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Vagabond Princess
Tribal Fusion Belly Dancing
Tuesday, January 3rd, 2012
Getting back into training after a wee while overindulging in rest and food. This tip should help get you back into your practice too. Go to 8tracks and select a playlist either at utter random or say by GENIUS and sweetheart Rachel Brice (arbibi) then improvise your heart out to the whole delicious thing. Surprises abound! Enjoy.
Posted by Sam
on 03/01/12
in Belly Dance, Friends, Health, Inspiration, Practice, Practice Tip of the Month, Tribal No Comments »
Wednesday, November 2nd, 2011
If you are one of those who has asked about sourcing the music I use in my workshops and performances, then read on!
I am very happy to announce there is now a 3CD set featuring some of my favorite tunes all in one glorious compilation with the incredible Ava Fleming’s choice tunes too. The sleeve notes contain lil bits of info on why we chose each song for you to enjoy…Big thanks to Phil Meadley for making it all happen.
The Beginners Guide to Bellydance v2
2nd edition of BGT Bellydance following on from 1st edition that has sold 15,000 to date.
Compiled by two of the belly dance scene’s brightest and most glamorous stars; Ava Fleming and Samantha Emanuel.
CD1 Ava Fleming presents Oriental Bellydance
CD2 Samantha Emanuel presents Improvisational Tribal Style
CD3 Samantha Emanuel & Phil Meadley presents Tribal Fusion
On CD1 the vibe is classic bellydance whilst on CD2 & CD3 the music switches from Arabic, to Balkan, Indian, vaudeville and glitch, in keeping with the overall eclectic style of this new movement which now has a huge following around the world. With a vibrant mix of musical styles that represent where the belly dance scene is right now this 3CD set is sure to appeal to professionals and students alike.
Ava and Sam are both internationally renowned teachers and performers. Ava is a former Belly Dancer Of The Universe who teaches Raqs Sharqi (the classical Egyptian style of belly dance) at Arizona State University, and at her own studios in central Phoenix. Samantha Emanuel is a former Bellydance Superstar (a globetrotting troupe formed by ex-Police and Sting manager Miles Copeland).
I will have copies for sale at upcoming workshop events!
Woo!
x
Posted by Sam
on 02/11/11
in Belly Dance, Friends, Inspiration, Practice, Shop, Tribal 1 Comment »
Wednesday, August 17th, 2011
This month’s tip is aimed at those of us who might need a little kick up the backside to positive land regarding our practice.
Dig out your first ever dance diary/note book/journal and have a read through your old practice notes.
No doubt you will notice how far you have come but above all the key to this exercise is re kindling that child like enthusiasm and excitement you felt in your first ever workshop or class, on discovering this art form… the moment the sparks flew!
Put that feeling into this month’s practice and let me know if it works for you!
This month’s book is Your Brain at Work by David Rock
Fanks!
Posted by Sam
on 17/08/11
in Belly Dance, Friends, Inspiration, Practice, Practice Tip of the Month, Tribal 1 Comment »
Tuesday, June 28th, 2011
Whats up right now:
I am currently working on a triple CD compilation with DJ Phil Meadley (of Beginners Guide to Belly Dance fame) and the one and only Ava Fleming: Oriental dancer extraordinaire and one of my favorite instructors. I am very excited by the prospect of sharing with you some of my all time favourite tunes for both practice and performance, along with some tracks you will not have heard before. Release dates to be announced soon.
July sees me heading to Barcelona for Umrah Festival to teach sold out workshops and perform with friends once more, then on to Split Tribal Fest in Croatia for more sold out workshops and a spectacular show featuring the lovely Elizabeth Strong, April Rose, Manca Pavli, The Lady Fred and so many more. I cannot wait. It’s going to be a blinder!
I want to thank you for your support through booking these workshops and festivals, it’s humbling wonderful and bizarre that I am given the opportunity to train with you all. My Euro workshops continue to grow from strength to strength and I could not do this with out you! It’s really great to see the art form flourish the way it is right now in the UK, Europe and beyond.
New workshops are up on the CALENDAR PAGE if you would like to have a peek.
I look forward to seeing you along the road! Get outside and enjoy the Summer!!
