dance every single day

Dance as a Daily Practice

Similar to yoga, the idea of dance as a daily practice can inspire graceful living. Dancing each day can reconnect us to simple ideas of beauty, reminding us to walk gently on this earth, breathe fully with each movement, hold our centers of strength and be a alive in every moment. Or, our daily dance practice can simply be an hour of each day where we practice good posture and connect with music we love.

Mastering an art form requires countless hours in the studio and belly dance is no different. However, belly dance is a holistic mode of expression and even on days when we aren’t in the studio we can practice good dance habits. Noticing how we initiate movements, where we hold tension, the expressions we make, the ways in which we carry ourselves… all of these observations build the body and self awareness that are essential for discovering and fine tuning our individual dance voices. Our dance practice can vary, but the commitment to dancing daily will help ground and nurture our art.

Rachel Kay Brookmire

It felt good. I felt prepared, and the cymbals rocked. I felt connected to the audience, and really felt the vibe.

Afterward, a woman whom I do not know came up to me and told me she had seen my very first performance (over a year ago) and that I had blossomed since then. She was so complementary, and it made me feel great. All my hard work is paying off, and I love doing it.

Tomorrow night is one of my teacher’s hafla (Arabic for party). I am dancing to Bir Demet Yasmen (A Bouquet of Jasmine), a Turkish song that is so bittersweet.

The version I am using is an edited-by-me version by Turku. It has lovely taqsim parts and also some drums, so I can get everything in stylistically. It is also a nice piece to accompany with finger cymbals because I enjoy playing a bolero rhythm, with muted and brassy sounds at different parts.

I have just finished getting my costume together and am going to practice some more now.

I have been dancing everyday, but I want to become more disciplined about it.

Right now, I do aerobics (for endurance and general fitness) followed by Suhaila Salimpour technique format once I am warmed up and flexible. I have seen the difference in my technique. I am improving.

I would like to be more disciplined about it in drilling: daily zill practice, for example, as well as non-practical practice, like reviewing rhythms. Also drill to the point of muscle memory and then try something new or difficult.

. . . so I really do have to dance every day to be ready for it!