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alonewiththemoonYesterday was a very high quality belly dance day. The workshop with Bozenka was just what I like in a workshop: hard work, clear instruction, focus on both technique and also on combinations so that we could understand how to use the technique, and above all a warm encouraging and very talented instructor in the person of Bozenka. She did teach a choreography to a song by Hakim, if I am remembering correctly, but her style of instruction didn't make it feel like we were learning a choreography and memorizing steps so much as learning how to use what we were being taught. I'm not exactly sure how to categorize her style, except maybe to call it international belly dance--some elements of old school AmCab, a definite Arabic sensibility and relationship to the music, some influence from other dance forms (one variation of a box step she taught I recognized from my samba DVDs). It's a very natural and comfortable-feeling style. Amar Gamal and Virginia are along the same lines, perhaps not surprising since they all studied with Tamalyn Dalal down in Florida where so many dance styles intersect with one another.
And then there was the live show at Layalina. Sigh. Bozenka moves so effortlessly and every movement makes perfect sense with the music. She looked so elegant in red and black, in a Spanish-inspired ruffled costume with a red flower in her hair. The band, featuring Tony Chamoun on drums, played a very nice set of classic material for her (though I do wish that keyboard players would leave well enough alone during the drum solos, and somebody from the audience actually came up to tell the keyboard player that he was overwhelming the drum). We were seated slightly behind the stage floor, which was a little disappointing in that we couldn't see her dance face on, but otoh as a dancer it was educational to see what she was doing from different angles. I'm not sure how long she danced for, but I was left wanting more, which is always a good sign. I watched some of her 2005-2008 performance DVD over at Najmat's before the show, and now I wish I'd bought it at the workshop. She's not exactly my style, but there's a lot to learn from her. I also find it personally inspiring to watch her because while she is fit and trim, she is not a six pack hard body type of dancer, she's soft and curvy and has real hips and booty and is about my height or a little taller, giving me something to identify with. All in all, I highly recommend her as a teacher and as a performer, especially if you can see her perform to live music.
We all got to dance for a while to the band as well--what fun! This was Layalina's last night at the venue in Stoughton (which really is wa-a-a-a-y out in the middle of nowhere, miles past Ikea even), but the promoter is actively looking for a venue in the metro Boston area, having learned I think that you really have to hold your event in the city proper to make money, even if the venues are more expensive. People won't spend money at the bar if they are facing a long drive home. At least you hope they won't. I'll be looking forward to the more local re-opening and hope it happens soon.
My feet held up surprisingly well for a three and a half hour workshop and then dancing later. Mostly the soles of my feet hurt more than the muscles and fascia did. My throat was sore this morning from yelling over the music though :) And now it is Sunday and I have nothing in particular planned and it is not 80 million degrees out so whatever I do, I can do in comfort. Life is good!
And then there was the live show at Layalina. Sigh. Bozenka moves so effortlessly and every movement makes perfect sense with the music. She looked so elegant in red and black, in a Spanish-inspired ruffled costume with a red flower in her hair. The band, featuring Tony Chamoun on drums, played a very nice set of classic material for her (though I do wish that keyboard players would leave well enough alone during the drum solos, and somebody from the audience actually came up to tell the keyboard player that he was overwhelming the drum). We were seated slightly behind the stage floor, which was a little disappointing in that we couldn't see her dance face on, but otoh as a dancer it was educational to see what she was doing from different angles. I'm not sure how long she danced for, but I was left wanting more, which is always a good sign. I watched some of her 2005-2008 performance DVD over at Najmat's before the show, and now I wish I'd bought it at the workshop. She's not exactly my style, but there's a lot to learn from her. I also find it personally inspiring to watch her because while she is fit and trim, she is not a six pack hard body type of dancer, she's soft and curvy and has real hips and booty and is about my height or a little taller, giving me something to identify with. All in all, I highly recommend her as a teacher and as a performer, especially if you can see her perform to live music.
We all got to dance for a while to the band as well--what fun! This was Layalina's last night at the venue in Stoughton (which really is wa-a-a-a-y out in the middle of nowhere, miles past Ikea even), but the promoter is actively looking for a venue in the metro Boston area, having learned I think that you really have to hold your event in the city proper to make money, even if the venues are more expensive. People won't spend money at the bar if they are facing a long drive home. At least you hope they won't. I'll be looking forward to the more local re-opening and hope it happens soon.
My feet held up surprisingly well for a three and a half hour workshop and then dancing later. Mostly the soles of my feet hurt more than the muscles and fascia did. My throat was sore this morning from yelling over the music though :) And now it is Sunday and I have nothing in particular planned and it is not 80 million degrees out so whatever I do, I can do in comfort. Life is good!
