dances

ZenkX’s 1st Public Bellydance… Sort Of

Remind me never to do this again.

Oh wait, I’d have to… on Friday. >_<

Yeah, I “belly danced” during my mother’s birthday program. They loved it. Hahaha!

It’s not really my thing to dance in public, especially belly dancing in front of people, even though they’re my relatives. But unfortunately, I’d have to belly dance for a lot of people on Friday. So I thought, “If I can’t dance like this in front of my relatives, how in the heck can I belly dance in front of total strangers?”

So yeah, this is me… belly dancing… even though my blouse looked like an electric blanket rather than a costume.

I don’t have an actual belly dance costume yet, mainly because it’s really hard to find a top for me. Go figure. I’d have to sew my own, which is what I’m doing right now. I just hope it’ll be done by Thursday and Friday >_<

Can You Move Like Jagger?

Because I sure as heck can’t XD.

Anyway, I’ve been so obsessed with this song lately, mainly because it’s one of the songs my bellydance instructor makes us dance to. But I get the feeling that I might need to consult some people with Radiologic Technician Jobs… because my back is killing me. >_<

I don’t know… it just seemed rather… catchy. My bellydance teacher showed me this choreography and I just PANTED so much because it involved a lot of jumping around. And before that I had to do tons of shimmy drills, etc. My instructor is running me ragged during bellydance class, but I like it.

Anyway, I posted this because my brain just keeps playing this OVER and OVER and OVER in my head that I’m afraid this is going to play in my “blood whale” dreams. XD

Dancing Envy And Double Standards

Someday, I want to be this brilliant in Tribal Fusion bellydancing.

If only I had some box converter so I can convert some of her YouTube videos into my television. ~_~

Unfortunately, as much as I love her dancing, society’s penchant for perfection continues to piss me off. Apparently, I’d be considered a freak if I tried to dance this kind of choreography when I am 80 pounds overweight.

Well, that sucks. I didn’t know you were supposed to have a specific bodily figure to bellydance. ~_~

I’ve been reading around the InterNet lately. Apparently, most “fluffy” bellydancers focus more on Egyptian-style bellydancing rather than Tribal Fusion style bellydancing. Which is fine for me. It’s just that there are way too many people who bring these bellydancers down by calling them “fat” or “disgusting”.

Seriously? Since when has dancing for pure enjoyment become disgusting?

Anyway, I really hate these kind of double standards. It’s annoying. It’s like saying you can go and do bellydance when you’ve shed some pounds and become skinny. Which is a total opposite of what belly dancing is all about. Bellydance is all about acceptance, and liking your body no matter what the shape.

Argh. Society sucks sometimes. Honestly. Remind me to find my old bellydance belt and dance my heart out while rising my middle finger to the people who give me disgusted looks. >:(

Junior-Senior Proms

Whew… I am soooooooo E – X- hausted!

2 days of pure fun and well…. hard labor. It’s a miracle I didn’t lose as much weight as a person who takes the best diet pills from the amount of sweat I had. XD

It started out last Friday, where I accompanied my sister-in-law and her friend to an event that they hosted at the Marikina Convention Center. It was actually the Junior-Senior Prom of the Parang National High School in Marikina. I, actually had a lot of fun doing it, mainly because it reminded me of my own JS Prom.

Everybody looked all so handsome and pretty that they wanted to have their picture taken with the photo booth that my sis-in-law set up. It was hard work, but it was good. Unfortunately, by the end of the night, I had shouted and talked so much that well… I ended up losing my voice. ~_~

Anyway, it was a great night for everyone, and I was happy that I became a part of the lovely memories that they had that night.

Hand Dancing

I want to learn how to do this:

Hahaha! This would be so much fun to do when you’re bored… XD

hibaRaks!!!

Oh, greatness… thy name is Hiba! XD

Yep, this girl is proof that you can still be an awesome bellydancer even though you’re fluffy (unlike me, who keeps visiting weightlossdietpills.net to find out how I can lose weight).

She’s no Rachel Brice… but damn! She’s good. I just hope I had her confidence when dancing. XD

I can never seem to get rid of my confidence issues. I don’t know, it’s probably just me. I guess I’m not really too cool with letting my jiggly bits wobble.

But Hiba… man, she’s just really awesome! Her dancing is great, her hair is great, and her costume is awesome.

I wonder what decade will I be able to be like that? ~_~

Zenkx’s Exercise Option 3: Yoga and Bellydance

I was looking through YouTube again recently, and I saw a promotion video of Ariellah Aflalo, who is a famous Gothic Fusion Bellydancer in America. As it turns out, she released a DVD called Contemporary Bellydance and Yoga Conditioning. And being a (literally and figuratively XD) fan of Gothic and Tribal Fusion bellydance, I immediately considered doing this as my form of exercise.

