Bozenka

Earlier this month, I had the pleasure of taking two workshops with Bozenka (the "z" is pronounced like a "ch"). Best known as the woman who taught Shakira to belly dance, Bozenka is an amazing dancer and a star in her own right. Even more, she is a 6 foot tall belly dancing goddess who radiates feminine beauty and grace. Even her warm-up was beautiful! The classes were definitely above my level, and it was a bit of a struggle to keep up. Still, I managed to take away some important tips.

A Lil Bit o'Bozenka Wisdom

Power your hip shimmies from your hips, rather than your legs.
Seems obvious, but it's so much easier pump your knees! The problem comes when you try to layer your shimmies on top of other moves. Take a vertical figure eight for example. In order to get one hip to go "up" you have to straighten that leg. If all your shimmy power is originating in your knees, you are going to lose it on whichever side the hip is higher. Using your butt and hips, you should be able to shimmy even standing on one leg, which we practiced in class.


When changing positions, don't rush the arms.
Transistion arms through the center of the body, and add grace to your performance by taking longer with the arms than the lower body. For example, when you switch from a hip drop on the left with your left arm held in front at shoulder level and the right arm behind your head, to a hip drop on the right with your right arm held in front at shoulder level and your left arm behind your head, of course, you need your right hip to come down on the "1" beat. But the arms can take until the 2nd or 3rd beat and should cross the midline of the body before coming into position. It gives the move an extra dimension and adds a little more excitement. I absolutely love the practicality of this advice!


Dance on the back of the beat
This one is a little out of my reach right now, but I get the basic concept. You don't have to be totally on top of every beat like you are chasing it. Your dance will be more languid if you hit the back of the beat (but still stay on beat). Easier said than done! Unless you are Bozenka, of course.

Like these tips? Take a class with Bozenka! The next time she returns to New York, I will be the first to sign up!

Bozenka Belly Dancing


Shakira Belly Dancing