Morocco

I had to laugh at myself the other day when Jessica and I where chatting about the blogs and I was like: I know I started this series so that I could work on my research skills and learn more about the very many cultures that form part of our very rich dance culture. I certainly didn't realise how much information is out there!

So things I knew about Morocco:

• Belly dance is called Chabbi and seen in the more cosmopolitan centres
• There is a strong Spanish influence, which created the Andalusia style
• The nomadic Tureg (Blue people are indigenous to the area)

Styles from the area that are often included under the belly dance genre:

• Andalusia - wide skirts, group work, turns, graceful moving formations
• Shikhat - dance that mimicks birth ritual, done mostly at weddings for fertility
• Tunisian - north African group dance, with very earthy hip moves and stomps
• Ouled nail - long skirts, very decorated costume from Algerian border

But then, these short descriptions hardly do those dances justice. (Quite possibly something for us to return to later)

Berber (Nomadic Tribe) Styles that I've learnt about over the years:

• Ahidous - singers and dancers form a large circle with the men and women standing alternately shoulder to shoulder. Sacred and secular influences are deeply linked in this ceremony. To the rhythm of tambourines, the men and women undulate and sing a joyful hymn.
• Guerda - women dancers kneel and are completely covered with a black veil. The steady rhythm like a beating heart brings out the hands that describe vivid and expressive motions. The head is revealed, with eyes closed, swaying like a pendulum. The rhythm is supplied by a "guedra" or cooking pot (an earthware drum covered with skin). The singing of the spectators changes to brief and guttural cries. The dancer gradually casts off her veils and finally collapses in a heap.  Purpose is seen as blessing.  

Things I've learnt:

• That it has a stronger Arab influence than Spanish or French
• That it has a very rich culture of music and dance
• That dance is part of even the most mundane activity

THE FANTASIA has been held in Meknes since 1977 and is a stunning and exciting event that has taken its rightful place among the more noteworthy examples of traditional folklore in Morocco, these demonstrations of popular customs for which Morocco is famous.

Lets unwrap this new knowledge a little further:

The Arabic invasion of Spain's Iberian Peninsula in the early 8th century, created prime conditions for our Andalusian style (Spanish, Berber, Arabic, and Jewish influenced).
The musical style is attributed to a composer named Ziryab, from the 9th Century. The music was traditionally for court or state occasions, when Spain drove out the Arabs in the 15th Century, the music was spread throughout Morocco.

The many influence's from nomadic tribes and from the Arab world has created a rich culture of varied dance styles. Music that carries expression from Politics to Social causes and even Religion. If you travel from the coastal towns, through the mountains and closer to the Sahara, the musical styles and rhythms change and undulate reflecting the tribal customs of the area.

So beside, the handful of dances I knew about. I learnt that every tribe, has their own special dance language. That this language celebrates even the most mundane of activities. While also providing a way for news and history to be shared, during festivals and at tribal gatherings.
The list of the various styles of tribal dances is 4 pages long (more things to add for later blogs)

To say that we have covered all the rich and diverse nature of dance in Morocco would be a huge injustice to the many cultures that are represented there. I hope, I've managed to cover those bits that have gotten included in our own dance art and shed a small amount of light on the rich culture of the area.

 http://www.casbahdance.org/
Look up Aunty Rocky, she is a noted "Oriental Dance Historian"
She has travelled in Morocco quite extensively and written many articles and even a book.

SHAKE THE BAY

 

 

Twice a year we do a show, to raise awareness or funds for a charity of our students choice.

 

This year we did a horse charity (World Belly Dance Day in May) and Sanitary Sisters, happening this December 2016.

 

Shows are relaxed (that's for the patron), fun and interactive. Husbands and boyfriends get conscripted to help out (doormen, ushers, salesmen, sound and lighting and general carry things around for us!)

 

As we draw closer to the show, class times become both difficult and fun. As teachers this is the hardest time for us, we have to make difficult decisions so that the show looks polished and well put together. Which means that overall commitment to class and how well you (the student) are coping with the choreography, comes to bear.

For the first time in (all my years as a teacher) we had to do just that.

In one of our classes the student came to us and said, "I just can't, I know I said I wanted too, but work has gotten insane. I'm very sad, but I won't have time"

Because it's not compulsory to perform in any of the shows, Jessica and I are really proud of this student also a little sad of course that she won't be dancing this time around!

In another of the classes, we had to be the baddy and tell students that they couldn't dance.

