Arms, Shimmies and Props on DVD

The All About Arms, ShimmySessions and JustTheProps downloadable class series are now also available in DVD-format via info@khalidadance.com or www.khalidadance.com/DVD

A preview of the 'All About Arms' DVD/online class series:

All available Khalida DVDs:

To order please email me at info@khalidadance.com with which DVD(s) you’d like, your preferred payment method (Paypal or bank transfer) and your shipping address.


All About Arms (2 DVDs – 1,5 hours each)

• DVD 1: Arms, Wrists and Hands techniques
• DVD 2: Combinations, Variations and Expression

Price: 10 Euro per DVD, 20 Euros for the set (2 DVDs)

Shimmy Sessions (4 DVDs – 1-1,25 hours each)

• DVD1 – Basic Shimmies (Egyptian and Hip Shimmy, African Shimmy)
• DVD2 – 3/4 Shimmy ‘up’ (plus Choochoo, Twist- and Shoulder Shimmy)
• DVD3 – 3/4 Shimmy ‘down’ (plus ‘Freeze’, ‘Earthquake’ and Belly Flutter)
• DVD4 – ShimmyJam! (Mix of all Shimmies plus extra layering drills)

Just the Props DVDs (3 DVDs – 1,5 hours each)

• DVD1 – Silk Veil (Basic, Intermediate and Advanced Veil class)
• DVD2 – Fanveils (Basic, Intermediate and advanced Fanveil class)
• DVD3 – Zills/Finger Cymbals (Basic, Intermediate and Advanced Zills class)

Price: 8 Euro per DVD, 15 Euros for 2 DVDs, and 5 Euro extra for each additional DVD of these 2 series (The ShimmySessions and Just the Props DVDs can be mixed and matched individually as you wish)

Shimmies and Isis Wings with Khalida (2 DVDs – 1,5-2 hours each plus bonus material)

• DVD 1 Shimmies with Khalida
• DVD 2 Isis Wings with Khalida

Price: 16 Euro per DVD, 26 Euro for both DVDs

Shipping costs for all DVDs are 1,45 Euros for Germany and 3,70 Euro for EU/Worldwide per padded envelope (each holds about 7 DVDs) – I will send you a shipping estimate per email before your order is final

Payments can be done via Paypal (info@khalidadance.com) or Bank Transfer (IBAN/BIC-SWIFT)

To order any DVDs simply email me at info@khalidadance.com


Happy dancing!

xx Khalida
www.khalidadance.com

PS: You can also get these DVDs 'live' from me at any of the upcoming events at www.khalidadance.com/schedule or get the downloadable/streamable version of these DVDs on the Online Classes page.

Feb articles and a workshop tip

Hello hello :)

Long time no blog, I hope you are all doing well. I've been out in the woods a bit more this (very warmish) winter, but there was time to dance, learn, and read up as well.

Eschweiler Wald

These are some of the dance articles I enjoyed in the past month:

On dance and confidence - by Flamencobites:
http://www.flamencobites.com/main/how-to-be-confident-when-you-dance

On being present - by Shari Geller
http://www.sharigeller.ca/cultivating_presence_tips.php

Tips for developing (stage) presence - by Artistsintheplus:
http://www.artistsintheplus.com/10-tips-for-better-stage-presence-by-endorsed-artist-madcraft/

Tips for competitions - by Dance Comp Review: (especially handy with the Benelux BD Championships coming up in March!) http://dancecompreview.com/8-tips-for-your-first-competition-and-reminders-for-any-competitor

Finger cymbal awareness - by Daniele Elizabeth:
http://danielleelizabethbellydance.com/her-stories/finger-cymbal-awareness/


Also check out this gorgeous Tango video with Ezequiel Lopez and Camila Alegre: Argentine tango "Mala Junta" - World Championships 2015

And finally: A dance/experience/workshop tip for anyone living in/near the Netherlands:

Last Saturday I was lucky enough to experience a contemporary whirling workshop with Valentina Lacmanović in The Hague, NL called 'SPIRAAL', hosted by Fazle of CLOUD Dancelab. It was a profoundly uplifting, highly informative, and heartwarming experience. She will be teaching again in Amsterdam soon, so be sure to keep an eye out for her workshops!

Workshop SPIRAAL, the Hague, 30 Jan 2016

For those who live near/in Belgium: This month Salwa of BE will be hosting the fantastic Mercedes Nieto for a workshop weekend and hafla (with live music!) in Brussels. The Masterclass is sold out, but there are still some spots left for the Saturday and Sunday workshops. You can enroll for the workshops and/order tickets to enjoy the hafla performances (I will be dancing in the open stage part) here: Mercedes Nieto in Brussels.

