As Printed in the Quarter 2/2005 Issue of The Belly Dancer Magazine
Ruby Jazayre • Private Lesson Series
Technique Volumes 1, 2 & 3
by Oberon
Well done Ruby Jazayre! A strong base of information presented in a clean sharp format.
I absolutely loved the pure white back-ground of this DVD, simply called, Ruby Jazayre - Private lesson series - Techniques. Just Ruby, neatly yet beautifully coiffed, in black Sugar petal body suit, stunningly swinging, black and silver coin belt, black leg warmers over ballet slippers, silver coins at her throat and a "to die for" ruby lipstick that had my attention glued to her every word. Very "Dancerly Hepburn" against that crisp white background that outlined her every move. In fact in the few frames where a shadow glanced across the top of the picture - I found myself pouting - I was enjoying the "Zen-like" quality of it all, which included Ruby's unhurried, soothing manner of speaking.
She had me at warm up, where she put her mantra into play right from the first, "Our dance is isolation into movement to become the dance," and although she doesn't say these exact words until later in the series, she begins with a meaningful, well rounded warm-up that gentles the dancer into limber warmth, even the feet and toes, without putting us into a state of exhaustion before we even begin the lesson. She has a careful knack of changing position so that we can easily see her understandable explanations of body posture, foot position and centering within our dance.
She counsels us, "The more articulate you become with your movement, the fuller your movement will become and more pleasing", and I believe her because she shows me by beginning with a single simple isolation i.e. a rib circle, and expanding on it, i.e. by filling it out with diagonal isolations (first in a locked arm position and then flowing arms), until I understand how I can use all these increments to build an incredibly textured series of one move. She furthers my ability by reminding me to look at the several directions in which one limb i.e. shoulder can move and she reminds me that I can choose to incorporate these positions into my movements to obtain different looks.
O.K. - here are some elements that particularly appealed to me. The upper body undulation she calls "The Ten o'clock Roll".
The small details that added interest to movement, like the "Eye to Ceiling Glance" during the head series. The explanation of hand movement that physically had me experiencing the energy I needed to practice into my own hands, and the dynamics of adding that to a well defined "Snake-arms". Not lost on me - the little snips of cultural education, holding the finger in a "plucking jewel pose" so as not to expose the offensive palms. Oh, and on "Hearing the music - seeing the beats in what we are doing with our hips and shoulders", I am wild about her "Torture Hip" drill. No I'm not telling - pick up the DVD or Video.
Anyway, exotic music by Salaam Band playing softly throughout, gentle cool down to finish….the only thing missing to make this a totally satisfying experience…Ruby, in a luxurious costume, performing a routine that shows me the finished look I'm striving for….HMmmm… I bet there's a performance video.
