| Many belly dance students like to work on their | | | | learning how to dance, then videos that teach basic |
| technique at home, perhaps assisted by either a video, | | | | moves and how to assemble them into combinations |
| a book, or choreography notes. Whether you're just | | | | or simple choreography will probably be the most |
| practicing in between your regular classes, or whether | | | | helpful. |
| you're attempting to learn how to belly dance from | | | | Practice Outside Your Normal Class. If you attend a |
| videos and books, this article offers tips on how to | | | | weekly class with a live teacher and you want |
| structure your home practice to get the most value | | | | resources to guide you through practice outside of |
| out of the time you spend. | | | | class, then either fitness or basic moves videos may |
| Preparing to Dance Many schools advise parents to | | | | be useful. Ask your friends which videos they like, and |
| provide a structure for their children to do homework, | | | | try to borrow one to view it before you buy one for |
| with a suitable time and place set aside for it, free of | | | | yourself. In class, you might try to jot down notes for |
| distractions like television. The same basic principles | | | | yourself with the names of moves taught, such as "rib |
| can also be valuable for adults who are trying to learn | | | | cage slide" or "hip circle" to refresh your memory on |
| something new. | | | | what to practice in between classes. |
| Remove Distractions I learned a long time ago that | | | | Learn Things Beyond What Your Teacher Covers. |
| when I want to practice belly dancing, I need to lock | | | | You may find it helpful to learn moves that your |
| my cats out of the room! Think about what might | | | | teacher never covers so that your own personal |
| distract you - probably your children, pets, and spouse. | | | | dance style will look different from that of your |
| Try to make arrangements for them to find something | | | | classmates. Or maybe your teacher doesn't explain a |
| else to do during your study time. | | | | particular move such as a belly roll well enough for you |
| Allow Enough Time If possible, set aside a minimum of | | | | to learn it. In either case, maybe books, videos, or web |
| 1 hour for your practice session. If you take the time to | | | | sites will contain alternate explanations that make |
| warm up, review what you learned in the past, and drill | | | | more sense to you. |
| yourself on new moves, you can easily fill an hour. | | | | Learn a Specialty. Are you hoping to learn how to do |
| Admittedly, not everybody has a full hour available, so | | | | sword balancing, cane, Egyptian shamadan, or another |
| if you must do less, do what you can. Remember, | | | | specialty dance? Shop for a video that particularly |
| most belly dance classes set aside a full hour for the | | | | focuses on what you want to learn. |
| class. If you're learning or reviewing from home, why | | | | Learn Choreography. If your class or troupe is |
| not give yourself the same benefits of focused | | | | preparing for a performance, ask your teacher |
| attention? Do It Regularly Try to work on your studies | | | | whether she has written notes that identify which |
| at least one day per week. If you have time to do it | | | | moves come in which order. If she doesn't, ask |
| more often, you'll learn even faster! The more time | | | | whether it would be okay for you to videotape a |
| that goes by between study sessions, the more you'll | | | | run-through in class that you can use as a study aid. |
| forget in between. | | | | Some teachers might say no, but most will probably |
| Set Realistic Goals If you're not sure of what you're | | | | allow it if you promise to never, never make copies for |
| going to try to accomplish during your practice session, | | | | anyone else and keep that promise. One of my |
| then you probably won't accomplish much. First decide | | | | students obtained my permission to record one of my |
| whether your goal is fitness, adding new steps and | | | | classes on audio cassette tape to assist her with |
| combinations to your movement vocabulary, polishing | | | | practice outside of class. |
| technique on moves you already know, or learning a | | | | Plan How to Use the Time Decide how much time |
| specific piece of choreography in time for an upcoming | | | | you'll allow for each section of your practice time - |
| performance. Any of these can be legitimate goals, but | | | | warm-up, review, study of new material, and |
| each may steer you to a slightly different practice | | | | cool-down. Assemble any written notes, videos, hip |
| technique. For example, if you just want to learn how | | | | scarves, props, or other resources needed for your |
| to dance, then you might set a goal of mastering 4 | | | | work in a single place so that when your practice time |
| new moves and reviewing all the moves you know so | | | | comes along you have everything you need close at |
| far in a typical 1-hour practice session. But if you want | | | | hand. You'll want to spend your time dancing, not |
| to use belly dancing as part of your fitness program, | | | | hunting for something you need! Wear Something |
| then you'll want to structure your study time with | | | | Appropriate for Active Exercise Instead of trying to |
| continuous aerobic movement. | | | | dance in torn blue jeans and an old T-shirt, try to put |
| Obtain the Right Study Aids Decide what tools you | | | | on something that separates you from your normal |
| need to help you learn. For example, here are some | | | | daily routine. For example, tuck your T-shirt up under |
| recommendations on tools that may help with different | | | | your bra so that it bares the midriff, or put on a sports |
| types of goals: Fitness. Look for a video that takes | | | | bra. Instead of blue jeans, corduroys, or other normal |
| you through a beginning-to-end workout at the level | | | | daytime garb, put on either a practice dance outfit, or |
| that is right for your level of fitness and dance | | | | wear a pair of sweat pants with the top edge pulled |
| knowledge. See my reviews of workout videos for | | | | down below your navel so that they look like |
| feedback on some of the choices available in the | | | | hip-huggers and help emphasize your hip movements. |
| market. | | | | A hip scarf is a good idea, but isn't required. |
| Just Plain Learn to Dance. If you just want to have fun | | | | |