Learn the Princess of Cairo choreography in 8 weeks while working on a standard SL1 technique rotation plus a bit of Jamila format.
This is a great choreography for students who have been studying SL1 for a while. Each week, you will learn a new segment, and you are encouraged to run that segment several times a week. Many students like running the segments before and after their technique classes, as well as other times during the week. As you learn a new section, add it to the previous section, steadily building from week to week.
This training plan works for L2 and L3, as well.
For L2 students: keep all the footwork the same, but increase the timing of the movements from qt to ht, ht to ft, and ft to dt. Add finger cymbals or change the finger cymbals to left hand dominant, adding togethers, Rx. or Lx.
For L3+ students: follow the class as presented, but add upper body layers such as ribcage slides, ribcage circles, and undulations.
Video Terminology note: Suhaila introduced interior hip circles to her mother's format when she was in grade school (1970s); she originally used the term omi (ami) based on the Tahitian dance she began studying at an early age. Soon thereafter, Suhaila updated the term to interior hip circle; however, through the early 1990s, she often used the terms (omi and interior hip circle) interchangeably. Suhaila broke down the circle by defining the muscle contractions, timing, and downbeat for the movement, just as she did for the interior hip square (the hard contraction version of the movement).
Choreography notes in Salimpour format nomenclature are available for this choreography as a supplemental tool. Look in the Resources tab under the video to download a copy. Note that this training plan adheres directly to the video; use the video as your primary source of direction, and use the notes as a supporting resource. Music information is available in the Princess of Cairo video description.
For certification program members, this training plan includes additional content that will help you prepare and study for SL2 certification. Substitute classes (or adjust the content) as needed so that you are working at a suitable SL2 and JL2 level for testing. The SL2 testing preparation training plans include: Princess of Cairo, Syncopations, Chic Chic Choc, Solid Ground SL2, Suhaila Format Challenge, and L2FCDS.
