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Hiring a Belly Dancer for Your Orlando Wedding Reception Entertainment?

by Bellydance By Jennifer Inc. | Nov 27, 2012 | Blog Posts 2012

Every wonder about hiring an elegant, fun, and dynamic belly dancer for your Orlando Wedding Reception Entertainment? Entertainment choices can mean the difference between a boring wedding reception...

Costuming Checklist for Belly Dancers

by Bellydance By Jennifer Inc. | Nov 22, 2012 | Blog Posts 2012

As a Professional Belly Dancer and designer in Orlando with Bellydance By Jennifer Inc., the subject of costuming is huge when it comes to performance. After a few headaches, I decided it would be...

Bellydance By Jennifer Inc: How to Edit Your Belly Dance Music

by Bellydance By Jennifer Inc. | Nov 19, 2012 | Blog Posts 2012

Ok everyone I wrote this blog because there are still a large volume of dancers who do not know how to cut their own music and thus becoming frustrated with having to rely on someone else to do it...

I Have a Dream…

by Bellydance By Jennifer Inc. | Nov 13, 2012 | Blog Posts 2012

As the elections have come to a close and America has chosen to once again vote for Obama, what a triumph it is to have a black president elected for not one, but two terms. This has become a...

Inappropriate Cyber Etiquette with Belly Dancers

by Bellydance By Jennifer Inc. | Oct 31, 2012 | Blog Posts 2012

I don’t know about you, but Bellydance By Jennifer Inc. has had ENOUGH with inappropriate comments via cyber space. The internet is a wonderful thing; one can market and promote their abilities via forums, social networking sites, blogs, and video to name a few.

There is a very dark side though, the side that does not appear publicly for others to see by way of inappropriate pm’s (Bhuz), DM’s (Twitter), inbox (Facebook), email, text, and Youtube Messages.

While the vast majority of private messages I have received have been overwhelmingly positive (and at times made me tear up with happiness), there is a small percentage that have been made by men and cyber stalkers who send sexualized, offensive and inappropriate comments. Just one of these is enough to throw one over the edge, and as a belly dancer it seems that my profession attracts these perverts.

No matter how classy and sweet one portrays themselves online, being a woman and a belly dancer seems to call the attention of some men who feel that it is ok to tell us how sexy they think we are, or that we should show more skin, or come away and dance for them…ugh!

If you cannot say it in real life to my face or publicly on the internet then do not say it! It is disgusting etiquette to throw these comments out to someone. Your sexualized, inappropriate comments strike me and many others who deal with these people offensive.

This is an art form. If you cannot say it to another serious profession then what makes you think you can say it to us? Personally I do not like any man other than my boyfriend telling me that I am sexy or anything else above that. Have respect!

That is enough for toniight. Have you ever been cyber stalked? Gotten a text from someone you did not know wanting you to dance or meet them somewhere? Unwanted private messages to where you had to block the person because it made you uncomfortable? Many of us have. So what should we as a community do to prevent this and educate?

Please leave your comments below and let Bellydance By Jennifer Inc. know your story.

Belly Dance Roll Down- Jennifer Style!

by Bellydance By Jennifer Inc. | Oct 26, 2012 | Blog Posts 2012

After numerous messages and discussions here is a nice blog post with video to go over this challenging approach to a belly roll down… Bellydance By Jennifer Inc. style! It is not something that once can learn in a day it takes a lot of time and patience and no matter what size you are, with determination, the muscle control necessary can be developed.

The first section of the video goes over drill #1 which covers isolating the top half from the lower half of the abdomen.
Drill #2 follows showing a 6 step approach to the roll down with the tightening of the ab muscles one section at a time from upper abs to lower abs, and finally a pelvic squeeze.
Drill #3 goes over my stylistic choice of pushing out the ab muscles from top to bottom
and finally the ab muscle are reeled in from top to bottom in a much more gooey and relaxed fashion.

This roll down is about dynamic muscle movements, discipline, and concave and round shapes that are made utilizing nothing more than the abdomen. Enjoy and send me all your questions in comments in the comment box below. Muah!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O2UyUlKKyoY

Is the Rhinestone on Your Bellydance Costume the Real Deal?

by Bellydance By Jennifer Inc. | Sep 28, 2012 | Blog Posts 2012

I wrote this blog because I firmly have an issue when a) I or my friends buy high priced designer costumes $550+ and the sew on stones and chain used are the most low grade rhinestones.

