Small Things

Sort of following yesterday's post... What can you do with very little?

I'm starting a new class in two weeks, and rather than setting it up like my previous classes (teaching basic ITS posture and movements), I'm making things even more basic.

As I teach Improvisational Tribal Bellydance, I'm flipping that label and teaching in reverse order. The most basic bellydance posture will be taught first, as well as the basic "shapes"-- circles, arcs, figure 8's, etc.

So I started thinking about all the simple things that can be layered on, or double-layered, and how the things we take for granted are such small beautiful things on their own.

Starting with a basic (ATS-style) taxeem-- a figure 8 with the hips, down-out to the side-up:
-Add a level up or down.
-Travel with it, leading with your torso.
-Travel with it, leading with your hip.
-Slow it down. Speed it up. Slow it down AND speed it up.
-Break it into parts. Stop between the "out to the side" and the "up." Move the break around.
-Leave your torso behind, facing forward, while taxeeming your hips on different angles.
-Just do a half. Either half. The middle half.
-Step during one hip and not the other.
-Turn.
-Turn the other direction.
-Turn quickly and taxeem slowly. Turn slowly and taxeem quickly.

That's just a teeny handful. None of them involve arms. All of them are just the taxeem with other small, simple layers. It's just a matter of realizing that they're useful-- not just useful but lovely.

Breaking things down is, I swear, the secret. Breaking them down as small as they go. Breaking them down and then putting all the pieces in a sequined blender and hitting "puree." They come out just as small, but in a new order, with new flavors that depend on what ELSE you put in that blender. Fusion smoothie!