How to do a great performance

 Recently, l started to give a ' love letter ' to my belly dance intermediate class students. In the letter, l share of the essence of what they are learning, the spirit of this art, and most important is how are they going to perform this dance. Perform does not mean has to be on stage, whenever you dance, you are performing. Last Saturday my advance class students told me they can only perform well when they are familiar with the steps,hmmmm........l do not agree with this. I told them, once yoy start moving in dance, you start to show what you think to people, whether you are happy with the dance, you are sad, you are frustrated or you are in peace. Normally when you see a dancer doing movements in 'big bones', example like trying to throw all his energy out from the body, this is a person without a proper dance philosophy.

When you dance, you are just dance, you are 'NOT' trying to tell people : look at me ! look at me ! I am excellent !  When you dance, you are ' INTO' the dance, you are a person who stays peaceful with your mind and body. You are smooth and graceful, and at the same time, you can be dynamic and powerful--through the total image you perform in your dance, but not how strong you are or how high you can jump or how fast you can shimmies.

When l see a person who dances with a motif, l feel 'pain to watch'. Why think so much? just dance la, enjoy the feeling how you communicate with your body and  enjoy exploring your body's potential. If you understand that, you can dance for whole life, noboy is dare to give you any bad comments, as they feel peace to watch your performance.

OK this is my experience and  very personal opinion, it is alright if you do not agree.

So l told my students, the two secret elements in performing belly dancing are : Relax and concentrate, from there you will  dance better, and create better life in your future. How does this happen? Come to be my intermedaite class students la, then l will tell you ha ha. In fact, if you do not practise the dance, l am not able to explain it to you too, you will not understand..........

If you don't like dancing, then exercise la ok ? Don't only work and sleep and eat but never communicate with your body. Move ! Sweat ! Laugh ! This is life !