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!

Elementary

The longer you do something, the less useful the beginner steps seem. It's the reverse of the beginner problem, but is just that-- a problem.

As I learn new skills, like hooping, I get frustrated just like everyone else. I think, "I wanna do the most amazing thing RIGHT NOW."

If I could do it right now, it wouldn't be amazing.

What is amazing is being able to learn the blocks it's built with, and then stack them into a very high tower.

If beginners could do it right out of the gate, it wouldn't be impressive.

Jumping to something "difficult" when you don't have a base is like supergluing blocks to the wall. From a distance it looks like you're balancing them, but up close it's obvious you've cheated somehow.

This post isn't meant as "calling out" any performer in particular. It's just for me to remember that the little boring blocks aren't just needed, but beautiful.

Sometimes I watch myself dance and think, "Wow, my taxeem looks really pretty." And it does. But I so rarely use it in performance. I so rarely reeeaaaallllly slloooooowwwww it down to show off my flexibility there. It's an "easy" move for me. So I don't think about it, except as a building block or transition.

But it's pretty. Small things can be pretty.

Sometimes I find something that looks difficult but really isn't. Certain hooping moves were like that for me. Figuring out how to lift it over my head, for example, was figured out by just trying it.

How many people have tried it? Is that why it can look amazing, even though it's simple?
How many things have you thought of trying, but didn't?
What if you knew it wasn't going to be a struggle? Would you try it then?
Why should the process be a deterrent?
What would you do if you could try anything and not feel stupid?
Why do you feel stupid?
Who do you think is watching?