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The last two workshops of the weekend showed Hilde’s background in many dancestyles, combined with her theoretical and mathematical insights. These workshops really blew me away, they were so good!

First we had dance geometry. When I registered for this one, I was not sure if I was gonna like it, not very mathematical myself. Hilde taught us how to work with the general space and our own kinesphere. The axes we use in dance, the planes we use, different dimensions in movements, different shapes. How to use spatial projection and tension, how to play with soft and sharp moves. She taught us a little choreography and we applied the theory to our movements. What a great subject for a workshop!

In the second workshop, dance expression, Hilde taught us the 5 dynamics of movement: swing, rebound, impact, impulse and continuous. We tried these dynamics on different movements. It immediately changed the energy of our dance. After that came the most difficult part for a bellydancer: dancing to arythmic music. This is very unusual for bellydancers, we are used to being told what movement to do by the music. It was really liberating, just letting go, feel the dynamics, feel the flow, feel your body, use your breath. Then, like in modern dance, we danced without music, to the rhythm of our breath. Beautiful, just beautiful!

I’m so happy, this weekend rocked, had a great time with Hilde and learned so much. Lots of food for thought and movement! I leave you with this modern dance video of Hilde’s dance company, Masmoudi.

Today we had our first workshop with Hilde in Leuven. We were taught a choreography on a song by Goran Bregovic. During the warm up we did some ATS moves combined with arm, shoulder and neck stretches. The choreography was really great, drawing on Hilde’s experience with various dance styles. It contained moves and combos from contemporary dance, ballet, flamenco, Indian dance, tribal fusion bellydance, cabaret bellydance and many others.

Although the workshop was very up tempo and challenging, I really learned a lot of moves I’ll be using in the future. Looking forward to the two workshops tomorrow: dance geometry & dance expression!

Hilde and I go back a long way. I think we first met in café De Giraf on the old market in Leuven, at the end of the 1990′s. We both used to hang out there during our college days. Hilde was already a very talented streetdancer then.

We met again when we both started taking Sarah Chebaro‘s bellydance classes in 2000. Hilde already had a background in bellydance, I had just started. We had a really great time together. One summer we even did a children’s camp together, me teaching the girls bellydance, she taught streetdance.

Hilde is one of the most motivated people I know. The way she has taken her dance to a next level is just amazing. She is so energetic, so full of life, being around her is just exciting. And you gotta love her smile! She’s a very good teacher, very organized and helpful, but also sometimes a drill sergeant (which is good!). Don’t miss this unique opportunity to study with her!

Saturday 17th December 2011:

12pm – 3pm Gypsy Reggae: Tribal Fusion Choreography

This Saturday, we will be focusing on one of Hilde’s new and original choreographies to a song by Goran Bregovic. At the end of the workshop you will have new movement material that you can use for practise or your own choreography, a choreography that you can use for performance and a ton of tips for making your own choreography.

Sunday 18th December 2011:

11am – 1pm Belly Dance Geometry

Hilde’s background in Mathematics plays a major part in her approach towards teaching dance. Curves, lines and shapes are constantly around us and visualising these shapes will work towards aesthetically more interesting body designs (poses) and movement patterns in space.

2pm – 4pm Dance expresssion

Teachers often say to their students: ‘you have to feeeeel it!! Express your dance from within!!’ but how do you do that? Hilde will give you some pointers in how you can use the breath, use natural rhythm, how you can use quality of movement and how you can transform this into relation with the music and with your audience. Using elements of choreology (movement analysis) based on Rudolph Laban’s work we will demystify how you can bring more expression to your dance.

For bookings and more info, please visit http://www.emotionvzw.be/main/?action=courses_list&category_id=2

I had a very small dancing space, jammed between a wall and a closet, hence the low variety in movement. But it’s a fun way to surprise someone!

Thanks again Nele, for being who you are!

I do a workout every morning, and once in a while I do a workout during the day or evening. My morning programme usually consists of:

- waking up (haha), get myself a glass of water

- yoga session of 20-30 min

- bellydance technique drill session of 20 min

- yoga cooldown

So, here’s my list of favourite DVD’s, in no particular order.

Yoga

Yoga Shakti by Shiva Rea

Yoga, Mind & Body by Ali Macgraw

Bellydance & Yoga conditioning by Ariellah

Bellydance technique

Bellydance & Yoga Conditioning by Ariellah

Bellydance Fitness Fusion Buns by Suhaila

Tribal Fusion Bellydance by Rachel Brice

Serpentine Bellydance by Rachel Brice

Tribal Basics vol. 7, creative steps & combinations by FatChanceBellydance

Dark Imaginations by Anaar

Hoop

Hoopdance by Hoopnotica

Great stuff can be learned from these DVD’s: balance, insight in your body, great technique, crisp movements and the joy of dancing.

The combination of both this and my hip injury has made me neglect bellydance. I consequently do my yoga workout everyday, but somehow bellydance slips my mind everytime. I did teach a workshop for some 9-year old kids, some weeks ago. It was lots of fun. They were having a girls night sleepover. They loved putting on makeup, dressing up and just dance, laugh and have fun. I also taught them the Fatchance bellydance prayer and they absolutely loved it! They kept on doing it again and again, completely fascinated by the movements and the meaning behind every movement.They just ‘felt it’, you know, all of it. Kids can be so pure in their feelings and emotions, they don’t ask questions, they just are in the moment, right there.

Here’s an extended version of the FCBD prayer:

But luckily one thing never changes: dance! My hip still bothers me, so I’m still not able to dance a lot, but I do enjoy my weekly dance sessions with Ishani. Last week we learned the waterpot move from Fat Chance Belly Dance. Sooooo much fun to dance with a partner! Twirling around, smiling, having fun! Aaaah, love that tribe feeling! ATS is so uplifting!

Just found a lovely new video from FCBD, to get you through the day, enjoy!

And now I have to be patient. Really patient. Not my forte I must admit… But if your body tells you to take time to heal, you must listen to it. No matter what. I’m gonna need my body (and my bellydancing hips) for a lot more years to come. So I must listen.

I do try to attend my ATS classes, but as soon as I feel anything painful, I stand aside and rest or do some yoga. It’s difficult, seeing the other dancers create and dance together and not being able to join in fully. But it’s my time to heal now. And to cherish my body for the things it does for me. So I take time. And I heal.