Dancing Isis Dance!

Archive for the ‘Testimonials’ Category

Initially I’d been a little apprehensive, aware that part of the workshop involved performing in front of my peers (actually people I hold in high regard) and teaching them a dance technique. Having participated in a few of Maria’s gatherings in the past, I recalled the safe, non-judgemental space she creates and knew that this would be a valuable experience for me personally and as a dancer/teacher. I let go of my fear of intimidation and embraced the anticipation.

We were an intimate group of eight and with very different styles of dance and ideas (something to celebrate) and as I’d hoped, Maria’s calm, vibrant ways had us quite relaxed. Informative discussion and exchange of ideas flowed. Movement awareness increased as we studied skeletons and physically related them to our own bodies. Maria’s knowledge of anatomy and movement is enlightening. Learning about such things as Alexander Technique immediately freed areas in my body. She has the ability to take you within your dance and within your self where you can experience the internal source of each movement rather than the external outcome. Maria admits that this can be very challenging and is sometimes confronting, but to those who are open to accepting it and willing to work to integrate it, it is amazing. It changes all aspects of your dance experience.

Although this virtually means I’ll have to unlearn so much of what I’m already familiar and comfortable with, I can clearly see the truth in it when I watch Maria dance. Someone commented that her dance holds all the elements – Her feet are connected to the Earth like tree roots and fire is in her belly. Her dance flows like water and she radiates through the air. My desire has altered from “I want to look like that”, to “I want to feel like that”. If only I could wake up tomorrow and be so within my core and my breath, radiating outwards in my dance. For me this will take time, work and commitment to make it my own, although in ways it has been manifesting in me for some time.

My turn to dance came late on the first afternoon by which time we’d all become quite comfortable amongst each other and I wasn’t feeling at all concerned about dancing in front of the women sharing this journey with me. The music commenced and suddenly I experienced a severe attack of nervousness. No matter how calm my head was with the whole idea, my body certainly wasn’t and I began to shake and feel completely uncoordinated. I didn’t enjoy my performance at all. The final beat couldn’t come fast enough. Immediately after each of us danced we were asked how we felt. I felt like vomiting! (This was purely my experience. We all felt differently after performing.) Feeling this way had completely thrown me as I usually don’t have nervousness about me at all while I dance. As I began to verbalise my experience I realised that I don’t consider myself a performer. I’m completely uncomfortable with being the centre of attention. When I dance publicly I am very much of the mind that I’m dancing with people. Even though essentially they are spectators, I feel that they are sharing in the celebration of the dance. Perhaps this is why I feel connected to the Tribal, Gypsy aspects of belly dance rather than the Cabaret style. (Which I also admire.) I cherish the gathering of women in a sacred space, the experience of self discovery and growth, the sharing of a life journey which occurs when women come together to share this dance. As a teacher, to witness a woman blossom from inwardness to self acceptance, then self appreciation and beyond. It is such a catalyst. But that is a whole other story…

As we began to teach each other movements it became apparent that collectively, as a group of teachers, we had pretty well all been taught and were teaching ‘externally’. This still appeared beautiful but didn’t encompass the essence of Middle Eastern Dance. It wasn’t being expressed from within and after an education in the difference it was apparent. Maria gently coaxed us away from what we all felt comfortable with as our own personal dance and had us experimenting with different ideas and open minds. An opportunity to explore our own dance style with the aim of improving the quality of our way of being. Maria along with others is concerned that if Middle Eastern Dance continues to be taught the way it so often is these days, as a Western ‘external’ activity, it will lose the very essence of what draws us to it in the first place. It’s very much about being and not doing. Just thought I’d also mention that for days after the workshop I experienced a great sense of clarity and centredness. Lovely!

Lisa Craigen, Barwon Heads

Sumemr School

Dear Maria,
I am writing to you to thank you for the amazing workshop that you taught at my studio in late January this year. I was in a very stuck space, both as a teacher and a dancer. I needed an injection of inspiration, which I got from your workshop. I gained a deeper insight into you and how to connect the dance much closer to my body than ever before. Your ability to make bones and muscles, mind and emotion all connect as one totally blew me away.

