|
 Dancing
today is different than it
was twenty years ago, and
with today's modern
conveniences, women are
finding dance classes are
just a click away. As a
dance teacher, I found that
I wanted belly dance to be
available to all women who
might not otherwise be able
to learn because of
location, economy or family.
Thus began my journey with
online belly dance classes -
a journey that included my
husband. Both my husband,
Daniel, and I wanted to make
a difference in the belly
dance world. Daniel is the
definition of the "belly
dance husband" who has
survived the world of belly
dance and the dramas that go
along with it. Since he has
been around belly dance for
a long while, he wanted to
be a part of creating
solutions for problems
dancers are facing today.
In today's world of online
belly dance classes, they
aren't so much a craze as
they are a necessity to the
changes that women are
finding themselves in. Older
women are looking for a
pleasurable and healthier
way to stay fit, while the
working moms want alone time
to enjoy doing something for
themselves. The devoted
student and professional
dancer want more information
outside the studio to add to
their repertoire of moves,
style and education. As time
went on, it became apparent
to us that online classes
were necessary for a
multitude of reasons. It's a
sign of the times for the
modern belly dancer.
When I started to teach in
front of the camera, one
thing became clear - and
that was that the
instructional aspect of the
belly dance class had to
change. Belly dance can not
be taught in a regular class
format online because
movement can't always be
seen by the camera's eye the
way the student needs to see
it. My first videos that I
did online years ago are a
testament to the fact that I
wasn't thinking outside the
box. The class format had
to change because
students are looking at
feet,
hips, arms, and chest all at
once. All the areas had to
be addressed as
if the student was
right there in
the same room with me.
Classes that
don't connect to each other
and are a mish mash of what
a teacher feels like
teaching can become
conflicting. There has to be
a structured curriculum from
one class to the next that
is an extension from the
prior
class, especially if
are
doing weekly classes.
I have received emails from
dancers
who explained to me
that information in class
is
key for them, not just a few
tips here and there.Students
have to learn how to
incorporate movement into
their dance and eventually
the teacher has to step
aside. In the end, the focus
has to be on the student
getting the information and
being able to implement it
into her dance. I have also
received emails from women
indicating that some of the
problems they are having
with online classes is
curriculum that makes no
sense to them. As luck would
have it, I get feedback from
women all over"the world
and, because of this, I have
created a curriculum that I
feel students can
understand. And believe me,
if students don't understand
my classes, I get emails
from them asking me
questions and this keeps me
on my toes.
This means that as a teacher
I must have a dedication to
each student that includes
answering questions, even if
it's the same question over
and over again. It boils
down to personal attention
based on really wanting to
help students get ahead and
feel good about their
dancing. Most women
eventually figure out who
they want to study with, so
it's not so much me pushing
my brand or style of belly
dance on them. Hip
Phylosophy is based on women
writing me, suggesting or
commenting on what they feel
is lacking in their dance or
studio curriculum. So it
really is a community-based
curriculum that women can
feel good about - because I
listen and implement their
needs into my online
classes.
I also feel that online
classes have to be pretty
straighttforward with no
gimmicks involved. I know I
can't be everywhere at once
and that is why I am doing
online classes. Students
have to know that I am here
for their sake and not mine.
This is one important value
I feel that is missing in
today's dance world, and
this is another reason why I
started online classes. I
remember my cowboy days
practicing in the horse
pasture or around our
teepee. There was no one
guiding me and it seemed
like it took me a lot longer
to get my moves down. I was
practicing
from
a disadvantage that happened
to be my life style at the
time. Add in two left feet
and you can only imagine how
I looked. Fortunately, my
passion kept me dancing and
I started to feel like a
belly dancer and eventually
look like a belly dancer.
One important aspect of
online classes is the fact
that no dancer has to feel
alone. Sometimes dancing can
be stressful and daunting,
to say the least.
We all want to be
accepted, but sometimes a
mishap or bad
experience will keep
a dancer at home or away
from dance friends. I have
received emails from women
who feel their home is not
only their safety net but
also their sanctity of mind,
which is understandable with
today's trials and
tribulations. My online
classes are a link to a
dance form women love. Women
can practice any time of the
day or night and the best
part of all is that they
don't have to feel like they
are missing out on their
dance time.
It has also occurred to me
that most dance instructors
don't just teach moves -
they teach their own way of
understanding this dance
form. There isn't a magic
pill to belly dance where we
can just take it and
automatically become
superstars in belly dance.
Isadora Duncan spoke about
three aspects of different
types of dancers and I think
everyone can relate to her
way of thinking:
"There are likewise three
kinds of dancers: first,
those who consider dancing
as a sort of gymnastic
drill, made up of impersonal
and graceful arabesques;
second, those who, by
concentrating their minds,
lead the body into the
rhythm of a desired emotion,
expressing a remembered
feeling or experience. And
finally, there are those who
convert the body into a
luminous fluidity,
surrendering it to the
inspiration of the soul. "
Women will find the right
teacher for them and whether
they learn in a studio,
online or privately, women
always seem to know what
fits them best. The one
thing I have always loved
about this dance form is the
fact that I have had the
freedom to learn it my way.
Women need to know that
their style and creativity
will blossom no matter who
they take classes from. This
type of comfort comes from
choosing dance classes
either online or in a studio
that will help them not only
feel like they are
progressing in their dance
but see it for themselves.
The bottom line is not only
how a man or woman feels
about their dance, but how
they feel about themselves.
Ann Halprin made a comment
that really resonates with
me and made me realize it's
natural for all dancers to
be discouraged so they can
finally get to a spiritual
place of reawakened hope.
She said, ''I'm very excited
about dance and love it with
a deep passion. I also
struggle, tire and become
discouraged. But what has
always revived me ... has
been the rebirth of energy
each time the creative
process is awakened and
artistic activity begins to
unfold even in some
infinitesimal measure. "
The modern dancer has so
much going on today, that
not only are options the
norm, but they are an
integral part of everyday
lives and schedules. And it
is a pleasure for my
husband, Daniel, and me to
be right in the forefront of
belly dancers' needs. As I
remember my days of
practicing in the pasture, I
realize that I have come a
long way and I am reminded
that passion is not only an
objective in this dance, but
a necessity; it makes the
journey in this dance that
much sweeter and more
rewarding.
Download Original Article as
it appeared in the Belly
Dance Chronicles in PDF
format
Leyla Najma is a
choreographer, instructor
and producer of Hip
Phylosophy online
instructional belly dance
videos. Leyla resides in
Albuquerque, NM, and can be
reached at: Leyla@leyla-najma.com.
Michael L. Miller,
photographer/independent
filmmaker
with lNine Point
Productions: mlmiller@9point.com.
Mr. Millers email address
was incorrect in the last
issue of The Chronicles.
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