Imagery has always been a great tool to perfect dance technique. I remember studying the belly dance movement called “maya” and imagining my hips drawing a water fountain. When I became an intermediate level student and I needed to practice variations on the maya movement, the image of a fountain did not work for me any more. On a trip to Morocco I took notice of the palm trees. Suddenly, the multiple leaves hanging at different angles became the perfect image to help me improve my dance technique. On that day I practised the maya while twisting my hips frontwards and backwards. I practised the maya at different levels. I felt the difference between doing a quick and light maya and a slow and heavy one; I tried the difference between giving the maya a horizontal or a vertical emphasis. Suddenly the movement that I had called maya became a multitude of other intricate movements with which I could express the music and my feelings.
Take a look at these images and see how they can inspire you to create multiple variations of the maya movement.
Look around and see what other images can support your dance practice. Enjoy!
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