Nuances of belly dancing to Arabic music with Debbie Smith
- S1E14
- 40:01
- May 14th 2021
We invited Debbie Smith back as our inaugural remote guest to talk with Karen about the nuances of belly dancing to live Arabic music without looking contrived.
A dear friend and Project Band member, Debbie is one of the few American belly dancers who knows Arabic and translates the words from the music as part of her process.
During this episode of the Baby Boomer Belly Dancer, we talk about:
00:00 Inaugural remote guest podcast with Debbie Smith
00:56 GBDAC2021 and what comes first... mastery or mystery?
03:02 Expression and sincerity in a dancer's performance
07:27 The opposite of effort...
09:32 Letting the music tell you what to do
11:35 Ways to increase your improv skills outside of class
14:25 What can look ingenuine
16:28 Looking for depth and reasons to do certain expressions
21:35 The process of taking in the music and putting it out in the form of movement
24:24 Dancers looking to deepen expression
25:56 Using translations to know how to feel about the music
34:02 When Westerners are mouthing the words to a song
36:12 Mapping a song out
Ultimately, context is everything!
Baby Boomer Belly Dancer
From the mind of Karen Barbee Adkisson, with production assistance from Gyon Jackson and Kathy Swanson, we give you the new video podcast: BABY BOOMER BELLY DANCER.
From a lifetime of performing to recorded music to pioneering Project Band, a live music performing experience, Karen discusses the impact belly dance has had on her life over the past 45 plus years.
The stories and experiences that Karen will share are raw, vulnerable, honest and unfiltered ... are you ready?
Join us as Karen's inquisitive mind and unique perspective on a wide array of topics inspire, educate, and even entertain your sensibilities... because everything comes back to belly dance.
Episodes released every Saturday.
A VOD|POD MEDIA PRODUCTION
Meet the Hosts
With over 40 years in her chosen craft of belly dancing, Karavan Studio owner and professional belly dancer, Karen Barbee Adkisson, has been teaching students the art of belly dance techniques for more than 30 years and is dedicated to keeping live music performances as part of this artful cultural dance.
Karen's expertise at the national and international level is technique and professional progression. With an analytical background, her methodical approach to belly dancing integrates movement analysis; breakdown of that movement; and then relating it in a logical fashion to her students.
Karavan Studio in San Antonio, Texas has been home to belly dance training for all ages and fitness levels since 1988. From beginners to the competitive performer, women of all ages learn the art of belly dancing in a structured, culturally respectful environment.
To accommodate busy lifestyles, you can learn how to belly dance using Karen's proven, structured approach whenever and wherever you want online as well as in live private and group settings.
Check out more about Karen Barbee and Karavan Studio:
Baby Boomer Belly Dancer vodcast
Karavan Studio with online and live belly dance options
Your free trial of Karavan Online
Get Karen's Top 20 Philosophies eBook
Find out about Karen's Karavan Online Masterclass