Note: I am a designer. I understand that companies need to churn profits but if you are going to sell costumes in the above price range there is wiggle room to pay a little extra and get your clients Swarovski or other high quality lead crystal alternatives, especially if your overseas and materials and the cost of labor and supplies is much less than the U.S.

That being said I will refer to case A) said friend paid $750 for a custom designer costume. Wore it a few times, i bought it after and when it arrived after three or four uses crystals looked like the photo provided! Now then….being a designer I did the math without any supplier discounts and the costume still churned a nice profit to said designer.

The issue is, if the designer is charging that rate, and doing a lovely job and marketing as a high end atelier, then shouldn’t the materials used be of high quality? Or if designer does not want to, should they then stop promoting the use of using high quality everything so they do not trick buyers who are not designers?

So here it is…let’s talk about all things rhinestone and share the knowledge.

Ok here it goes (inhale).

Why is it called rhinestone? Because it used to be gathered from the rhine river hence its name 🙂

What makes a rhinestone sparkle? A few things, the foil backing, the facets, and the amount of lead in the crystal. The lead really make it sparkle and shine like crazy!

Swarovski- they are the best in quality and the measure against which all other rhinestones are compared. They use a secret machine with a very refined laser and process that creates the gorgeous color and faceting that makes them unique. Have 14 facets.

Czech machine cut rhinestone such as Preciosa and etc…- I use Preciosa as an example as I have used them and they rock! Almost identical to Swarovski in shine and actually are a little punchier in color compared to Swarovski colors which are known for being more delicate. Come in 8-14 facet styles.

You can read Rhinestone Guys article about the Preciosa vs Swarovski differences at http://www.rhinestoneguy.com/allaboutrhinestones.html on the subject (he is awesome to work with and super knowledgeable). Anywho, they are a little less pricey and a great alternative.

Machine pressed this type of crystal is not as brilliant as the above two options and costs considerably less. Still very sparkly in my opinion but just not the same brilliance and luster.

Cut glass: never worked with this type but I mention it because I know it is an option that is out there and used. No lead here. If you know about this please comment below.

The worse quality of the bunch are acrylic rhinestones which are really nothing more than molded plastic. These do not really produce much of a shine and Although many of my budget conscious friends use them, please don’t lol! They will cheapen the look of your costume and they just bubble up anyways.

So these are the types. How can you tell what kind of crystal you have? I recommend having at least one Swarovski in your house at all times as a gauge. You can just place a stone besides it and see if there is a noticeable sparkle, facet, and color difference.

Another way is to check your stone after a few sweaty days of dancing and see how it reacts to the moisture. Swarovski will never bubble. Yep that’s right, they don’t bubble. Imitators will 🙂

Lastly ask a friend who works with rhinestone often. 🙂

Dancers do not be afraid to ask the designer what stones they use, you might be surprised! Unless if you specify Swarovski, or the designer specifies it, then chances are it is another type of stone as these are very highly priced. The designer is not a bad person if they dont use the top two options, sometimes budget constraints are the reason. The issue is when a designer clearly lies about the stone they are using…yuck!

As for my rhinestone sets, I will answer the question now, because I know someone will ask lol. My sew ons are Swarovski…yes less profits but darn it I am a dancer and we deserve it! My chain is czech cut rhinestone so its blingy 🙂 wish I could do Swarovski chain but my goodness have you seen those prices aaaah!

Please post your questions and comments in the blog and as always would love to hear from you!

The Skinny on Competitions

by Bellydance By Jennifer Inc. | Sep 5, 2012 | Blog Posts 2012

A heck of a month…

I feel so guilty for not writing sooner but this month as many of you have seen has been quite busy. Between school, my internship, training for competitions, private parties, shows, traveling and tons more in my personal life, this has been one challenging yet rewarding month.

I write today to talk about this whole competition things and answer many of my friends and colleagues questions on what competitions entail, why I decided to do them and the good and bad. So here it goes…

Let us begin by saying that competitions are not for the weak of heart. It takes time, e

Training, heart and soul, and mucho mula$$ to succeed and do well.

