Belly Dance Conversations - Episode 3 | Creating Choreography

You - yes YOU - can create your own unique and dynamic choreography!
Creating your own choreography is a daunting task.
But it is so empowering
.
Today we tackle some of the reasons YOU have for not attempting or completing your own personal choreography project and arm you with a few simple ideas that will greatly build your choreographic confidence.
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A huge thank you to Rom Ryan and Moodafaruka for allowing me to use their music. Moodafaruka.com

[@keegsmum]

Thanks for this video. I have been dancing for 14 years and writing my own choreo for about 5 of these years. The approach I use was discovered in bits and pieces, some of it by trial and error, and it largely mirrors your process. So YES! This process works. That being said, I would have to remind people that this process takes time, but it does produce an excellent "product"/outcome. So many people want to skip over the mapping process and that is a huge mistake in my opinion. I use a few "pre" steps as well: select music that you love and are willing to hear a hundred times without getting sick of it. Check the lyrics (if there are any) and ensure they are "audience appropriate" before committing to the music. (Get good translations if the song is not in your first language!!) You need to understand the story line if there are lyrics. And...if you will be dancing in a venue that is limiting your performance time, edit your music if need be, to ensure it fits the amount of time you will be permitted to dance. Keep a record of the music credits as you will likely need to be able to provide this to the event organizer. Have patience- take time- and write your choreo down + video it for your own analysis. Choreography takes a lot of time and work, and the dance will certainly evolve over time. Trust and enjoy the process!

[@SahiraBellydances]

I absolutely agree with the wonderful ideas you've shared here! A process does take time and I hope that everyone can learn from the experiences that you and I have both had to arrive to their own personal process a bit more quickly than I did. (Took me forever to get this all figured out!!!)

[@keegsmum]

@@SahiraBellydances Me too- I made tons of mistakes and inefficiencies the first 10-20 times. Thanks so much for this video- it is a real goldmine of tips for those just starting to contemplate writing their own choreo. And...it is a great project for dancers to contemplate in 2020! Thanks for all your videos- I rely on them extensively and share these with others more than you know!

[@noizeemama3697]

I have a super hard time mapping the music. I lose count. My mind drifts off either into the music or distracted by life. I did find it easier to use a song sung in English, going online and copying the words, then writing the counts for each. I do understand what a chorus, verse, and pre-chorus are...but I have a hard time separating that out on paper when I'm trying to decipher it. Side note: I took a workshop with my local teacher some years ago. One of the things she had us do was come up with choreography without the music! Since most everything is in 8 counts, she showed us that what we created could be used in most every song. She put her music on shuffle play and you did it to each song (about 30 seconds of choreography was all that was needed.) The speed and the feel of the moves just change. It was an eye opener for me. You then make the adjustments to the song you decide you want to do it to. She felt doing this could pull you out of that fear. It was still very hard for me because moving without music (and the lack of confidence) just doesn't make sense to my brain/body.

[@SahiraBellydances]

Hey there Noizee Mama. Yes and yes! I totally feel you! Mapping the music takes intense concentration (I screw up the counting the first time around almost every time!) I LOVE the idea you have of mapping the music using the lyrics. There is definitely more than one way to map the music and find patterns in it to aid your choreographing process. And your teacher is a genius! While I rarely make my own choreographies with this method, I make little "combographies" for my beginners with this exact idea every single month! Have you seen my video about the HOW versus the WHAT? I details why the HOW (how you perform and movement) is so much more important that the WHAT (ie which move you choose). It will completely free up your dancing and your choreographic process! kzbin.info/www/bejne/gmLLY6xvisyMnck

[@noizeemama3697]

I've watched that a few times. It's something I should definitely do in class.

[@tzefirayah_700travelmore.]

Thank you for this inspiring and encouraging video! Peace.

[@SahiraBellydances]

You are most welcome!

[@catherinemerena8874]

How did you know that’s what I needed to hear? Very helpful.

[@SahiraBellydances]

I'm so glad it was helpful!! Thank you for reaching out. :)

[@noizeemama3697]

Oh my god! I love your mug!!!!

[@SahiraBellydances]

I got it in Mexico City last year... It makes me so very happy!

[@kamilareeder1493]

Finally I've found the good stuff 🔍👀📝 I have a whole degree in concert dance performance but belly dance and arabic music was NOT included in that curriculum and I want to understand how its different than from what I learned in "dance composition"

[@SahiraBellydances]

All the good stuff here ☺️

[@carolli8445]

IT is fantastic tips. Im beginner belly dancer .I always try to layering the technique together,but never work Yours tips are awsome,i will try it ,thankyou

[@SahiraBellydances]

Glad it helps 😊

[@HurairaHerbals]

Thanks for this video! I've been "dabbling" in belly dance for two years now (I was at a party, was made to get up, and didnt know what to do, I never danced before, and since then I vowed I would never let that happen to me again. Thats Arab aunties for you lol.) I usually follow videos to dance, and when I try to improvise all I can do is hip drops and shimmies though I know so much more than that by now! lol.

[@SahiraBellydances]

I have totally been there! Even though I know a lot of movements I used to find myself in a position where I would freeze up and repeat myself when improvising and choreographing. This method has totally helped me eliminate that issue!