Mercedes Nieto in Brussels - 20-21 Feb 2016

Furthermore I will be teaching a masterclass in Heerlen, NL on Hands, Arms and Arabesques on Friday 12th of February, 2016 (12:30-16:00h) hosted by Yamila of the Netherlands. Enrollments for this special MC are still possible until 6th of February via bellydancenl@hotmail.com - I hope to see you there, too!

MC Khalida in Heerlen, Feb 12th 2016

And last but not least, for all of you who are interested in Monika Volkmars fantastic Dance Stronger program: Check out the extra special February 2016 action here: http://dancestronger.com

DanceStronger

Until soon,

xx Khalida
www.khalidadance.com/schedule

Reading into December.. Books and Articles

Hello,

One of my most beloved pasttimes (next to dancing, ruminating, woodwalking, and very recently also Taekwondo!), is reading. Here are my favorite (dance and life) related book and articles of the month:

Book: Anatomy of breathing
by Blandine Calais-Germain

Anatomy of breathing

A wonderfully detailed and beautifully illustrated reference on the bio-mechanics and different variations of respiration. I especially love the preparatory and breathing exercises, and will be incorporating a few of them in my dance preparations and warmups in the future.

Chapters:
1. Initial observations about the act of breathing
2. The skeleton's role in breathing
3. Respiratory organs
4. Respiratory muscles
5. The principal forces involved in breathing
6. Forces affecting respiratory volumes
7. Relationships among anatomical structures involved in breathing
8. Analysis of the principal types of breathing
9. Practice pages

Goodreads link: Anatomy of Breathing
Amazon link (uk): Anatomy of Breathing
Amazon link (de): Anatomy of Breathing

Articles:

On movement and dance recovery:

• An ode to 'static back' by Pete Egoscue: http://www.sonima.com/fitness/static-back
• The (excellently illustrated) art of recovery by Aaron Swanson: http://www.aaronswansonpt.com/the-art-of-recovery-part-1-of-2/ 

On dance craft:

• Creating a BD routine - by BDNewEngland: http://www.bellydancenewengland.com/articles/2013/7/11/the-routine-roller-coaster.html
• Tips for dancing with confidence - by FlamencoBites: http://www.flamencobites.com/main/how-to-be-confident-when-you-dance
• Tips for remembering choreographies (I will be applying a few of these for the upcoming ballet recital December 19-20th!) by Flamencobites: http://www.flamencobites.com/main/5-tips-for-learning-and-remembering-choreography 
• More choreo-learning tips by Dance Advantage: http://www.danceadvantage.net/learn-choreography-quickly
• For balance - Tips on improvisation by Dance-Teacher: http://www.dance-teacher.com/2013/12/guiding-serious-play

Our ballet recital - 19th and 20th of December - I will report back if I survive

 On life and art in general:

• Embrace the suck - by DailyZen: http://www.thedailyzen.org/2015/06/28/embrace-the-suck

Sidenote: Embracing the suck (the article above) co-inspired me to finally take up studying Taekwondo this autumn, after years of fearing the unknown. An absolute beginning. And you know what? It is a breath (ha!) of fresh air to knowingly deeply suck at something, and at the same time enjoy the learning process. Every single class.

Our very first (half) belt grade! With huge thanks to Grandmaster Chae

Another one of life's small victories, after finally getting pain-free this summer, with help from the Dance Stronger project <3 Eternal gratitude from me to you and your work for dancers, miss Monika Volkmar!

DanceStronger - the love is still strong

As a bonus:

A podcast I heartily enjoyed - Inspiring interview with Jamie Foxx by Tim Ferris:
http://fourhourworkweek.com/2015/12/06/jamie-foxx/

Plus this lovely video of Dahlena (USA) teaching exquisitely elegant floorwork combinations:

Wishing you all a lovely remainder of the month (and year)!

x K.
www.khalidadance.com 

New foam rolling video: Cooldown/upper body relaxation routine

Hello hello :)

I'm happy to report I've just uploaded a free 6-minute foam rolling bonus video cooldown as an addition to the ShimmySessions and Shimmypack downloadable classes from the Online classes with Khalida page.

The video below is part of my personal post-dance training routine, which I've created in the process of finding ways to become, dance (and stay!) pain-free during the past few years.

Here it is:

Cooldown Foam Roller Routine - Khalida 

This video features some my favorite foam rolling cooldown exercises, including a combination of 3-D breathing inspired by the Dance Stronger program and a few simple but effective exercises to relax your upper back, gently release your hip flexors and reset your posture, all at once.

Enjoy and let me know what you think!

Foam rolling cool down/upper body release

Filmed at Sandra van Frankfoort-Mamentus beautifully 'zen' home studio <3

ETA: For a bit of extra zen-ness, complement this routine with practising the art of.. Letting go.

Happy rolling,

xx Khalida
www.khalidadance.com


PS: Also check out the pre-warmup video mini-series using basic foam rolling techniques at http://khalidadance.blogspot.de/2015/08/how-i-roll-khalidas-pre-warmup-rolling.html