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Welcome to Eclipse Belly Dance!
Eclipse is your home for everything raks sharqi; from video tutorials on techniques to articles on the history of the dance styles. With years of professional experience and authentic knowledge of the art form, we'll guide you through everything you need to know.Your guides and founders of Eclipse are Dana and Kari:
Dana is our 'oracle of the Arab world'.
Kari is our creative director and dance instructor.
We are here to answer questions and teach you about this wonderful art form.If there is a topic you want us to disucss on this site, please email us:
This site is currently under construction, so please bear with us. Updates will be coming soon and often!
Eclipse Opens Art Exhibition
5th December 2009
Kari of a Eclipse Belly Dance performed at the opening of a local art exhibition in her hometown of Sandefjord, Norway on Saturday the 5th of December. The theme was "multi-culture" and a Norwegian Belly Dancer couldn't have been more fitting! If you were in the area, perhaps you took part in the experience and would liek to share your thoughts? In which case don't hesitate to leave a comment below!
Eclipse Belly Dance had the pleasure of interviewing Perth's top act: Helen New!
Helen is a multitalented performer and choreographer, currently based in Perth, Australia.
Originally from New Zealand, she has been dancing for more than a decade. Together we go down memory lane to the very beginning of her career, discussing everything from attitudes towards the dance form to technique and choreography making skills. There's an abundance of information here folks, so don't miss out! Listen in, and learn a few tips from a pro.
Click HERE to listen to the interview or right-click to download!
In addition to being an awesome dancer and teacher, Helen does Burlesque and Modeling. For more info, or to get in touch with Helen, check out:
Photograph: www.davidwoolley.com.au
I don't even know where to start on this one, but all I can say is WOW!
We recently took a trip to New Zealand, and hands down, it must be one of the most beautiful places on Earth! We did both islands in 10 days, and I could not believe the variety in landscape. We drove through bright green, sheep sprinkled fields only to arrive at blue lakes with snow capped mountains on either side. We hiked through rainforest to get to a glacier, saw glow-worms in a cave with a waterfall and took a ferry through fiords with penguins in them! Not to mention some of the most beautiful coastline, with waves crashing against jagged rocks and palm trees. Sound amazing yet? And that's just the South Island!
On the North Island we enjoyed thermal hot spring baths and natural mud face-masks. As well as a bit of culture with a Maori dance and dinner show. The food was great, and the performance very energetic. The women performed Poi dance, a traditional Maori dance using balls (traditionally made from flax fiber in local plants) that are suspended from a length of string, which they then hold in their hands and swing in a circular motion. Thus making the ball fly in time with their singing and choreography. I gave it a try, and believe me, it's difficult! (and painful when the ball comes back and hits you in the leg!) Needless to say I was very impressed, and figured it would be cool to research Poi culture a little deeper..
Turns out it's become a world known hobby and often used in performance art. Today the Poi is made from more durable materials like synthetics and wool, as the original "recipe" wouldn't sustain the increase in demand. The design itself has also developed, and we now have styles like the Practice Poi, Performance Poi, Glow Poi, Glowstringing and the sizzling hot Fire Poi.
Tricks include Waves, Butterflies, Wraps and Flowers as well as complicated combinations involving spinning behind the back or under the leg. To take it to another level, the person can do jumps, spins or simple dance steps at the same time as spinning the Pois. This made me wonder if perhaps Poi dance could be combined with Belly Dance. Turns out, there is a dancer in London who does exactly this! She is the lovely Aurora. Check out her website!
Pretty innovative, eh? I can't wait to see what the world of Belly Dance will think of next.
-Kari
As much as I love Belly Dancing, I always keep my eyes open for inspiration elsewhere. While I was searching the web today, I came across The Ballet Bible . This looks like a really good way to learn proper form and grace. Although I don't aspire to become a ballerina, it's never a bad idea to broaden your artistic abilities. I am definitely purchasing this course and I will let you know what I think of it as I progress through it. Who knows, maybe my next class will be a cross between Ballet and Belly Dancing! Anyway, check out The Ballet Bible and let me know what you think.
We made it!
After about 30 hours in the air, Eclipse landed safely in Sydney, Australia. For the first few weeks it was all exploring and traveling, visiting Jenolan Caves, Opal Mines in Lighting Ridge and sailing around the Whitsunday Islands snorkeling the Great Barrier Reef. (So Beautiful..) But now it's time to get back to work! We'll be doing photoshoots, interviews and more, so check back soon to see the updates. Also, if you're interested in being a part of our upcoming workshops in Sydney, please contact us now!