Jessica and I both feel, that it is unfair to the other students and that it puts unnecessary pressure on everyone concerned if we allow a student to dance who does not know the choreography well enough! 

 

As we prepare choreography early in the term, there is no last minute learning. We structure the classes that in the month leading to a show, we are just doing spit and polish and not learning new moves that go in or (we try) not to still be teaching a choreography.

 

This puts a whole lot less pressure on both us and our students. This also gives us plenty of time to decide what are we going to wear for each dance. In the more advance classes we try have open dialogue concerning outfits (unless the dance we are dancing already has it's own cultural outfit style as in the case of more folkloric dances).

 

Our Pinterest is full of outfit idea's and tips from the various bloggers we follow:

FOLLOW US:

https://za.pinterest.com/bellydancepe/

 

 

 

 

 

A WEIGHTY PROBLEM

Weight loss a dreaded two letter word, with Summer looming on our side of the world. It's foremost on many of our minds!

As I look back at our post's it seems to be a common topic of discussion. Not sure how I feel about that!

Our post from September,
"Who's that looking at me in the mirror"
http://bellydancemoms.blogspot.co.za/2016_09_01_archive.html

August, with thoughts turning to Spring and Summer, there were a few more:
"Moderation"
"Looking forward to Spring"
"Nurture"
http://bellydancemoms.blogspot.co.za/2016_08_01_archive.html

All this focus on weight loss and one would think that Jessica and I have it "down pat"
Um, not so much heh.

Choosing a healthy life-style is hard work and commitment, between kids, day jobs, hubby and running a dance studio, me time to be able to prepare your mind for the challenge of making healthy choice's just doesn't always happen.

Each of us are wired differently, I find climbing on a scale regularly, helps keep me motivated. Working out with a friend, works for others, working towards a goal is also helpful for some.
We need to find that little thing that will help keep us on track, so that we stick to it.

Now of course the next question is how do you find your happy weight. Many years ago, I subscribed to the "Shape Magazine" there was an article about your ideal weight that struck a cord.
It was all about finding a healthy medium, not "goal weight" but a weight you can comfortably maintain, without giving up every single creature comfort.

I have stuck it on the wall of the studio, to remind me that my goal, should not be "thin / skinny", but it should be comfortable.
So I ended up working out an eating plan that allowed me to enjoy my chocolate and my liquorice, without breaking the bank on "fad diets", "starvation plans", and all the other crazy extremes out there. Am I at my goal weight, sadly not yet! The journey is on going, every day see's us needing to choose between easy and healthy.
I started working a few months back and easy was my only "sane" choice, right now I'm working on finding that balance again to be able to make the healthy choice, without loosing my sanity or dropping any one of a dozen balls, us moms are juggling at any given time.

Quite honestly, I would much rather be playing with my two year old or dancing than making supper choice's.
Today is an example of it's going to have to be easy, I'm not feeling 100% (I'm getting over a viral infection). There is a pile of sewing that needs to happen for our end of year showcase, my amazing hubby, let me sleep in this morning. (Sadly that doesn't mind that he did any of the lunches or morning chores), so I didn't think of supper. This afternoon see's me popping into the shops for a few odds and ends (bread, milk kind of things), which means that I'll also buy something quick and easy to pop into the oven for supper.

 

Ladies night

As a studio, we like to get together and mingle.

We don't have a set day or event we do, just randomly throughout the year, we will congregate.

Sometimes with our other half's, sometimes without.

Last time we had a pot luck supper and hubbies and kids all come together and we shared a meal.
It's always a great deal of fun seeing everyone outside of a class situation. Plus its nice to include and meet the family of our dancers and let the husbands chat and compare notes, size up the ladies their wife's are making friends with and feel included in our little community.

We also find it makes the senior dancers feel and look less intimidating.

This time around, we are doing a girls only movie and games night, with a bring and share pasta. We have found a copy of Hocus Pocus and are still hunting out First Wives Club (Bette Midler)...

Scrupples is on the list of games we plan to play, for those who don't know how it works. It's a bunch  of scenario's and your team mates must guess how you would react in the situation. It makes for much laughing and loads of fun.

So I've been super bad at keeping this blog updated....

That research I did on Morocco is still waiting for final proof and I have not even started looking at Algeria and Tunisia.

I would love to be able to say, I have been super busy with preparations for Purple Belly Bus (which happened this past weekend) and Theatrical Oriental Dance Festival (which happened two weeks ago). Mostly I've just been super lazy (that is when I'm not working in the studio) to do any form of admin, or writing.

