Practical Exercise:

1. Find a quiet spot where you can be by yourself for 20 minutes - no interruptions or distractions.

1.2. Get a notebook, a pen, and a comfortable place to sit down. 

2. Sit down, comfortably; close your eyes and listen to the Bonus Audio File we´re offering, a rendition of the rhythm "Wahda Kibira", the one we´ve explored at our workshop.

2.3. Don´t worry about taking action - focus on LISTENING TO THE RHYTHM IN FULL PRESENCE - your body, mind, heart and soul in a receptive mode.

3. After having listened to the Rhythm at least twice, write down your answers to the following questions:

If this Rhythm was a color, what would that color be?

If this Rhythm tasted like a food, what food would that be?

If this Rhythm could be summoned up by an Emotion, what Emotion would that be?

If this Rhythm was a landscape, what landscape would that be?

If this Rhythm was a scent/smell, what scent/smell would that be?

How does this Rhythm make me feel? 

4. After you´ve written down your answers to these questions, get up and put the Rhythm on. 

Listen, feel, and react from within. Let the "swing" of the rhythm take you where it wants to take you - release control, expectations or pre-programmed ideas. Let the Rhythm drive you in free and unexpected manners. 

5. Once you finish your Improvisation, following the instructions suggested in Point #4, write down your answer to the question:

WHAT IS THE PREDOMINANT MOOD OF THIS RHYTHM?

Write your honest - heartfelt - answer. Trust your guts. 

Repeat this exercise with other rhythms. 

If you wish to go deeper into the MOOD OF EACH RHYTHM, join our Course "RHYTHMS FOR ORIENTAL DANCERS" with me, Joana Saahirah, and George Sawa, our guest teacher.