The Magic of Bellydance with Ansuya

[MarissaCooper89]

the Bellydance is the best dance...

[fightersatan]

i want this music ~

Who know~

[parkman35]

Ansuya has THE body for dancing...she's so gorgeous.

[ShriShambhalaTribe]

la cancion es "Entrance of the Stars"

[ChequexA]

ehmmm quisiera saber como se llama la cancion del video porfavor =D..[!]

[Adishakti]

I don't think I'm getting my message across clearly, if it's understood not to bend your knees or if I'm criticizing anyone's dancing (not my intent). Of course you must bend your knees, and Ansuya doesn't dance squatted but in this demonstration of posture, I feel it is exaggerated to the point of causing harm. My apologies if I've offended anyone, but I do think it's important to stand tall.

[DarnassianGoddess]

If you've ever taken a belly dance class, you'd know how important bending your knees is. Of course you'll do certain moves that require you to straighten up - maybe on a turn or something, but for the most part, you'll never have a teacher tell you to stand any other way than the way Anusya is demonstrating.

[Adishakti]

(I teach). Bending knees is required for most hip movement, but staying in any position for very long is not good for you. Your body is designed to stand up straight. The curve in your back is healthy. For the fun of it, try walking. Are your knees bent or straight when your weight is on them? Now walk with bent knees and pelvis tucked in. Which feels more natural? Forcing hip movement with straight legs is not good, and neither is maintaining this bend-knee, pelvic-tucked posture.

[Adishakti]

If you maintain a pelvic tuck as a general stance, you grind the vertebrae in your lower back and shorten your iliopsoas which over time will cause damage to both your spine and posture. Standing/moving on bent knees for too long will strengthen your vastus lateralis. That seems fine, but there are four muscles involved in your quads and they all connect under your knee. An imbalance in those muscles will pull your knee outwards and cause friction and pain over time. (Plus irreversible damage).

[Adishakti]

My comments are not meant to be critical or mean. It's just that there is a lot of this posture being applied, and it concerns me to see anyone harming themselves physically when beautiful dancing can be had with a posture of stature. (It's okay to bend knees and tuck the pelvis to allow for specific movements, but not as a general stance to maintain).

[Adishakti]

It is wonderful to enjoy someone's dancing and want to be like them (Ansuya is very talented), but as informed dancers, it is smart to think about what advice we decide to keep. Take what you like of someone's dancing and leave what you don't (or is unsafe). Make it your own, and make it safe...

[juliablanche]

I have to agree with you - for example I have always found it easier to shimmy straight rather than bent , if that makes sense. If I try to bend and tuck my knees lock up - and I have been dancing now for 23 years. Okay, I learn more each day but I have to agree with you.

[bellydansoh]

yes but what she is trying to get across is that you shouldnt ever lock your knees whilst dancing, because of injury and cos it stops you being able to move easily from that position. x

[ShriShambhalaTribe]

Hi this is Alina, I'm the other chick w/ Tempest :) black pants, just found this video by chance. Adishakti, I'm an instructor as well, I've been teaching for 4 years now and take many workhops w/many masters, in order to protect your kness, you must bend them. If this is not what you're doing, then be careful, you might injure yourself.

[TempestChan]

I have to Disagree with Adishakti. I was in this video (Tempest, in the maroon and then in orange).

DelilahRa is correct, you must bend your knees. And the degree of bending depends on the style.

In Bharatnatyam we bend down FAR more than this, and it isnt harmful as long as you stay tucked with back straight.

I wish people could just enjoy the Beautiful message instead of nit-picking things that arent even correct in the first place.

[tastysushi]

beautiful! long live Ansuya!

[bellie28]

great !!

very pretty dancer =)

and very sweet tummies 2 =)

[tastysushi]

the posture advice is the traditional oriental dance posture.

[nefabit]

Since when?! If your knees are straight, the hips become locked and they cannot move. Ask any doctor!

[DelilahRa]

Oh, so you aren't a bellydancer? How could you possibly know, then? This posture has been used in bellydance for thousands of years. You should take one or two bellydance classes. Then you would know. But please don't badmouth someone or something if you don't know what you're talking about.

[DelilahRa]

Sorry, this was my daughter Nefabit, she forgot to log me out and sign in as herself. But I think I would have to agree with her. What is wrong with the posture Ansuya is teaching here? You MUST bend your knees in order to move your hips! I'd LOVE to see a video of you doing hip work with your knees straight! That would be something to see! :)

[nefabit]

I think the posture you're referring to is the one she called Indian posture. Remember that Ansuya is a fusion dancer, meaning she doesn't do strictly traditional belly dance. As far as her normal posture, the advice is sound. We stand like that so our hips can move freely.

[deadlynightshade24]

cool i love this video