What do you really think of on-line belly dance classes?
by Leyla Najma · 20 Comments
Okay…maybe I am getting myself in trouble here but I’ve had this on my list of things to talk about…I was wondering what your thoughts were about the changes in dance instruction. Including into this is of course on-line belly dance classes. What I thought I would do is give you my take on things and then hopefully those of you who comment in will give me yours. I think all viewpoints are necessary in making the carousel of life go round. I’m hoping for varied viewpoints and thoughts on the matter so I’m crossing my fingers you will write in. Even if you aren’t a fan of on-line classes all comments are welcome so don’t be shy. Read more
Let’s Talk Online Belly Dance Videos
My title, let’s talk online belly dance videos, came about because I get a monthly blog that is very good and full of important info. It by chance had an article on the do’s and don’ts of creating a professional instructional video. Some of the things stated in the article I didn’t agree with so I decided to let you all know my views on what it takes to do videos and the time involved to make them consistent.
I think the first thing that came to my mind was the dress code for doing an instructional video. Look, I do many videos and I don’t think people buy them because of how I am dressed. They buy my videos because of the content. I dress in color and in black with a hip scarf, nothing fussy that can get in the way of the combinations and moves. Sometimes I’ll wear a skirt; it just depends on my mood. But the bottom line is you don’t have to go and wear fancy costumes each and every time you do a video. Your statement will be with your content, not your clothes. Dress for the occasion but not for a dance gig.
The lighting is so important. We started out with natural light coming in from the windows and the one thing everyone forgets or doesn’t know, is that a one hour video will take up to two to three hours to do. That means the light from the window will change and you have to account for that. The change is subtle but noticeable once you start to edit the video. You will see it’s not consistent with the shadows on the wall and on you and your face. The best lights to get are professional lights so that you can have even light distributed on you at all time that is strong. Another misnomer is to videotape during the day. No, you don’t have to videotape during the day and just so you all know I do some of my videos at night due to my schedule. What matters is the consistency of the light. Direct light on your face, from above and coming in from the back and front corners will make the light in the video more even. You can keep the light consistent each video if you use artificial light that professionals use. We use daylight compact fluorescent lights that are the ones that snake around like a light bulb. Believe me they are bright and once you get down how you want the light to look on camera, then you don’t have to worry about the natural light coming in from the window changing on you. You save time each and every time you create a video.
This is a preference and if you don’t agree, that’s okay but I don’t like mirrors in the background because I think they confuse students. I have had students tell me that it’s easier to follow from the back and I agree because what do we all do at workshops; ask to follow from the back. The background can be a green screen or blue screen which means what…you can’t wear green or blue. You will be a floating head if you do which might be fun for Halloween but not for an instructional video. The background should be what makes you happy. I have my tapestry from Egypt behind me and it brings in such a magical ambiance to my classes. We used the color beige on the walls of the studio which was recommended to us by friends who are independent film makers. It warms the room and it made a huge difference on my skin color. It works really well with the direct light we use. I use a rug but would love a wood floor. The rug gives me occasional rug burns especially when I do turns. If you put an oriental rug on a slippery surface just remember it will go where you go and sometimes that’s not a good thing.
Also most videos are done for students and not clients. I send off my performance videos to clients who want to see my dance ability so there is a distinct difference between these two groups. Even if I get hired for a workshop based from someone buying an instructional video, I am being hired for my content and teaching skills by dancers who are students first. I think that a target market needs to be in place and a plan devised before you ever get in front of a camera. Videos created that state they are done for all levels miss the mark because I have testimony from women from all over the world stating these kinds of videos are confusing. Remember a beginner will read all levels and think she can do the moves. She won’t be able to follow combinations made for an intermediate dancer. Think of your student base and who you want to target; is it beginners, intermediate level or professionals? Make videos that are easy for students to choose from that make sense. An instructional video isn’t about the flash of a costume, it’s about the content and how easily accessible it is for students to comprehend and learn from. In the end most students are working on their own dance skills so they are buying your video to get ahead. Give them what they need to move along easily and effortlessly.
Regarding music, I use my CD I had created for my students to practice to. The music doesn’t have to be live especially if you have a good strong mic on your camera. We use a shot gun mic and it works perfectly. I also have speakers that I plug into my boom box and the speakers with the top gun mic work perfect. Editing in music after you have done the video is a major pain in the butt and it’s not necessary. I edit my videos so I know there is so much that goes into them plus then Daniel has to go in and do his magic with chapters and such. Make the process as easy as possible because if you do more then one video you will find they can get very expensive and that’s money you put into them before you even sell them. Marketing them afterwards is not just another blog post but should be a power point presentation. So if you want to create an online belly dance instructional video remember who you are making it for. It’s about your future target market aka, students and making the process something they will enjoy and implement into their dance. It’s all about sharing the joy of belly dance to women all over the world.
