I need to find inspiration again... - Originally posted 5 October 2006

(I put this pic of Tempest because I find it very inspiring! ;o))

Last night, just one person showed up for the new beginners session. It's all right... I will do something with the room... Like I thought that I might have a drop-in drill night on Wednesdays.

Anyway, I was doing some drills and that was okay. But then I did some improv and it felt like I was doing the same moves over and over again. And then I realized that the moves that I was doing were from the RenFaire numbers. I need to "flush my hard drive" (aka my brain). I need to find inspiration again. It will just be a matter of watching some belly dancing performances on DVD and on youtube and I'll be fine.

I did attempt some GBD and it turned out all right... it's just that, again, I was doing the same moves... only with a darker twist.

Oh and I was watching some Bhangra videos on youtube... I so like Bhangra! *sigh* Jeff says that it's the bubbly person in me who likes that. Whaddayaknow? I love shaking my shoulders and it seems that the moves come naturally for me. Jeff doesn't like Bhangra, though. Oh well!

Comments I had received

From Haifa:
Sometimes I feel like that too..... always doing the same moves. Did you happen to check out Tempest's new dvd Bellydance for Beautiful Freaks?! Its awesome! Puts a new twist on some of the common belly dance moves. I know the workshop and the dvd really got me out of my funk. (btw... I've found that the later it gets in the fall going towards winter, the less people come to class. Though it seems to pick up in Jan.)

From me:
After reading my blog...Jeff said the following: btw I don't dislike Bhangra it is just less my style of dance way too happy but it is still nice

From me:
Yes, I know how classes go and I'm not too worried about it. Because of the RenFaire, I didn't put as much effort into advertising them as I should have. Thankfully, there is going to be an open house where I teach belly dancing so I am hopeful that I will catch a few interested people there. ;o) As far as moves go, it comes in waves for me where I feel like all I'm doing is the same ol'... and then I get inspired again and it works again. I don't have Tempest's DVD yet... but her workshop indeed inspired me... hence why, when I tried a little bit of GBD, it felt better than the rest! Muhahahaha! I know, too, that I sometimes complicate things by searching too hard for a new move... lol

From Fajera:
Keeping the wind in your sails is tough. It's even tougher when you put yourself out there as a teacher, and it feels like noone is taking you up on the offer to share knowledge. Empty your head on the people who do come to class, this will make you feel good, knowing you are sharing everything. Make a list of the moves you do/know this will help you empty your head a bit more. To make room for new information. As far as GBD goes.. it's okay if the moves you are doing are the same. It's the manner in which you do them that counts, you are essentially changing the tone of the movement. Anyways, I hope that was enough of a gust to make you feel like you aren't adrift.

From me:
Big hugs! Thanks so much for your comment! Yes, it did help! I've been meaning to do that list for such a long time now! The thing is that I know so many variations of moves! But then I forget them all! *sigh* Last night, I was watching the clip of Kami Liddle and, boy, was it a lesson in simplicity! I mean, as I stated earlier, I think that I sometimes try too hard but just doing a very deliberate hip drop can be more awesome than a full series of a crazy move! Also, when I practice, I don't normally have a mirror with me (bad thing, I know. I'm working on that.. well, I will be working on that soon now that the RenFaire is over). So seeing myself in the mirror threw me off a little too. And I was all alone in this big room and I felt like a tiny ant. But I did follow Tempest's instructions and did do some travelling, so the room didn't feel that big.

From Fajera:
I'm glad it helped! Even I have to remember to travel about the room and not stay in one place. As well as apply the K.I.S.S. principal to dancing (keep it simple stupid) Simply because we all want so badly to show off those rockin shimmies, when something small will get more attention. Try Craig's List for mirrors, and you might find someone wanting to get rid of a shower door mirror, also, see if you're area has a free-cycle (like craigs list, but with less junk) It's never easy to rethink how you dance or to evaluate yourself, but once you learn how... it becomes the best tool you have! Thanks for letting me share with you! ((HUGS))