Underbelly

Girls’ day out goes belly up
by Ella Rose
The Herald Sun – 30 April 2005

A girly weekend is in store for women yearning to foster their feminine roots.

Women will be able to learn the sensual moves of belly dancing, flamenco, tango and hip hop at Melbourne’s Girls Day Out.

Dancers will perform and teach women the moves at Melbourne Exhibition Centre this weekend.

Different stages and arenas will offer women all the girly “essentials” including dancing, fashion, beauty, cooking, fitness, cocktails and motivational talks.

How to get fired up over your next party trick
by Jill Stark
The Age – 14 March 2005

If you know where to look in Melbourne, you can find just about anything happening on any evening: on a Tuesday night, at Underbelly Dance’s Fitzroy studio above a fast-food restaurant, a group of people is playing with fire.

Fire twirling, once the pursuit of circus performers, is now practised by just about anyone. In small classes of five to 12, they learn with unlit poles and ropes.

Tonight, the instructor is putting on a show with real flames – and it’s quite a spectacle. Malia Walsh, who has been twirling fire for 10 years, has the dexterity of an acrobat. She loops fire under her legs and over her head in a display that looks as physically demanding as it is visually arresting.

The room is alive with the heat as the flames cut through the air with a menacing swoosh. The relatively calming sounds of the African drumming class next door are beginning to seem like a safer bet. A strong smell of fuel lingers long after she’s extinguished the fire on a damp towel in the corner. It looks perilous, but she assures me that I’m in no danger.

“I use very safe fuel and, unless somebody intentionally tries to burn themselves or they’re showing off, it’s very safe. It’s a very low-burning fuel, so you can touch the flame and it won’t burn you. People think it’s really dangerous, but you’d have to hold your hand over the fire for it to do any harm.”

That’s good to know as she hands the lit stick for the first time to one of her novices. He handles it well and seems more skilful that his few weeks’ training might suggest. Fire twirling courses go for 10 weeks, but trainees use flames in the final two classes only. They learn with pois (ropes with tennis balls attached to simulate the weight of fire) and staves (shoulder-height sticks).

Professional twirlers such as Walsh are hired to add flair at corporate events and parties, but she stresses there’s no experience necessary for her classes.

“You’re never too old to start fire-twirling, and it’s open to anyone,” she says. “We have woodwork teachers, dancers, hairdressers – everybody’s interested in it. It’s a little bit like juggling.

Dancers also find it easy to do because they’re very aware of their body, and because you’re swinging suff around your body, you have to be aware of where you are – otherwise you’ll get hit.”

Shimmering Sounds of the Silk Road
by Jessica Nicholas
The Age – 8 Feb 2005

The first concert in the Global Sounds at Sunset series at the museum drew a canny connection between the music on offer and the venue’s current exhibition from China. Subtitled Music from the Silk Road, the concert featured rhythms and melodies with direct or indirect links to the ancient rade route through Central Asia.

A sinuous, multi-layered pulse from the Moroccan Six (actually three percussionists) set the tone for the first set, as a row of veiled female dancers kneeled in formation on stage. The dancers – known as Underbelly – remained seated throughout the first number, focusing all attention on the gracefully suggestive sway of their arms and upper bodies. Later, the percussionists’ more emphatic rhythms brought the dancers to their feet, as beaded scarves and coin-adorned hips shimmered like visual extensions of the undulating beat of the darbuka.

Press the bellybutton
MX – 3 Feb 2005

It’s time to shake your groove thing with the professionals this Sunday when Underbelly performs as part of the Arts Centre’s free Summertime Grooves concerts.

Capturing the mystique ritual and vitality of ancient dance and music from Africa to Arabia, this concert will feature a tantalising blend of percussion, dynamic jazz fusion, dub and funky electro-beats.

Arabian Nights
by Jessica Raschke
The Big Issue – Dec 2004

Trisnasari, who manages a Melbourne belly dancing studio, has been belly dancing for 10 years, after being intruiged by an advertisement for belly dance classes in the local paper.

She believes several factors have led to the renewed interest.
“People are seeking out activities like yoga, pilates and tai chi, a physical discipline but one that is more holistic. And belly dancing seems to fit into that. There’s also a rising interest in Middle Eastern fashion, clothing and foods. And a lot of the Hollywood starlets are taking it up, like J-Lo, Sarah Michelle Gellar and Selma Hayek.”

