I teach 2 intermediate classes and 5 advance classes of belly dance weekly nowadays, there are many drilling for them to do comparing to beginner class, being a beginner student of mine is much simple as l only request them to enjoy the class, but l will be a bit more demanding to intermediate and advance students, l guess this is what they want too? I really work a lot on the drilling to my students lately, l know it is hard for them, look, it is not easy for me too, especially when l have 3 advance classes in a row , l must make sure l have enough stamina to guide, demonstrate, explain and, make fun!

One of the classes have just being upgraded to advance class and they started to experience something very different from beginner and intermediate classes. I know they have to struggle to follow, l know......when they show me their 'bitter' expression, l know la, ha!

They told me, it was too hard for them until the whole body and mind tend to be tense.

So l told them: Look, l struggled in learning new steps when l took a workshop too, you know what l did? I smiled...no, sometimes l even laughed, l found myself looking funny on the new steps and it was fun to me, l was happy to learn something strange and beyond my ability, l know l am going to conquer something new again, so instead of being frustrated, l was excited!

I remember when l attended Sharon Kihara's tribal workshop before, l looked very funny in the isolation shimmy she taught, so l could not stop laughing at myself that time, Sharon approached me and told me, don't worry you are strong in isolation you could do it one day. After the workshop she told me she likes my big smile. I guess Sharon has forgotten what she has told me, but to me, it is a huge encouragement, see, if you are possitive, the teacher will repay you with possitive energy too.

Honestly l will be affected too when the whole class is tense, l have to act quickily with all motivation l know, and if the class insists not to respond to my motivation, l would have to take a deep breath and searching for other solution, it is not easy for me too, my dear students, l am stress too you see, but you have never stop seeing my smiling right?

This is my point of view, we must smile to the obstacles as we could not create any energy by crying or showing unhappy emotion, especially when you are learning a dance, you are here to enjoy something you like, it might be difficult for you at this moment, but you know you will do it by practicing, it is something possible, you explore and enlighten your body by learning something new and difficult, you should be excited on this, right?

You will improve by practicing to enjoy the learning process, trust me!