Thanks to Eurika, Farasha and Suhani for coming out under the Belly Dancing For Fun umbrella and being fabulous rogue dancers!
We had a blast as part of the entertainment at the Asian Heritage Month Banner Unfurling on Monday May 6th.
Click HERE to see some of our other posed shots!
Posted in BDFF Experiences, Halyma Dances
This session both my Monday and Tuesday belly dance classes are playing with finger cymbals. Zills are a great musical toy to play with, once you feel comfortable doing so.
It took me YEARS!
I took workshops, walked along in the winter with my heavy mitts on tapping out 1,2,3 1,2,3 1,2,3…
And so now I want to give a little bit of info to help my students, and anyone wandering across this article, in their adventure with zilling!
Zills come in different sizes.
Obvious:
Small ones are great for small hands and beginners, and you can progress to the larger ones as you go along.
If you purchase “Single holed” zills, you will eventually hang them on your Christmas/Yule tree after they spin around your finger multiple times, so look for the “two slotted” zills.
Some online sites to check out:
Saroyan Cymbals - amazing quality – but sadly the store is closed temporarily as I write this post, but you can search for used Saroyans online, I am sure.
Ebay: Search and look carefully before buying. These resemble some very low-end Zills I purchased a few years ago, but would be fine to get used to the motion and having something on your fingers: CLICK HERE
Bellydance.com has some tiny ones at a reasonable price – good for starting out!
These folks just started following my Twitter stream – so check ‘em out: JaggedThorns.net
And remember to search for “Zills” “Zagat” “Sagat” and Finger Cymbals to cover all of your bases.
Zill covers:
Obvious: Zills make noise.
By covering one or both of your cymbals on each hand { you are wearing 4 at a time}, you will find it easier to full on “play” them without worrying about your neighbours hearing you or your pets going whacky.
Options:
- Baby socks
- elastic wrapped around the zills – just take it off after each practice session.
-You can make your own fancy ones:
Lacy ones – photo from PieKnits.com- go here for instructions if you crochet:
Or check out New England Knitters Pretty Petaled Zill Covers
-You can buy some online:
Mistyisle is from Ontario on Etsy: BURGUNDY VELVET ZILL MUFFLERS
And just do a quick search for “Zill Mufflers” on ETSY.COM and you will find LOADS of them – thank you crafty dancers!!
So you found zills, you found mufflers, now what?
Put them on. One on each thumb between the nail and first knuckle, one on each middle finger, again, between the nail and first knuckle.
Tighten the elastic until your fingers and zills feel like they won’t separate. No, I mean it. Secure the elastic by sewing or using a tiny brass safety pin.
Then you want to head over to some online places to familiarize yourself with the potential rhythms and beats you can achieve with practice – or find a class and join in! HEre are just a couple – again do some searching and see what you find!
This lovely instructor explains a lot of what I wrote – but here – enjoy:
Once you’ve checked her out – head over to Shimmy Goddess for some interesting rhythms written out, articles and more info:
http://www.shimmygoddess.com/zills.htm
And that should get you started!! Practice all of that fun stuff while walking and then start adding it as you are dancing. Simple as that 
…Kidding – it takes practice and allow yourself that time to get comfortable!
Happy playing!
I love teaching. I love the energy coming through the students as we dance, explore and learn new things together. As December approaches and we prepare for our end of season recital { sorry, it’s a semi-private sold out event}, I am reminded why I love belly dance.
Even though there are very specific rhythms and moves accorded to all the varieties of Middle eastern dance/ arabic dance, I call what I do, Belly dancing For Fun, because that’s what it’s supposed to be.
Fun, for adult women who have stress filled days and need an hour – or two – to get out and shake things up in a gentle yet physically enriching way.
Fun, as we play with beautiful pieces of fabric that we direct through the air and laugh as those same gentle piece of fabric go awry and wrap around our heads.
Fun, as most of the ladies I teach are from completely varied backgrounds and get to know something about themselves as they all work together over the weeks of a session to learn and accept what their bodies can do!
And then, when it all seemed to be settling into a too familiar rhythm, I decided to mix thing up and created my own fusion classes that I call, Bellywood.
And the fun got turned up a notch! Mixing moves from Bollywood, classical indian, and general mayhem with fusion music from south asian artists/ canadian artists and whatever suits my fancy, my ever evolving Bellywood with Halyma gang has been making me smile!
Ameenah, Sadirah, Halyma and Esmerelda
And now as things are winding up for the Fall 2012 session, I am looking forward to the break. during which I will over indulge in relaxation and food.
Starting mid January, though, we are back at it! You gonna join in the fun?
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