Amythia

Cameron Russell: Looks aren’t everything. Believe me, I’m a model. #TED : http://on.ted.com/gTDB

Do be aware of your hands and fingers.  Don’t let them stay limp, or forget what they are doing.

When dancing and modeling, be aware with what your fingers and hands look like to the photographer and audience.  Some really good inspirational content to look up if you are blank on what to do with your hands are:

• belly dancing: hand rolls, snake, fanning/covering different aspects of your body.
• bolly wood/middle eastern dance: mudra—each hand position/shape means something different—tells a story through movement.
• pin up: positioning of hands on hips, thighs, clasped together, etc.  Note the position of hands and arms in juxtaposition with rest of body.
• liquid: popular in old school rave culture, having your fingers, hands and arms move around your body in liquid movements.  body often follows with liquid the rest of the body.

Half assed movements with your hands and arms look half assed because they are—surprise—half assed!  So when you want to fling your arm up, fling it up, have your fingers fan out and straighten that arm.

Practice in the mirror and have fun with trying new things.  There have been many times when i try something on stage even—though if it doesn’t work out you get the challenge of moving on.  

This is one of my biggest rants when it comes to watching people.  Whether it’s a dancer, or even just a coworker standing in front of me.

• Don’t slouch.
• Do pull your shoulders back.

Why?

It can’t be healthy in the long run.  This may cause back problems, or worsen preexisting ones over time.  Confidence shows in how one carries themselves.  If you had wings, and your shoulders are slouched, you would be hiding in those wings.  You are doing a disservice to your natural body.  This goes out to those who are tall and  slouch to make themselves not tall.  This makes posture more awkward and have you not heard of “love the skin you’re in”?  Literally—love that fact your are tall, some people are totally jelly of tall people.  (Not I, I love the fact I am small.)

So…

Throw your shoulders back.  Yoga instructors often say “stack your shoulders on your back.”  Try yoga classes, or arm and shoulder stretches that open up that area.  Speaking of opening up, it will open your heart chakra and your love for yourself, your body and others will be doubled!  Stop hiding in those wings, throw them back.  When you open up that area, breathing is easier.  Take a deep breath right now, like a real big and serious breath, fill your chest cavity.  Notice how your shoulders move back to open up that space for all that air?  Now try to keep your shoulders like that.

It’s something you can be mindful of, make it an intention to be mindful of your shoulders and posture at every moment you can remember, even off the stage and away from the camera.

Apply this to dancing and modeling—dancing especially, as modeling often calls for some awkward positions where slouching can be called for in a creative fashion. 

I want to make little videos of free style dancing to different styles of music.  For myself it would be great to see myself dancing and not just in front of a mirror.  Ideally I would have some one take video of me dancing at a party.  

Dancing at the Seed of Life at The Shambhala Music Festival was really transforming for my perception of how I dance, and dancing in front of the camera on the Labyrinth Stage was so empowering.

The videos would be a step towards promoting myself as a performer.  An alternative dancer.

Would also be interested in posting tutorials, 101 articles, essays, and do’s/don’ts of dancing and modeling.  Ideas are brewing in this half sane, half insane woman mind of mine. ;)