I’ve taken beginner-level Yoga and Bellydance lessons before, and I agree with Ariellah when she said that the two work hand in hand. Both helps to tone and increase muscle control, works out your cardio-vascular system, and improves your self-esteem and sensuality, making your male audience wish they can take enzyte medications or something. XD

The cool thing about yoga is you don’t need much for it. The exercise requires you to be barefoot (eliminating the need for pricey running shoes) and uses your own body as weights (no dumbbells needed!). All you need is a mat (a yoga mat costs just around P500 here in the Phil.) and maybe a blanket to modify the poses. That’s it!

However, since yoga is a bit complex, it is again recommended that you check with your doctor first to find out if it’s the right exercise for you, and taking some classes for it, so that a yoga instructor can help you correct your poses.

Bellydance and Pregnancy

Hold the baby shower invitations! It’s time to bring out your coin belts.

Yep, there have been studies about how belly dance can actually help pregnant women. In fact, belly dance was used as a prenatal conditioning for women, specially when the big day comes along, since the dance uses your core (abdominal) muscles that are vital to childbirth. Belly dancing while pregnant has a lot of advantages such as:

Promotes good posture
Helps maintain general fitness
Improves abdominal control and awareness
Many movements useful for relieving back ache during pregnancy and labour
Helps maintain pelvic floor tone through connection with deep abdominals
Promotes balance and co-ordination
Non jarring/non contact activity
Fun and social
Body shape no boundary
May help with constipation

However, also remember to consult your doctor before doing belly dance (or any other exercise, regardless of whether you’re pregnant or not). Sharp movements like hips twists (soften them up if you could), jumps, hip drops and lifts as well as back bends could affect your baby’s health.

And don’t forget that belly dance is a sensual dance, made to make you feel beautiful and fabulous and sexy regardless of your body size and shape. Don’t listen to those uneducated people who say that belly dance is for skinny beeyotches only. XD

References: http://www.angelfire.com/retro/perfumedpalace/pregnancy.htm
http://www.pregnancytoday.com/articles/exercise-in-pregnancy/move-that-belly-1293/

Of Dance Battles

You know what would be so freakin’ awesome?

If there would be popping battles of the all the best dancers in Youtube.

HOW COOL WOULD THAT BE?!

I don’t know about you guys, but I would LOVE to see a battle between Robert Muraine (a popping dancer from So You Think You Can Dance), Salah (a dancer I saw on YouTube) and Nam Hyun Joon (another dancer from YouTube).

Then… THEN! There would be a group battle between Diversity (The winners from Britain’s Got Talent), Jabbawockeez (from America’s Best Dance Crew) and the Philippine All Stars (2008 World Hip Hop Champions).

OH MY GOD! THAT WOULD BE INSANE!!! XD

As for the women’s division, I don’t know… the best one I’ve seen so far is Pandora, and she’s more on tutting than popping. Can anyone find me a good female popper/dancer in YouTube? I’ve been searching for someone to face off against Pandora. XD

Although, it’ll be really ironic if the Jabbawockeez and the Philippine All Stars battled… since both groups have Filipino members (or at least Fil-Am members).

I love watching popping dancers, but my loyalties still lie with Tribal/ Tribal Fusion Bellydance. Haha! But still, if these guys were to battle, I swear, whoever the judge is going to be in these events would have their heads explode from picking which one of these is the best. XD

Of Dance Battles

You know what would be so freakin’ awesome?

If there would be popping battles of the all the best dancers in Youtube.

HOW COOL WOULD THAT BE?!

I don’t know about you guys, but I would LOVE to see a battle between Robert Muraine (a popping dancer from So You Think You Can Dance), Salah (a dancer I saw on YouTube) and Nam Hyun Joon (another dancer from YouTube).

Then… THEN! There would be a group battle between Diversity (The winners from Britain’s Got Talent), Jabbawockeez (from America’s Best Dance Crew) and the Philippine All Stars (2008 World Hip Hop Champions).

OH MY GOD! THAT WOULD BE INSANE!!! XD

As for the women’s division, I don’t know… the best one I’ve seen so far is Pandora, and she’s more on tutting than popping. Can anyone find me a good female popper/dancer in YouTube? I’ve been searching for someone to face off against Pandora. XD

Although, it’ll be really ironic if the Jabbawockeez and the Philippine All Stars battled… since both groups have Filipino members (or at least Fil-Am members).

I love watching popping dancers, but my loyalties still lie with Tribal/ Tribal Fusion Bellydance. Haha! But still, if these guys were to battle, I swear, whoever the judge is going to be in these events would have their heads explode from picking which one of these is the best. XD