The biggest tips for future competitors (coming from someone who learned the hard way the first couple of times):

1. Choose a competition in your dance style. If your American Cab, go to an Am Cab competition not to an Egyptian one for example so that the judges fit this genre.

2. Find out who your judges will be. Chances are that if you are Am Cab mix style like me, having Dina, Randa Kamel, and etc… As judges might not be the best idea so KNOW who will be your panel because they will be very subjective according to their ideal.

3. Be expressive, emotional, and comfortable

4. Wear bright colors, adornments, appropriate underwear, and wear a darn nice costume. nothing cheap.

5. Expect these competitions to last a loooong time

6. Do it for the right reasons.

7. Acknowledge the band!

8. Make sure to read the criteria and stay in the time limit and prop requirements.

9. A little less is more. You do not have to bust out all your tricks…emotion will play a big role and executing the movements you do well is better than many that are not as strong.

10. Choose music that truly moves you (or as close to it if music requirements are more stringent).

11. Most importantly be ready to bend a little to the style the competition asks for but always remain you!

Cons of Competing

– it takes lots of money (studio, costuming, jewelry, competitor fee and workshops, etc…)

-sometimes you are forced to dance to only oriental classics which has always frustrating for someone like me (there I said it) but part of the challenge is overcoming those obstacles.

-if you dont make it, it can bum you out for a few days lol

In general I absolutely love the experience of competing. The critiques received from renown judges has made me a better dancer year after year and has given me thicker skin.

Winning and placing has opened up so many doors and allowed me to meet such passionate and simply wonderful people and has put my name out there to a much wider audience which is the best advertising.

I highly recommend this to any serious dancer, it really will make you examine your dance deeply and become comfortable with your strengths and weaknesses which is critical to getting better.

Well, bye for now, and if I missed anything please write a comment below with your thoughts!

Belly Dancing for a Colombian Wedding in Kissimmee

by Bellydance By Jennifer Inc. | Jul 19, 2012 | Blog Posts 2012

I finally had the pleasure of belly dancing at a wedding in Kissimmee that was of Colombian heritage a few weeks ago! I am of Colombian descent, and it is no secret that belly dance is not as popular in my country as it is in others.

This wedding featured a lovely bride names Maricel who wanted to surprise her new husband with a fun and elegant belly dance performance for their wedding reception.

Of course, true to my style, the bride loved how my shows are custom designed to fit the wedding colors, my impeccable taste in music that fits the event and the heritage of the crowd (I ended it with one of our countries fiery romantic favorites “Fruta Fresca”) and my sense of humor and dance style.

The show was a huge hit at the Kissimmee wedding reception and it was such a treat to finally get a request from a fellow Colombian as it is not the norm by any stretch of the imagination in my country.

Here are some photographs I just had to share by Jason Azcarate (the brides talented son). Thank you for choosing me to share this spectacular night belly dancing for your Kissimmee Wedding!

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12 Months in a Year….So Why are Workshops a Week Apart from One Another?

by Bellydance By Jennifer Inc. | Jul 12, 2012 | Blog Posts 2012

I hope this does not cause too much of a stir but as an Orlando belly dancer I know if I am feeling the discomfort then others probably are too… The belly dance community is growing stronger and becoming more popular offering more opportunities for events and workshops where this art form can be enjoyed by the masses. On this point I commend the large increase of workshops becoming available.

On the other hand with soooo many new belly dance events springing up and SOME promoters not working with other event hosts, there is a big discord on workshop dates. As a dancer and regular attendee of events/workshops this creates a stressful issue.

For example: say I know my favorite dancer is coming for a workshop in May, then my second favorite is coming two weeks later at another event, and then there is a competition/workshop weekend the week after, there is a big problem here! Why? Because of this:

A: These workshops all cost money, and being so close together the majority of dancers will probably have to pick and choose and not be able to attend one of their favorites workshops.

B: There is not enough time to prepare. Let’s say your invited to dance at all 3, your expected to put on a fabulous performance for all three and sometimes with life it gets a bit too busy some seasons to properly prepare for all.

C: It is a bad example for the belly dance community when event sponsors get negatively competitive with each other instead of working together. If they can work together and set appropriate dates that don’t step on each others toes, we would all win.

