Putting together a costume for your ULTRA sexy, sizzlin’ dance routine can be quite an ordeal ladies! So, here are some questions for you to consider before putting something together:

1. What kind of vibe do you want to give off?
2. Are you going for a playful/comedic type performance or a more seductive, sultry display?
3. Do you want your dance to be a strip tease performance, or a straight “movement” piece?
4.Do you want to do it in heels or bare feet?
5. Are you wanting lots of glitz and glamor or something more plain and “girl next door”…’ish?
6. Do you want to go for something conservative, or super slutty?

These are all questions you’ll want to ask yourself before choosing your costume.

For example if you are wanting to do a playful strip tease in heels that is super slutty but not too “glitzy”, you may want to consider a “school girl” costume that could consist of a white shirt, pleated skirt, knee-high socks and a pair of sexy stilettos! MEOW!

You’ll be surprised at how many cute little costumes you can put together with what you already have!

Okay here’s another one, say you want to do something seductive, wild and bare foot. You may enjoy the “Jungle Jane” type vibe that could include an over-sized shirt with an animal print bra and G-string underneath. Simple, yet very sexy. You can really get into that wild animal stalking prey mindset! *wink

As you get more and more comfortable with your performances you can get more and more elaborate and creative with you costumes. There’s a wide array of costumes and fun lingerie “numbers” that you can choose from in any adult novelty or intimate apparel shop. I personally have put together some beautiful costumes from second hand shops and funky little vintage clothing stores for a fantastic bargain! Shopping around for costumes can be a lot of fun. You can be as creative and over-the-top as your lascivious mind wants to be!

However, if you’re just starting out, you really don’t need to look any further than your own bedroom closet for a HOT & sassy costume guaranteed to turn up the HEAT!

sensualdanceart (at) gmail (dot) com

You’ll find that the way the room is lit is extremely important during your special performance.

Soft ambient lighting can enhance the way you look… and feel! It can give you the confidence to perhaps be a little more risque and revealing because you have a sense of comfort knowing that the lighting is making you LOOK GOOD!

If you are not pleased with the lighting in the room you are performing your sensual dance in, you can turn off the “house” lights and use a lamp with a shade. You can adjust the softness by draping pieces of materiel or light weight scarves around the shade. (be sure not to drape the material over the actual light bulb, as this could be a potential fire hazard.

Another way to enhance the lighting is simply with candles. You can place lit candles at varied heights within the room to create beautiful shadows and cast a soft sensual light on you while you dance.

You can also use Christmas lights! Just string them along the walls or around furniture. Adjust the placement according to how you want the lighting to be for your dance. White or blue Christmas lights work best I find. However, you can play around with different colors to see what you prefer.

The more comfortable and relaxed you feel about your surroundings, the easier it will be for you to loosen up and let yourself go in your dance.

~Heidi Ann

sensualdanceart (at) gmail (dot) com

Performing a sensual dance is so much more than just body movements. It requires you to connect with yourself on a very intimate level. To fall in love with yourself, to approve of yourself, to really accept who you are and then share THAT with another.

Before attempting a sensual dance, it is important to hone in on the aspects that you absolutely love about yourself. Weather they are physical traits such as your eyes, legs, breasts, arms etc. and/or other attributes such as your sense of humor, spirituality, talents, generosity etc.

During your dance you can draw attention to these aspects of yourself in different ways in order for your partner to recognize and appreciate your very best qualities.

sensualdanceart (at) gmail (dot) com

Making the decision to perform a sensual dance, weather it’s just for yourself, or for a VERY lucky audience of one… or more, is a HUGE step towards owning your sexual power and embracing your unique sensual nature.

In order for you to really connect with your primal, pulsing, animalistic self you must give-it-your-ALL!

Not only will YOU feel more connected with yourself, but your spectator(s) will be able to really “feel” you and appreciate your powerful communication.

This is the time when you can really let lose and not worry about being “too much”. Let your hips shake, shimmy and sway to the music. Consciously release any tension or tightness that may be holding you back from really expressing your feelings and emotions through the body.

You can even practice Over-exaggerating movements such as hip roles or head tosses before your “‘performance” to get the feel of experiencing the fullness of your movements.