I am having withdrawal symptoms, I loved dancing 6 to 8hours a day. It was gruelling and fun and it stretched my dance ability and shaped it. I'm so excited to see where all this new "stuff" is going to take me.

I sort of feel like Dorothy, starting off in my red shoes on the yellow brick road...
Only it's not a wizard I'm looking forward to but my own potential, my own growth.

Yes, I've probably said it a thousand times, but it's the one aspect of the dance that I love so much. There is always something more to learn, the dance form itself is always growing changing and adapting.

Photo is by Jessica Perelson, we were taking a break between sessions and I went off to reflect and eat and find some quiet sunshine...

Who is that looking at me in the mirror

Oh dear, so I had started a blog about how we see ourselves and it got a little high-jacked by another topic. I've saved it, but seeing as it's not what I had set out to write about, I'll try again.

Jessica has been doing a series about body image and this morning I found myself, wondering who is that lady in the mirror! Some days she looks frumpy and some days she looks fat, but today she looked "slim enough"!

It got me thinking about how we see ourselves and how our moods play such an important role in what we see.

We have been in beginners class and seen the terror in faces when they are confronted by the full length studio mirrors (a very important rule - you may look at yourself and at the teacher, but not at anyone else - no comparing yourself to anyone else). The rule helps somewhat, and when we start laughing and dancing and getting to know each other over the 10week program, in most cases that terror abates. I have had students, prefer the only spot in the room without any mirror. (It's in front of the inter-leading door to my house) even if they get there early and can choose a spot, they still go in front of that door.

As women, we are constantly bombarded with images of what we should look like, an image that is unattainable for most of us! It takes hard work and commitment to love ourselves as we are. We find that being belly dancers helps a little. I say a little because sometimes those wounds run so deep, that your journey to self acceptance is long.

Moderation

So Jessica has been doing a series on Body Image on her blog:
belly.life

And my health and fitness studio is starting it's next weight-loss challenge:
facebook.com/Melashealthandfitness

So of course, how we look and how we perceive ourselves has been on my mind a lot lately.
I'm currently reading Look Good, Feel Great by Joyce Meyer.
To all the shocked faces - yes I'm a Christian and yes I Belly dance!!!

That's a whole other blog, for dealing with why I feel there is no religious contradiction. (I'm going to have to start a list @ some point)

My stand as a health and fitness instructor is moderation, and making little changes to your everyday routine. Being healthy and fit is a lifestyle choice, fad diets and crazy workout regimes, get you quick, "unkeepable" results. Breaking bad habits and replacing them with new better one's takes time and commitment and trying to fix 3 or 4 at once is a recipe for failure.

I know there is some of you going, but I did it all at once - Awesome, but most of us fall in the trap of tomorrow, or just this once or time, kids, husbands, work, stress (come on you can think of a few more excuses I'm sure) For those of us with "mental blocks" on our will power, slower is better, slower is easier and easier makes it doable, when you are juggling, work, husbands, kids and trying to fit in me time and a social life!

In our family a popular eat out is "two for one burger special"
White bread, deep fried onion rings and chips (all so not great for a healthy eating plan)
My tip (it's what I do whenever we do go):
Hubby and I order the rib burger (it's a double patty) and replace my onion rings and chips with the veg of the evening.
I donate me bun to hubby and have yummy flame grilled delicious ribs with pumpkin and creamed spinach (I generally struggle to finish the portions).

Small changes, make a big difference!

I had a discussion just this morning about the coffee, fizzy drinks and how much water is enough debate.
I simply cannot get through a day without coffee, I also cannot have it after 3pm, unless I'm planning on staying up very late. I have about 3 (ok maybe 4) cups, between 6am and 2pm. Not ideal, but right now it's very last on my list of things to address....

Besides, the small changes in our eating habits. Carving out time to be active can be hard, there is always dishes to do, clothes to mend, washing, work projects!
Finding that thing that goes, "that's for me" takes time in itself. But once you have found it, finding the time for it becomes easy!

Obviously mine is dance - I love how I feel, when I'm moving around to music!
I've tried, running, walking, gardening, gym, yoga, Pilates and I eventually found an excuse for each of these activities. I have nothing against them, and I love to walk and do yoga, but not enough to get me out to do the activity on a regular enough basis!

Another option, is to grab a friend and try things together. But keep in mind, that you might mind find your thing before they find theirs...