Terpsichorian Musings by Al-hambra

  This article was originally published via Facebook Notes on July 10, 2017. Upon the demise of Facebook Notes, the article was archived and is being republished here, with pronoun usage (s/he and him/her) updated. The elements in the article are based on my direct experience from having spent years in a student dance troupe run by a prominent dance company.     Dancers from the Nefer Tem, Red Lotus, and Blue Diamonds belly dance troupes. Healthy Student Troupes My students approached me a while ago and asked if I would direct them as a student troupe. I shared with them how moved I was that they should ask me for this, but I declined, citing job and family life. I could see their disappointment; however, I stand by my decision because I know a lot about being in a student troupe. I do not want to commit to such a task until I’m able to structure my life and my time to help my students grow and be successful. Any dance teacher considering setting up a student troupe should refl

  This article was originally published to the Al-hambra Dance Company Facebook page as a Note. Since the demise of Facebook Notes, it has been archived and published here. The approximate date would be between 2015 and 2017. Since its publication, it has been altered to reflect the change from ATS® to FCBD®-Style dance.   The Multi-level Dance Classroom by Leigh Anne of Al-hambra Tribal Dance I am a veteran of FCBD®-style dance who teaches a dance class at a local Parks & Recreation site. The reality of my P&R Belly Dance class is that I am fortunate to have a coterie of wonderful, joyful, dedicated dancers who come to class because they just love it. In addition, I get some total beginners who try it out on a lark because that’s what P&R is for. The staggering gap between the two groups puts me in the situation of teaching a multi-level class. Fortunately, I’ve had some amazing instructors over the years who have taught me some tips that I have learned to employ t

This article first appeared as a post to the Al-hambra Dance Company Facebook page as a Note; approximate date would be between 2019 and 2020. Since the demise of Facebook Notes, it has since been archived and published here for posterity. Heavy Hips: North African and Egyptian Influence in FCBD® Style (ATS®) Dance If I had to pick one step that I love the most from FCBD® Style, hands-down, it’s the Ghawazee*. Amiright? ( *Important cultural update:  At the time of this original writing, Ghawazee was used in common parlance by Western dancers to describe this dance. Khyriyya Mazin, originator of the dance and member of a racialized ethnic group, has described the term as an ethnic slur against her people. Therefore, the dance and its corresponding FCBD® Style step are now referred to as Mazin dance.  The article is preserved here in its original written form for posterity; please make adjustments to all references to Ghawazee as Mazin-style dance. - author) FCBD® Style (ATS®) belly

  This post was originally published on the Al-hambra Dance Company page via Facebook Notes in 2020. Due to the demise of the Facebook Notes function, it is re-published here. Since the posting of this article,  ATS® dance has been renamed FCBD ® Style dance and the word "tribal" has been phased out of the dance. This particular post highlights a behavior prevalent in the FCBD ® Style dance world that values control and purity of the dance. The behavior causes members to be quick to judge, exclude and excoriate anyone who violates norms, thus creating a community dependent upon judgment and fearful of individual expression or critical observation. Of "Right" and "Wrong:" the headgames of dance Recently, discussion over “right” and “wrong” posture in ATS® just spun out into hot debate. Much has already been said about it, but I am taking this opportunity to state my own perspective as an ATS® teacher who certainly likes and upholds standards, but quite fr