-This is a business I know and I bow down to the event hosts who put these events on because it is a TON of work, but realize you will gain more if students have enough time to reccuperate cash flow in between and then they do not have to sacrifice more than they need to. Also it strengthens the community 10 fold when you can get a long 🙂

Honestly having a ton of workshop options is a blessing, but please hear our cries, we WANT you to get along, we want workshops to be schedules with enough time apart to recuperate, we want your amazing festivals and instructors to have a good turn out, we want for the big events to continue for the long haul and not wither away, we want to put on amazing shows for each, we want to see our friends be able to come with us to these workshops.

Ok that is my rant, love belly dance, appreciate all the hard work form sponsors but please, let’s work together and put on belly dance workshops and events without the extra stress! Love ya! From your Orlando belly dancer Jennifer 🙂

Is It Belly Dance? Views on Fusion

by Bellydance By Jennifer Inc. | Jun 25, 2012 | Blog Posts 2012

The other day I read an article written by on the subject on fusion and confusion and whether it was deemed to be belly dance or not. There are some very strong feelings on this matter and while I will share my own on the subject, there is no right or wrong, and all thoughts are respected.

That being said, ere are a few schools of thought on fusion. Fusion is where you combine the art and discipline of belly dance with another dance style.

In this blog I will be referring to three main belly dance styles: American belly dance, Egyptian style, and tribal. These three will serve as the base point in my logic.

Let us begin by discussing Egyptian belly dance briefly. In this particular style the dancer attempts to emulate the Egyptian belly dancers from the golden era and a little beyond. Dancers such as Dina, Nagwa Fouad and others come to mind. This style can be inward at times and pleasing the audience is not the main concern. This is probably the strictest in its view of fusion. Because this style tries to maintain the traditions and integrity of its original form, fusing it with anything else is deemed as making it “not belly dance” by many.

American cabaret by its very development is a style that combines a mixture of various belly dance styles such as Egyptian, Turkish, Lebanese, and audience driven entertainment concepts to formulate something unique and pleasing to a wide audience.

This is the style that I adhere to the most with the exception that I also include Tribal belly dance movements and concepts as I take a comprehensive approach to my belly dance. I also take snippets of Latin styling such as a flamenco arm thrown in every now and then, and whatever other genre the modern music I choose calls for.

Many traditional minded dancers deem American belly dance as not being belly dance surprisingly, even though the typical American dancer uses the same movement vocabulary, just executed in a different way.

American tribal style has been around for a few decades and is an American creation with a very earthy, muscular, and group/tribe emphasis. It is deemed by many in the Egyptian belly dance style and even other belly dancers as not being considered belly dance because of its heavy incorporation of other world dances.

In this I must wholeheartedly disagree! Tribal and tribal fusion belly dance still has all the basic vocabulary of traditional belly dance just as American style, it is just executed with a different stylization to make it unique and different.

My feelings on fusion is this:

-if it heavily utilizes belly dance vocabulary then it is belly dance

-if the other dance genres infused into belly dance are not overtaking the amount of belly dance, then it is still belly dance. A 60:40 ratio is the max amount in my opinion to still label something as still being belly dance. By this I mean, that if 60% is belly dance vocabulary and 30% is a completely different non belly dance style that is done keeping in mind the class and intention of the dance, then it is still belly dance in my opinion.

What I do not consider belly dance in fusion:

-when the majority of the dance is non-belly dance vocabulary

-dancers who are not well trained in the art and wear the costume for beautification purposes and dance with no knowledge of the culture or class in this art form.

Ok I h ave written a lot so will stop here but enlighten me please. What do you consider to be belly dance or not and why? What metric do you use? How do you feel about fusion?

How to Measure Cup Size and Translate to a Costume Bra

by Bellydance By Jennifer Inc. | Jun 1, 2012 | Blog Posts 2012

Hi Everyone! I have been busy busy busy working on costumes for dancers and here is one issue that is common pertaining to bra size and fit that I think will help some dancers and aspiring costume makers out there who are looking to make or buy a great fitting costume bra.

This is my first Vlog and will be uploading more on a regular basis. Please post your comments, question, and if you need any explanations comment directly onto this post. Thanks and talk to you all soon!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9KL1ik_svKs&list=HL1338585000&feature=mh_lolz

For reference here at photos taken from BHUZ on how to measure your bra CUP appropriately. Here is the link to the thread and the photoagrphs by Bhuz user Jewels if you a are a member of BHU you can view the thread..