Techniques like the Shimmy and the Egyptian walk have been the hardest for me to teach to my students, but since doing your workshop, I have utilised the way you break moments down, and my students and I are doing the best shimmies ever!

As the day went on and I started to absorb more of what you were saying, I began to understand that the more loose and relaxed my bones and muscles were the more vulnerable my mind and body became to the music.

This concept gave me a whole new insight into improvisation, which is truly the art of the dance, expressing yourself freely in the magic of the moment. From this vulnerable state the dancer transforms the music from sound into a visual tangible feeling form, therefore justifying the music. This is where the journey begins for the dancer and the audience.

In this space there is an abundance of movement, whereas, if the mind takes over, there are limits to what the body can do. When our negative inner talk takes over, the dance becomes a stressful experience and Belly dancing is not meant to be stressful.

I also especially love the way you really focus on the belly being our dance centre. I think for me this is what inspired me the most. It brought me back to my body and my feeling centre. I can quite easily lose my centre; a lot of stress everyday and running a business can be over whelming. When I move my energy to my belly and dance from there, my feet instantly become heavier and I feel more grounded. This felt really good and I felt more present in the moment and my dance became more natural, not so contrived.

I am an Oriental Dancer, not a Folkloric Belly dancer at all. Some people make the mistake of assuming that what you do only applies to a particular style — well it doesn’t.

I am defiantly applying the things you taught me and my students are benefiting a lot
.
I think you are really onto something and I have no hesitation in recommending you for workshops and private lessons. Thank you for your passion and true care and respect and love of the dance

Sincerely with love

Melissa Cristina
February, 2004

Hi maria,
My impression from the student’s point of view. my first impression is that you have a wide knowledge of body awareness & quite possibly need to elaborate more on that, as it is your own invaluable insights taken from different sources that is of great benefit to the student/ teacher.
Student Jenny Long  2003

Hi Maria
Thanks for your reply.
My experience on Saturday? For me – a 51-year old woman from a very constrained Anglo background, it was a very confronting decision to attend a trance workshop! However, over the past few years I’ve been trying to challenge myself in relation to voice (singing workshops) and body (dance classes, yoga etc) For me, it was both challenging and incredibly exciting.
I had momentary glimpses of its potential for transformation at a deep level, followed quickly by my ego wanting to check what others were doing -
‘Do I blend in?’ Am I better / worse than others?’ ‘Do I look ridiculous?’ etc etc….
Your gentle yet confident voice and instructions, combined with the music were a wonderful gift for participants. So, I want to challenge myself some more with your work.
Warm regards
Jill  March 15, 2005   After Trance Dance Workshop at  Pt Fairy Festival 2005

‘There are three points I would like to make about Maria. point one I trusts her and I know that she won’t push me further than I needs to be. Point two is that she teaches from a functional, pure and practical point of view. Because she comes  from this place it has the greatest impact on your dance with the least stress on the body so you are not putting the body in stress at all and the third point is that the classes are fun.’
Wendy Mc Queen  2002

‘Since I have been attending Maria’s classes my dancing is much more fluid and centred. Her emphasis on  the source of movement (not the result) enables your movements to happen naturally, so they don’t look forced, enabling them to flow and to release the vitality within.
I particularly relate to her anatomical visualisations. She provides a wealth of different ways to understand something so that every one can find a meaningful explanation, and her attention to detail is excellent.
As Middle Eastern Dance teacher I cannot recommend her highly enough.’
Fay Corthore 2005

I’ve really been enjoying the classes for several reasons

- You’re a great teacher – you have lots of methods and analogies that the learner can relate to and finally ‘get it’
- I really like the warm up and warm down parts (as a bridge from one state to another)
- Being a Gemini I’m often in my head, so being in my body for an hour an a half is fantastic therapy for me
- The style of dance is very feminine and has made me appreciate my feminine hips and thighs and tummy and bottom – all the bits that have been cursed for years!
- I’m now carrying round a greater awareness of my body and a new feeling of sensuality and a sense of empowerment that comes from appreciating the beauty of the female form
- The dance space is very welcoming and peaceful too

Krista Minzenmay -  Recreational Egyptian Dance  2009