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Creativity
in bellydancing, like all arts, is a continuous
process in a permanent state of flux - sometimes inspiration comes
easily and at other times creativity is a challenge. As
with all the arts, dance too has its periods of inertia. It can
be likened to a writer's block, where the desire to express something
new is there but the channels are blocked. In
those times, you need to unlock the power of creative inspiration.
When I was teaching art students in schools, as well as dancers
in class, we found many ways of 'coming back to art'. Here are some
things you can do to boost your own creativity.
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1.
Take a step back Change channels and do something not at all associated with your art, in this case, non-bellydance. Cook, get into the garden, paint, go to the beach - whatever you need to feel refreshed. Sometimes the best thing you can do when you have a creative block is do something totally removed from the area you are focused on. 2. Rest, refresh, relax You might need rest if tiredness is the cause of the blockage. As creative arts can be an individual process, artists sometimes take on too much alone or become lost in their own world. Cultivate support so you can rest from time to time. Teachers and performers would be wise to have a few good dance friends who know your jobs well enough to be able to take over when you need time out. 3. Try something new related to your art Do something new in your field that is related to your art but also challenging or quite different. Travel to broaden your dance horizons, take a class with someone new or book into workshops. If you are an emotive, free dancer, book into a structured choreography workshop. And vice versa. Try something that you don't know too well, something that is not completely comfortable; something that will make you think and create in a different way. |
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4.
Creativity groups Artists have gathered for centuries to gain insight into other's art and receive feedback on their own creativity. You gain inspiration from a like minded group. A relaxed meeting once every month can help you see things more clearly, you can talk about new directions you'd like to explore, they can make suggestions and you can get creative together. As dancers, you and a group of dance friends might like to hire a hall once a month and have a creative 'see what happens' session, where you let the creativity flow organically, with no preconceived ideas of what the outcome may be. |
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5.
Taste new styles Investigate your artform and explore other areas your art can take you. Learn more about veils, sticks, zillz, swords and other props. Watch videos, go to live shows, explore events from both Middle Eastern cultures, other cultures and even cutting edge arts. You may see something that inspires you. There are many other dance and exercise forms that can compliment your bellydancing. Try Flamenco for attitude and strength, ballet for elegance and poise (and to improve your turns), African dance for grounding and earthiness, tango for passion, Latin dance for dynamic sparkle, funk or hip-hop for a modern edge! Try Yoga for suppleness, Tai Chi for balance and Indian Temple dance for devotion. 6. Experiment and play Play with a new open-ended project - experiment with inventing something different within your dance reportoire, with no reference or road-map. It may be a hybrid style, or a new style of costume. Unusual music or a theatre performance dance with a story. Or a totally different style of choreography to what you normally do. This in itself may birth the next stage for your child-like excitement and creativity! 7. Create your own inspired arts space or temple A space where you can transport yourself into another world. Space lets you create. Within your space, only keep things that support your art - don't keep rubbish or things that are old, stagnant or superfluous. Draw pictures and paste photos into a scrap-book (visual diary), keep a journal and even create a special bellydance altar in a quiet space in your home. Surround yourself with things that inspire you - costumes, trinkets, jewellery, cds, fresh flowers, poems, photos - anything that reminds you of the joy and beauty of your art. |
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8.
Discover Music Open your aural channels! Listen to new music, learn about Arabic instruments or even try playing a Middle Eastern tabla, flute, oud or zills. Get a private lesson or arrange a group of friends to hire a music teacher and have some fun! Learning about music strengthens confidence in dancing - whether it be rhythm or melody related. Discover what the 'Arabic scale' is, and you will open the door to a new understaning of eastern music. Learn about how music inspires certain moods. Gabriel Roth's rhythms are excellent. Learning how to play tabla improves your footwork and overall co-ordination for dance! Bellydancers who learn how to play tabla also understand the rhythm, so go ahead - take a lesson! 9. Inject some laughter When art get too technical and serious we lose our artistic spontaneity and fun! Inject some childish play into your art; wear a Cleopatra wig to next week's class, surprise your students by turning up in full costume with a tray of Turkish delight. Liven up your weekly office job - bring a bellydance friend and perform a dazzling surprise duet at lunchtime. Do something you were told not to do like start with a hot drum solo! Break your own rules and allow yourself to be outrageous. Laughter allows creativity. |
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