This is not the time to be shy or subtle. Think over the top, drag queen extraordinaire, totally OUT there, confident and BOLD! Use BIG gestures and expand the energetic space around you.

Remember you are telling a story through your body, the more expressive and clear your movements are, the better the communication will be understood.

You know the famous quote…

“Dance like no one is watching, love like you’ll never be hurt,sing like no one is listening,and live like it’s heaven on earth.”- William Purkey

~ Heidi Ann

sensualdanceart (at) gmail (dot) com

Make-Up Workshops

Tahira’s Belly Dance Studio is hosting another make-up workshop with Taroub!

Sunday, May 2, 2010

“Basic techniques for everyday and stage make-up” workshop*

Learn basic techniques of everyday make-up application, plus how to make your make-up dramatic for stage!

10:30 am – 12:30 pm

$30.00

“Egyptian Eyes” workshop**

Learn to sculpt and define the eye area to create dramatic Egyptian eyes.

1:15 pm – 2:15 pm

$20.00

For both workshops,

$45.00

Tahira’s Belly Dance Studio, Burlington

R.S.V.P. by Wednesday April 28, 2010 at

905-333-1370 or tahira@goddessemerging.com.

Please bring what make-up products and tools/brushes you have. If you will need a magnifying mirror and have one, please bring it.

*This workshop will briefly touch on the history of cosmetics in the Middle East and will focus on the practical application of proper stage make-up for belly dance performance. In-depth direction with a hands-on approach will allow attendees to learn and practice techniques in application. An explanation through make-up demonstration will also be given.

**Those participating in the “Egyptian Eyes” workshop should have learned make-up basics for stage or evening make-up and come prepped (properly based) to start. As this workshop will focus on liner, it is recommended that participants come with the necessary products and tools. It is strongly encouraged that anyone who hasn’t taken the regular workshop attend the “Basic techniques…” workshop prior as it will be a lead into Egyptian Eyes.

Why would a woman want to perform a sensual dance for her partner? Do you think it might be a way for her to express her love? To show her partner how much she really appreciates and adores him/her?

It is a very natural tendency for women to want to show her partner just how sexy and sensual she can be. What better way to do it than in a physical non-verbal manner, which is extremely primal and powerful because she is using her whole body to express and connect with her partner without actually having sex.

However, It is something that we have been conditioned not to do in our culture, so most of us feel varying degrees of discomfort around it because of the taboos and fear based perceptions around it.

The thoughts connected to doing a strip tease or sensual dance in front of someone might be, “that’s only for whores” or “that’s dirty” or “girls that do that won’t be respected… or are disrespectful” I could go on and on, however I think you get the idea.

So I’d like to go back to our original motivation for doing it. *LOVE* The only reason a woman would want to express herself in this way to her partner, is because of pure, magical, exciting, innocent, playful *LOVE*

There is absolutely NOTHING wrong with this expression. It is powerful and liberating, and can be a fantastic way to put the spark back into a relationship… A sensual dance from the heart is a beautiful expression of *LOVE*

sensualdanceart(at)gmail(dot)com

Dyadic eye contact is the art of sending and receiving your energy through eye contact with another person. This is how we really connect with our partner on a very intimate level.

TRY THIS EXERCISE: part 2 of “Mastering Eye Contact”

First pick a partner, preferably someone close to you with whom you feel safe. Try a friend, your lover or even a trusted work colleague. After choosing a partner, pick a safe, distraction-free environment so you can practice.

Turn to your partner and decide who will be sending and who will be receiving information. Switch around. To send information, practice saying”hello” with your eyes as you walk toward the receiver, who should be greeting you with their eyes. Do this twice and then reverse positions. Keep at it until it feels comfortable.

One or both of you may start laughing or talking – this is natural if you are feeling uncomfortable, but it is important to do this exercise without any verbal communication.

In this video I address the importance of eye contact and how it can be used to deeply connect with your partner.

Learn more about how you can incorporate “Dyadic Eye Contact” into a SEXY sensual dance routine?

™Sensual Dance ART is currently offering intimate classes for women Mon-Fri 8:30 – 9:30 pm in Guelph!

e-mail to register as space is limited – sensualdanceart (at) gmail (dot) com
~ Heidi Ann xox