Today we had a workshop on Rajasthani dance with Queen Harish! At Mishaal's place, and the hall was full. Wow, this was so much fun. I have been studying the history of the dances backwards, starting with Argentine Tango, and then going back to one of it's roots, flamenco, and then on to bellydance. And now, finally, the roots of bellydance- gypsy dance in Rajasthan! I was fascinated. One of the first things Harish showed us were the hand movements. Bending the hand at the wrist and then letting it circle slowly and gracefully while turning out the elbow and and moving the arm, like a snake- exactly the same movements I learned about 5 years ago in Sevilla, at Taller flamenco!
Then the hip movements, something similar to a shimmy but slightly slower and with more muscle involved. And something similar to hip drops while turning and stomping with one foot on the floor..I almost entered a trance while performing some of these moves, like I was remembering and reconnecting with something deep inside, and it felt wonderful.
The eye movements and facial expressions were priceless. He broke down the mimics that sent everybody screaming and cheering for him at the Fanfare Ciocarlia concert into several parts that we copied, including the "shy" and very sexy, mischievious biting of the lip. I intend to find a victim and make him swoon and fall off his chair shortly...; )
He said:"She can do this move perfectly" when he showed us the big gypsy wheel turn with the arms open and the upper body bent at an angle. Apparently, I was the only one who could do this alreadty. I learned it with flamenco and also saw it in the Latcho Drom movie, and have been using it at times in my bellydance shows.
Tomorrow there is a Bollywood workshop and a show at night of Harish, also dancing with Aurelia, and on Monday, there will be the second sequence of the Rajasthani workshop and I will be there again, to learn more of the fast turns and spins and more artistic moves, but I think, I give it a pass, that learning how to pick up a ring with my eyelids while bending over backwards...

On the photo is Harish, flirting with Oprica, during a rehearsal in Osaka.

movie clip from Latcho Drom, gypsy dance in Rajasthan:
www.youtube.com/watch

Queen Harish dancing
www.youtube.com/watch
www.youtube.com/watch