Trisnasari was reluctant to dance professionally, but eventually her passion took over. “When I was 19, I thought, ‘Yeah, I’d really love to be a belly dancer’. But then I forgot about it because I thought it was sort of silly, that I’d never make any money, that kind of thing. So I got a normal job.” She laughs, explaining that the ‘normal job’ was as a business consultant. But she kept performing. “One of the students asked me why I didn’t do my own classes. I didn’t think I was good enough, but I started doing monthly workshops and they were successful. Then I started weekly classes, and it all kind of steamrolled.” She gave up her day job four years ago, and has been shimmying ever since.

Despite its folk origins, there are many misconceptions about the dance and the women who perform it. “You get really awful responses, as I did from some of the people from my ‘day job’,” Trisnasari says. “Some people were really sleazy because the business world is so male-dominated. Some people think that a belly dancer is a step away from being a stripper. Others are genuinely fascinated, and some people will actually know something about it. I used to be really embarrassed about telling people. When people ask my mum what I do, she just says, ‘Oh, she runs her own business’ – it’s easier!”

Part of the appeal of belly dancing is that it provides an inspired and unique dance experience. And if nothing else, it’s a spirited work out. “Students are surprised how physical it can be,” Trisnasari says, “People go for it because they think it’s low impact. They’ll turn up to a class and a week later they’ll tell me that their sore back is much better.”

It’s hardly surprising then that belly dancing can become a life-long passion. “Some people really latch onto it and treat it like a religion,” Trisnasari says. “People are drawn to the costuming, the music and the sense of empowerment that it creates. What I most enjoy is mastering the body. But I really love the performance. It actually makes a lot of people happy. You turn up at the start of a party and you really get it started! That’s a really nice feeling.”

Belly Dance with Trisnasari
compiled by Sharon Mascall
The Age – December 2004

Belly Dance has a rich and varied history. Some of the moves can be traced back to folk and trance dances performed by men and women throughout the Middle East and North Africa.

Some historians say it’s as old as the Pharaohs and has its roots in ancient Egyptian Temple dancing.

Fun, energetic and sensual, Belly Dance is practised throughout the world. This four-week course introduces four basic moves for you to try at home.

Getting started

What you will need:
Comfortable clothes and bare feet. A sash, or a belt with coins around the hips, will help you feel the rhythm of the music. It will also help you get into the mood!

Music:
Arabic and Turkish music is inspiring and exotic. It is an ideal accompaniment to belly dance movements.

There are plenty of good Arabic music compilations available in Australia. Look out for these artists: Hossam Ramzy, Mezdeke and Solace. Here are number of Melbourne bands around with a recognizable ‘Belly dance sound’.

Don’t worry if you can’t get your hands on the real thing. Many Arabic sounds are featured in Western pop music.

How often:
Fifteen to twenty minutes a day using this four week course will get you started. Attending a class with a qualified, experienced instructor once or twice a week is ideal.

Warm up and cool down:
Begin with a gentle aerobic warm up. Bob on the heels with knees bent slightly to raise your core body temperature and get your blood flowing.

After dancing, use deep breathing, and gentle stretches, to cool the muscles down slowly. Stretch the lower back and waist with side bends and torso twists. Stretch the thighs and hip flexors with forward lunges.

Exercise One – Egyptian Walk or Shimmy Walk

Music Ideas:
“Whenever, Wherever” – Shakira.
“Saharni” – Najwa Karam.
“Urban Dervish” – Oojami.

Aim:
Practice this walk and you will start to feel the rhythm. The aim is to look like you’re shimmying (shaking your hips) as you walk along.

STEP 1: Start with your feet together, knees soft. Lift your right foot off the floor and lift your right hip. Balancing on your left leg. Keep your left knee soft, so that it can bend slightly. This allows the right hip to lift.

STEP 2: Lower your right foot in front of your left, drawing your right hip down. Keep your weight on your left foot as you place the right foot down. Now transfer the weight forward onto your right foot, letting the right hip relax out.

STEP 3: Lift your left foot off the floor and lift your left hip. Continue the walk and count the beats: “and a one, and a two, and a three, and a four”. Lift your hip as you say “and”, lower your hip as you say “a” and transfer your weight on each number.

