Calligraphic Dancer | The Footwork Challenge

The Footwork Challenge - Calligraphic Dancer Project (C.D.P.)
Process is a lovely creature and must be given freedom to explore. 

Today my first challenge approached me while choreographing my dance language to Hossam Ramzy's version of Enta Omri. While dancing and envisioning the calligraphic characters, my body only wanted to do footwork and no other movement. I had forgotten the world of foot work when I "completed" my "alphabet!" (How silly!) I thought I was good-to-go to arrange the choreography - plus I was under the impression that because I must give the dancer the freedom of their personality, arms and feet placement would be to their discretion - so no foot work needed. But to my happy surprise, I discovered a new character just calling to be conjured!

So what would signify foot work in place? No traveling. I already have travel characters... And what if later I need to add a move on top of that footwork? What would it look like?
Here's the outcome after a few trials....

Foot work

Process is a lovely creature and must be given freedom to explore. Just because one thinks they have something fortified, there will always be something else knocking at the door. Be curious and take a peak. Let it flow and be natural. As creative minds, these types of challenges should be welcomed and worked with.

Foot work with a Figure 8

The Calligraphic Dancer - Beginnings

My next project is called The Calligraphic Dancer. I started in 2012, yet after my Fall graduation I paused due to a number of reasons. It's been two years and it feels really nice to return to something a tad more conceptual and full of layers. Painting is wonderful, but I'm ready for new things.

An artist talks about their experiences through the mediums they feel are appropriate. In doing so, they reveal their own sort of "language." For me the fun part is watching the beauty of chance and the beauty of failure reveal themselves. This project can go in so many ways and I'm not sure if this visual exploration into Middle Eastern Dance will work. As a source of inspiration, John Cage's special words hang on the walls of my studio: "Art is not an escape from life, but rather an introduction to it."
So if my work is an introduction to Middle Eastern Dance, I hope that it will be a tasteful, perceptive and fresh one.

Serpent's Hip Circle

This week I worked on the basic shapes and started with "circles." What are movements in Belly Dance that make "circles?" We have three sizes of hip circles, small (omi's), medium and large. We also have circles of the ribcage, shoulders and head (which can translate more to swinging and flipping your hair). So many more, but I'm sticking to basics....

So far out of about 50+ tries, the image to the right has been my favorite. I call it the Serpent's hip circle or hip circle with heel taps.

For you dancers out there, can you dance it?

For you non-dancers (yet *wink wink*) or beginners, take a look at the image below with numbers. Imagine you're breaking down a large hip circle. You'll start in the middle. Then, slide your hip to the right and tap your heels to the floor creating a small bounce of the body (that's one). Two, slide back and heel tap. Three, keep your hips back but slide left and heel tap. Four, follow the smooth line by bringing your hips forward again and finish the circle! How did it go...?

Stay connected for more on my progress! 

The future had loads more research and involvement, I promise it'll be fun.
Thank you!

Why I make Belly Dance Art

The following blog was originally posted on the Belly Motions blog (check it out, wonderful posts by beautiful people!)

Nagwa Fouad, 2013

Someone once told me that I’d have to choose between Belly Dance and the visual arts to properly fulfill my career path. I was dissatisfied and felt like I was getting cheated from being myself. I believed my identity was a mixture of many creative avenues, not just one. So I trusted my instinct, emerged my two passions and created my dream career against all doubts!

I graduated in 2012 with a BFA from F.I.U. double majoring in Fine Art and Art History, and went on to completely immerse myself into the career of my dreams – becoming a full-time artist and a professional Belly Dancer…and merging the two!

As I reflect on a full year of work, I experienced that the magic of becoming you comes from the process of fulfilling your dreams . I won’t lie that in doing what you love comes tons of work that might not have been expected, even with creative careers! I’ve found that working consistently is the key to staying inspired and learning more!  In my experience I have come across three ways to fuel my passion for visual art and Belly Dance…and I hope these can be an inspiration to YOU too!

1. It’s a personal journey. The arts are wonderful avenues to discover the person that you are. Letting me be discovered by me has truly helped in the development of my work. I am an adventurous person who loves to travel and loves surprises. I like people, tea, conversation, etc… and I give in to it! What I like become statements of who I am which are eventually reflected in the art work.

2. It’s about and for the community. Whether it’s teaching dance and art or working on a one-on-one collaboration with a client (a.k.a. commission), I make sure my work and it’s messages circle in a figure eight – what goes around, comes around! In other words, what I learn I will always give back whether through dance, paintings or teaching.

3. Belief that art is life. I like to think that art and life go hand-in-hand as they are both surprising and like to sneak up on you, even in the tiniest of places. The most important thing I’ve learned and that keeps me inspired is that art is a “connector” between people! For example, dance, what I like to describe as “one of the oldest forms of communication” before verbal language, is as much a part of me as it is to my students and audiences. It can bridge people despite their differences and I’ve felt that magic happen! Effectively, I incorporate those experiences into my art work.

So if you gravitate towards one creative avenue, whether it’s cooking, crocheting, inventing, painting, dancing, or writing… make sure to continue! There’s growth, learning fun, new things and you’ll most likely meet someone that will share that similar passion! I believe we are all creative and we’ve all been there even in the smallest way! Make it simple, just do.

Stop by Belly Motions and visit out our gallery where you can view a few of my paintings!  You can also find more information on my visual art at www.Alexandra-Molina.com