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Producing and Directing Center Stage
by Leyla Najma · 2 Comments
This past week as Daniel and I were discussing our weekly work schedules, we were talking about videos that I needed to do and Daniel like always came up with several ideas. I on the other just looked at him with that look; you know, the look we morph into that comes naturally when talking to our husbands?! Anyways I said, “Look it’s not like I don’t have a lot on my plate but do we really need this one?” Daniels usual response is, “Yes we do.”
So I will be doing a video talking about “Producing” shows and the pit falls that can happen at any moment. Believe me I am an unintentional professional in the pit fall arena only because unlike the poor souls who got thrown into the lions den, I skipped in with a smile on my face.
There is no definite guideline to producing shows small or large so I will go over my thoughts on how to keep your sanity and enjoy the experience. Well, okay I can’t guarantee that you will always enjoy yourself because producing shows can be a very stressful endeavor that for most of us isn’t just a rite of passage but an act of insanity until it’s all over and we can see our achievements. Actually to tell you the truth producing shows somehow completed one aspect of belly dance that seemed out of reach. Once you become a producer a time honored understanding comes over you and you understand even more about the human predisposition to be a star.
Here is a paragraph from my book talking about what I observed from one of the shows I co-produced:
I have witnessed unusual behavior with a few of my former students in regards to a few of the shows I jointly produced. Since I have been very lucky in having very talented dancers come my way I found it perplexing to say the least when a few of these highly talented dancers acted in my opinion selfishly. This is the difference in troupe mentality and the solo attitude. The troupe dancers who participated in the shows went way beyond the call of duty because they wanted the outcome of their efforts to be successful for each other. This has to do with their sense of responsibility to each other. One person’s actions would affect the outcome of the whole troupe. The few students that I asked to perform in my shows were excited but at the same time they didn’t comprehend the idea of what team effort was. If responsibility lies only with the self, than the concern for the progressive and creative concept for the whole matrix doesn’t exist. Sometimes a solo dancer can’t see beyond her own contribution because it is a guaranteed habitual offering she can take to the bank. A dancer can’t offer what she doesn’t know how to give.
So this video will be a very personal endeavor for me because with the two shows I co-produced, the learning was like a psycho boot camp experience or being a first grader in elementary school and going straight to college. Either way I survived and I have a better sense of myself because of these experiences and I think I understand women better. It’s not all lolly pops and roses but at the end of a producing a huge theatrical show it can feel like winning an Olympic gold medal. With this video in mind maybe just maybe I can help you avoid some of the pit falls, walls and Diva attitudes that came my way. And when I say Diva attitudes I mean this for men as well. Is there such a word as Divo? Just doesn’t have the same impact though…………
Article News Alert!
I just wrote an article for Jareeda’s “Costume Article Contest” and I am very excited because the contest got my writing juices flowing and I wrote about my student photo shoot of last year. I gave it a different twist and it came out like a never before created Margarita with a twang to go with the twist. So cross your fingers for us and hopefully we will be in the running. Here is Jareeda’s website. Please support the Publisher and dancer extraordinaire, Mezdulene and subscribe to her magazine; www.jareeda.com
Shimmy Galore
by Leyla Najma · 9 Comments
Yesterday I filmed the first video of the New Year called “Shimmy Galore.” It has drills along with my own methodology compiled together for understanding how and why I do shimmies. About 3 or 4 times a month I have women writing me and asking about shimmies. It makes sense because when I started out belly dancing I had so many questions regarding how to shimmy that I was like the kid that kept asking, “Are we there yet?”
I remember back in my early days that whenever I saw any dancer who was able to do a shimmy, she was automatically placed in a heroine character called “Wonderwoman.” For many years I worked on my shimmies and not until I understood that the muscle areas had to be felt did they start to make sense to me thus my shimmies started to be more noticeably wiggly and jiggly. It was a break through moment because shimmies are the definitive signature of a belly dancer; the ultimate difference between mortal women and dancers.
I simplified as much as possible and put the shimmies into three categories;
1. ¾ Shimmy
2. In place Shimmy
3. Layering Shimmy
The layering shimmy and ¾ shimmy actually have some traveling steps in them and turns so I decided not to add in traveling shimmies. Besides the drills I put in are enough so that you can work in walking and combos with your shimmies. I felt that the shimmies themselves need to be understood in a way that simplifies them and takes the mystery and confusion away. There are some shimmies that work best for restaurant rather than stage or nightclub. It just depends on a dancer’s perception and experiences with her audience. Too long a shimmy can take away from the proficiency of the shimmy itself. I remember at a restaurant in Ft. Worth a dancer who performed one full song only doing full body shimmies. The restaurant owner actually told me she was boring and he got up from his table and walked away. I had to agree with him and that night I learned that just because a move is hard doesn’t mean it can’t be over done.
So I’m excited and “oh my God”……..do I feel it today!!!