Exercise Two – Snake Arms
Exercise Three – Hip Figure Eight
Exercise Four – Camel Walk

Queenscliff Music Festival
review by Nicole Mayne and Daniel Fogarty
Geelong Press – November 2004

Best Festival Ever
…In the Prime Mover venue, Underbelly had audiences up on their feet following the lead of three belly dancers in colourful dresses who spun, turned and wiggled their bodies, their Moroccan-influenced music drawing loud applause…

Shimmy Shimmy Bang Bang!
review by Fiona Scott-Norman
The Age – October 2002

Fringe returns to vaudeville
One of the most intoxicating aspects of the Fringe Festival is the way dozens of people will throw themselves recklessly into a production.

Despite the lack of money, Fringe is rich in enthusiasm and energy. A seething throng of performers can give rise to a less than cohesive production, but sometimes it still works a treat. Shimmy Shimmy Bang Bang! at the Planet Cafe is one of the best. Essentially a contemporary belly dancing show, Shimmy Shimmy Bang Bang! is unutterably entertaining and completely charming.

Directed by Trisnasari of the dance and performance school, Underbelly, the show features exquisite belly dancing set to contemporary pop music, a comedic through-line of the superiority of young gorgeous women, and the charismatic petulance of MC, Wes Snelling.

Easily one of the top picks of the Fringe, Shimmy Shimmy presents a knowing, comedic look at an ancient and powerful dance form.

Best Piece of Arts in Town
Inpress – April 2002

Following a series of productions and dance classes in 2001, Underbelly has rounded up its first term at new studios in Thornbury. And what a spectacular start to the year they’ve had. Hundreds of people have been enrolled in classes as diverse as belly dancing, African dancing, fire twirling (pois), Middle Eastern percussion, African percussion, henna body art and yoga; proof that Melburnians are yearning for the alternative hobbies that Underbelly teaches.

It’s only now that the Underbelly team is ready to officially launch their new studio at 308 St Georges Road, Thornbury, celebrating the success of the first term in a typical Underbelly way – with lots of colour, fun and energy. The launch will take place on Saturday 13th of April from 2pm to 6pm with special guests, the Mayor of Darebin, Cr Vince Fontana, and Wurundjeri indigenous elders. Then the studio turns into a virtual festival for the day with activities for people of all ages: belly dancing by Trisnasari; fire pois expert Nellie Collins; African dancing by Sarah Derum; as well as Turkish roots band, Gece; African percussion band ZaZu; chilled dub beats by The Cabal; and lots of interesting food and market stalls. There will even be a dance workshop and colouring competition for kids.

While the Underbelly open day is a great chance to discover a new interest or two, it is essentially a day of welcome for everyone, whether they are new to the Underbelly community or old friends. The event is free.

Hippy Hippy Shake
MX – July 2001

In the beginning
Contrary to Western belief, oriental dancing did not originate as a form of seduction. It was a dance that men, women and children did socially in the Middle East. It was also a popular pre-natal exercise in some cultures.

Know how
Basically, belly dancing involves a series of dance steps, including the hip shimmy, belly roll and body wave. A sexy attitude always goes a long way too. You won’t need any equipment, except your body. Accessories such as scarves and belly jewellery, can add a new dimension and may help you throw your inhibitions to the wind.

Let’s talk
Hip Shimmy: Rock your hips side to side, producing a wobbling effect in the stomach region.

Body Wave: Slower than the hip-shimmy, roll your body in a snake-like motion from your head to your pelvis.

Belly roll: Using your lower abdomen and diaphragm muscles, focus on your stomach in creating a ripple effect similar to the body wave.

Feelgood factor
Belly dancing is a great, safe workout. You’ll use every muscle in your body, not just your tummy and hips as often thought. You’ll enhance muscle strength, fitness and flexibility. Belly dancing gives you a rush that makes you feel alive, and all that hip-shaking will make you feel downright sexy.

Qualifications
Belly dancing is fast becoming the thing to do in Hollywood. Actresses Selma Hayek, Jennifer Lopez and Sarah Michelle Gellar all enjoy the benefits. The beauty of belly dancing is that almost anyone can participate. Lessons are accessible for people of any age and ability. It’s a low-impact sport so those with injuries can even give it a go.

Where to from here?
Trisna Fraser teaches at Underbelly in Fitzroy.