growth through osmosis, body intelligence and my extra-ordinary mind. Ten years later on, and I still use this as my workshop guidance. Some workshops I surprise myself by retaining full choreography, many I have happily recalled two super-fabulous combinations, while others I’ve been simply reminded how to extend my arms beautifully. Each workshop I attend brings new dance information, exploration, and (fingers-crossed) dance intelligence. We all learn in different ways and an exceptional dance teacher will hit your heart, offer you many ways to explore your body and bring out your individual dance expression. The more dance stuff I think I know, SCREAMS and shouts how little I really know... This article is to offer you a few tips before you embark upon the glorious total immersion of belly dance that the MEDANZ Festival offers: 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10.
At least two weeks before Festival - eat well, sleep well and maintain a flexible strong body (if you aren’t already), Attend workshops with water, pens, paper, silent hip-scarves, strong legs and open hips, Choose workshops that challenge you, excite you and those you can’t obtain from your current dance community, Ensure you have rest-breaks between workshops to re-fuel and re3 President’ Report energise, 2 Inside Story If you are inclined to take notes – establish a dance short-hand. 4 Hudra at festival Take good notes or plan with a friend to take an hour of note-taking 5 Poem each. 6 Tribal Massive Know that you won’t retain everything. 7 Shimmies over Shakes Take video equipment – maybe your teacher will allow you to video 9 Workshop Review during class, if not video with a friend afterwards. 12 Lands of Contrast Paint your toes – I’m not joking. Looking at beautiful toes makes 14 Letter to Teachers 16 Whats On difficult moves more enjoyable. Use what you’ve learnt and excites you, in your next dance choreography. Continued on page 3...