Student resources

Floreo drills video

Follow along to practise your hand floreos. Includes moving the arms with floreos, propellor, corkscrew, and reverse turns (level 2), and synchronising floreos with bodywave and taxeem.

Zils

Zils, zills, sagat, or finger cymbals are the percussion instrument we play while we dance!  A set of four small cymbals, they are worn on the thumb and middle finger of each hand and fastened with elastic. Cymbals with two slots each for the elastic are preferable, as they allow for more control than those with a single hole.

Zils are usually introduced in the third week of a level 1 term. There are sometimes sets available to borrow, but it’s recommended that you acquire your own for practice, fit, and familiarity. Ziva often has sets available for purchase. You can also try the following sources:

Indeja, 108 Cuba Street, Wellington

NZ Rockshop (look for “finger cymbals: 2 pair pack”)

TradeMe (search for “finger cymbals” or “zills”)

Triballine (Australian supplier of tribal bellydance goodies)

Help with zil practice: there are several tutorials on YouTube, such as this series by Kawakib:

Part 1: alternating

Part 2: triples/triplets/longa

Part 3: military pattern (level 2)

Shimmy

Here’s a video clip that may be helpful in developing your 3/4 walking shimmy. There’s also a clip of shimmy drills.

Makeup

About 5:45-6:17 in this clip is a practical demonstration of why you need makeup under TV (or stage) lights.

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