Majickal Bellydance

Majickal Bellydance will be returning to Seville Community House in February. More details will be posted as soon as they are available... Classes will be held at Seville Community House 8 Railway Road Seville 7pm - 8pm on Thursdays for 7 weeks. Bookings and enquiries via Seville House Phone: 03) 5964 3987 Although I trained in Classical Egyptian Bellydance for 20 years, my own style: Majickal Bellydance, is based on something even more ancient. The main intent of Majickal Bellydance is the promotion of health and mobility. It is a healing dance that balances the human energy field as well as strengthening the mind/body connection. Basic Bellydance movements are gradually introduced from the ground upwards, in spiralling layers and shimmies. This is a beginners course where balance, strength and technique are emphasised over choreography. Intermediate dancers are also welcome to try this unique, spiritual style of Bellydance. Suitable for adults of all fitness levels...

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I know yoga isn't really supposed to be performed in bed, but bed yoga is better than no yoga. Not that I don't pull the yoga mat out once a week or so for a good hour long sesh, but as my 40 something year old body begins to experience some aches and pains, I find it necessary to supplement my dance with some daily maintenance movements. Many of these are performed as soon as I wake up and before I have time to talk myself out of it. They are not strenuous, just mobilising. Save the strenuous stuff for the yoga mat. Arm Circles Begin while laying on your side. Move your arm in large circles 3 - 10 times in each direction. Keep the arm long and feel how the shoulder joint is moving and gently warming up. Repeat on the other side. Leg Raises Laying on your back with arms by your side, gently raise a leg as high as is comfortable. Keep the leg straight for the whole exercise. Repeat 3 - 10 times. Swap legs and repeat. Knee Bends These are for those strange knee pains...

We are suffering the coldest depths of a Melbourne winter and other than directly to my car, I've barely stepped outside in weeks. My muscles and joints are slowing, stiffening from the lack of physical activity. I am accustomed to walking several times a week and the occasional run. At this time of year my bellydance practise is more important than ever. But how do I motivate myself from my blanket wrapped position on the couch? The Music Music moves us. The right music will elicit an emotional response in our body. This can be a good starting point as we begin to move. It can be helpful to have a playlist organised containing your favourite dance tracks. I have a playlist that I use for each term of dance classes including warm up tracks with 90 minutes of music for drills, improvisations and a couple of cool down tracks at the end. You don't have to dance for 90 minutes for it to be worthwhile. Even five minutes of spirited dance can be an effective full-body, mini-wo...

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There's a reason I named my style of bellydance 'Majickal Bellydance.' Aside from the ceremonial and ritual aspects of Majickal Bellydance, it is also designed to be therapeutic, in ways both physical and energetic. Balance: Basic bellydance posture aligns the feet, hip width apart, with the knees soft or slightly bent. Keeping the knees soft allows us to more easily re-balance ourselves as we move in space. Stiff or rigid knees can increase the likelihood of stumbling or even toppling over. Keeping the knees fluid allows fluidity of the lower body, promoting a lower centre of gravity. As dancers begin taking steps into various directions of space, their bodies are more balanced and connected to the ground. Majickal Bellydancers practise dance drills involving stepping first into four directions of space and then expanding into eight directions. Being conscious of the direction and shape of each step we take increases our security in physical space.  Co-ordination:...