"Foundations: Bellydance for the Versatile Dancer, Volume I"
by Zanbaka
Trade Paperback: 195 pages
Publisher: ZD Publications; 1st edition (2007)
ASIN: B0010BF9LS
Price: $45.00 + S&H
Originally intended as a handbook for her students, Zanbaka's first volume of "Bellydance for the Versatile Dancer" closes the gap between various styles of bellydance. Volume I: Foundations provides a thorough overview of technique and dance theory, with emphasis on developing the "Dancing Mind".
It creates a strong spring board, preparing students for a well-rounded journey throughout the world of bellydance. Includes over 170 black & white photos/illustrations, insights and tips for technique, and ten practice sessions.
Content addresses: ~ Injury Prevention ~ Safe Movement Practices ~ Concept Groups for Isolation Technique ~ Learning Styles ~ Imagery and Visualizations ~ Mapping out the Bellydance Body ~ Neutral Posture Alignment ~ Core Originated Isolations ~ Rhythms and Finger Cymbals
Andrea's Review:
Where to begin... This book boggles the mind, and in a very good way! Not intended for any particular style of bellydance, any instructor and/or student can benefit greatly from this wonderfully structured presentation.
Zanbaka starts out by introducing the concept of the book, and the series (which will have 7 volumes). She is a proponent of using all learning styles to convey information. The book is meant to be the mental, rational companion of a very physical activity. Zanbaka is a firm believer in first learning high quality technique and isolations before adding stylistic elements, which is why this book is a must for anyone wishing to have a bellydance workbook.
Zanbaka includes a 'how to use this book' section, a brief history and styles, an introduction to learning styles (she defines ten styles), naming conventions of moves and a way to accurately refer to each move. She maps out the bellydance body, showing the regions and individual muscles that come into play during bellydance. Next, she moves on to injury prevention and a unique perspective on stretching and warming up. Posture and balance are addressed, with a simple technique to assure your pelvis is in neutral position. Next, three standard bellydance rhythms are broken down and a basic counting lesson is given. A practice structure follows, showing the advantages of each practice section.
Zanbaka then explains how to verbally orient yourself in the physical world. This is extremely helpful and eliminates the need for phrases like: 'your right' or 'stage right'. Foot positions, basic levels and foot patterns are defined and discussed next. We move on to the two warm up phases. The first phase is a 'get your body going' kind of warm up and the second one includes light stretching and toning. Several basic turns are discussed next.
Zanbaka moves on to isolations, which includes positioning, degrees, contradictory movement, shimmy, shape making, percussive/smooth, undulation and layering concepts. After digesting these concepts, isolations are presented for each region of the body, which include: head, shoulder, hand, wrist, arm, ribcage, abdominal and hip isolations. Greater attention is then paid to shimmies by going into more detail and showing how shimmies can be powered differently.
Flamenco clapping (palmas) and finger cymbals are introduced, followed by a two-phase cool down. Deep stretching is introduced. A brief discussion of transitions closes the instructional part of the book. At the end of the book, there is a 10 Practice Sessions outline, a closing which includes developing presence, gaining constructive feedback and corrections, and raising the bar for bellydance. A bibliography and index are included at the end.
All of this is written in clear, concise and well-defined language. This book is the bridge that has been needed for bellydance students and instructors everywhere. I cannot recommend this book highly enough. It's only 195 pages long, and it has over 170 illustrations and photos, but it is so packed with information, you will refer to it again and again, whether you are a beginner, a seasoned performer, a student, or an instructor. Well worth the price. It goes on the shelf next to "The Tribal Bible".
This volume will be followed with: II. Shapes, Patterns & Layers, III. More Shapes, Patterns & Layers, IV. History, Styles, & Fusion w/ Fortitude (w/ guest writers), V. Floorwork, Veilwork, Props & Dangerous Diversions, VI.
Choreography & Free Form Improvisation, VII. Zanbaka's Repertoire for Tribal Group Improvisation.
To order the book or see full PDF excerpts visit:
http://www.zanbaka.com/versatiledancerseries.htm