Love and Fluff
Vagabond Princess
Posted by Sam
on 28/06/11
in Belly Dance, Friends, Inspiration, Practice, Tribal No Comments »
Monday, June 6th, 2011
CORE STABILITY
I know that’s not technically Belly Dance but without core strength you are headed for injury my dears, especially in this style of dance, using your core will dramatically improve hip work and abdominal isolation. When I started adding Pilates to my practice I noticed a difference right away. My undulations and hip work felt deeper and way stronger, isolation more controlled and posture improved.
Click here to find the online Tabata Workout Clock. You use this to tell you when your 20 seconds work is up and you use the 10 seconds rest time to prepare for the next exercise.
I usually choose 3 different exercises like push ups, sit ups and squats and vary all three for 12 minutes. You can of course do more or less time wise depending where your fitness level is at right now. This is known as interval training and I find it highly effective in a short amount of time.
A good practice day for me consists of early morning jog followed by Yoga then a Tabata session or two followed by drills and improv/choreography work. That is a very good day. I will not pretend that happens every day, as things come up…But this is my goal.
I’m going to give you a fun variation for this type of work out by adding a Pilates Ball into the equation. There are lots of how to’s on You Tube for ideas… like this lady. I pick 3 different exercises and start the Tabata Timer.I find I don’t get bored using the Tabata method and adding the ball guarantees core strengthening by trying to stay on the ruddy thing! Wikid.
If you have any daily exercises you want to share here feel free, I know many of us work in isolation, either by living in the country side or just plain cannot afford classes every week, so my thinking is the more we share what is working for us, the quicker this art form can flourish and gain the respect it deserves from the wider dance community, innit.
Note:If you have any kind of injury, use common sense and talk to your doctor about which ball exercises will work for you! Always cool down properly after this type of rigorous exercise OK!
AND HERE IS THIS MONTH’S BOOK:
The Element by Sir Ken Robinson available here
Inspired and very amusing, Ken puts all into perspective and shows us how everyone is capable of creativity when given the opportunity.
Fanks x
Posted by Sam
on 06/06/11
in Health, Practice, Practice Tip of the Month, Tribal 5 Comments »
Wednesday, April 27th, 2011
A little late I know…and this follows on from last month’s tip:
I’m going to suggest taking your favourite practice DVD…say Rachel Brice’s Serpentine for example and, if it feels good to you, adding a smooth 4/4 shimmy to the drill sections whilst using the traveling steps. Just to check in on how well we can control the 4/4 through all those weight transitions! Enjoy.
This month’s book is Dance Imagery for Technique and Performance by Eric Franklin
Posted by Sam
on 27/04/11
in Belly Dance, Inspiration, Practice, Tribal No Comments »
Wednesday, April 27th, 2011
I just wanted to take a moment to share a project I am involved with right now because it is making me very happy and every one should know about it!
2011 sees the second year of the Taksim Tribal Certification program and has featured wonderful instructors such as Mardi Love, Sharon Kihara and Heather Stants to name a few. Each instructor returns to teach three times over three months, giving the rare opportunity to really get to know the group and work on a more one to one basis. As the group is individually selected on application, a higher level of technical proficiency is assured which is great fun for us in the material we can present within the workshops. There are live theatre performances to enjoy too. I only wish I could take the course myself!
This year sees Jill Parker, Sharon Kihara, Amy Sigil, Elizabeth Strong and currently…me! What a line up!!!
I am really honoured to be involved with a project such as this and Alex and Amira deserve utmost respect for their vision and hard work in bringing it all together.
Posted by Sam
on 27/04/11
in Belly Dance, Friends, Inspiration, Practice, Practice Tip of the Month, Tribal No Comments »
Monday, March 14th, 2011
As promised.
This month’s practice tip focuses on Shimmy. Its pretty simple, find a good long track and shimmy for the entire length with no break adding layers and traveling without the shimmy being affected at all. Try big and loose, small and fast, 3/4 and 4/4 or whatever feels good to you today! I have put up a couple of tracks on my itunes PING account which you can see via HERE to use for ideas. Enjoy!
This month’s suggested reading is Inside Ballet Technique by Valerie Grieg available HERE. Regardless of whether you are interested in Ballet or not this book proves to be a useful tool and a very accessible read indeed.
Love and Fluff
Posted by Sam
on 14/03/11
in Belly Dance, Health, Inspiration, Practice, Practice Tip of the Month, Tribal 1 Comment »
