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This is an interesting question from a belly dancer who attended few times of my workshop before, hmm.....good topic to share here huh.

The first doubt in my mind is : Am l qualified to answer this ah? Ha, guess 'no' lo.

But l think, l am more feminine than before l started belly dancing, definitely.

To me, it is a natural expression when l enjoy the femininity moves , those steps like undulations, hips figure 8 and arabesque, are feminine to me, they look soft but involve in strong inner strength control, this is the beauty of a woman.

I think, a woman is pretty when she has good manner, gracious smile, nice character and flexible, to me, there is nothing to do with her appearance or so called 'born' beauty, born beauty only gains first impression, it does not support the real feminine element.

Tamalyn Dallal is feminine on her wisdom, Saida is feminine on her strong attitude, Amar Gamal is feminine on her passion, Sadie is feminine on her incredible technique, all these women are beautiful as they know exactly who they are and have strong confidence on themselves, they do not have to show off any qualification, they naturally enjoy themselves as a woman.

But some women 'make up' themselves to act feminine, this is not lasting, l believe it has to be 'natural'.

In another words, it is not easy to be feminine when you are too young, the good and bad experience from life train a woman to be more steady in her personality, and yet, she will be softer in her character, this is feminine. And when she dances, this element will appear naturally on her moves, this is feminie.

On the whole, be yourself, we do not have to duplicate any feminine dancer, as it might not look nice to us when it looks graceful on her, it is ok if we could not be a femnine dancer, we could still be an energetic dancer or cheeky dancer, just be ourselves.

Hope l have answered her question........

Thank you to Nath and his cousins, l wanted to visit this place from long time ago, but never happened. I was thinking to show them the Baba and Nyonya's culture, so it happened this time.

I would like to strongly recommend this place to all Penangites and tourists, it is so amazing!

Wonder how could a person being so rich, the owner is Kapitan Yap, the mansion itself is a miracle and he has great collections which really surprised us.....

I hope the tourism do something to promote this place, this is what you could not see in other country, it is solely Malaysia, the wonderful mix culture!

Yesterday an elder woman came to register for workout package, we offered 50% discount on her enrollment fees as she is senior citizen, but she requested for more discount, free gift and this and that, l then joked to her : Auntie, this is not a bargain in market la.

In Penang, we usually call those old fashion ladies 'auntie', these ladies love to bargain everything in market, that's why l joked to her that way.

Today she came to my Shaperobics class, and approached me soon after l finished the class, l thought she wanted to ask something regarding workout, as usually my students like to ask me some question related to fitness after the class, but she asked me : How old are you? While l was surprising with her question, she continued : You know l am 55 years old and l guess you are same age with me!

Wahaha....l soon laughed, l told her : l am a principal but not at that age yet. Ha!

Usually people thought all principals are old old one la.

And l finally realized this is a revenge of a woman, wah, next time cannot call any lady 'auntie' anymore, also never mention of the word 'market'! In fact l never called any of my lady members 'auntie', no matter how old they are, or even my friend's mom, as long as she is in Zero, l call their name too, to me, they are all friends, and l always tell my members, everybody is young in Zero, ha!

I received a phone call from a Malay lady this afternoon : Can l speak to 'Mr' Lim Conny?

I thought the line was not clear thus l answered: Speaking.

She : Mr Lim Conny, l am calling from CIMB Bank, Mr Lim Conny, l want to recommend a new plan to you.

I replied : what plan?

She : Mr Lim Conny , blarr......Mr Lim Conny, blarr....Mr Lim Conny....

I cannot tahan anymore : excuse me, l am a 'Miss', not 'Mr'!

She : Oh sorry l don't know Chinese name la!

My goodness! She does not know how to distinguish the voice of Mr and Miss too !

So, l became a 55 years old's Mr Lim Conny today!

What a tragedy!

Some of my students are going to participate in Marathon run, they invited me and l am really interested, but l am worry of getting serious aching until l cannot shimmy at all la, ha ha, so.....dare not make a decision yet.

Elaine and Vinnie will participate in the 7km one, they are new in marathon so they wanted to try shorter one first, hmm....l think this is a right concept, work at own pace huh.

This is what l always share with my students, work at our own pace, if l know l can run to 5km only at this stage, l should not challenge 10km, may be, l can add on 1 to 2 km extra, but up to 10km is beyond the present ability, l do not think this is a good idea.

I experience this a lot in learning dance, my students like to joke this with me too, they always tell me, Conny, our brain understand, but the body has not understood yet la, ha ha!

But to me, it does not matter, as long as your brain is working, your body will sure follow one day, l believe if you own the method, you can do it, it is the matter of time only.

So, why worry of how many kilometer? As long as you are able to accomplish your target, you are your winner, only by conquering the challenge at the moment, we are able to take more challenges in future. Step by step, from zero to hero!

So, Jia You!

This is an interesting question from Jim Lai when we were doing rehearsal : what is the style of drum solo?

Others cheered for her question after listening to this.

Hmm...as we know, there are styles of Oriental, Shaabi, Tribal, but it is really difficult to define a style for drum solo huh. I think, this is because there is too much technique requested in drum solo, we tend to neglect the style when focusing in the technique, may be......

To me, style is very personality, some people are graceful, some energetic, some sexy, some smart......a flexible dancer knows how to transform herself to fit different style of dance, but l think, her own style will remain, this is so called 'trademark' ha!

For example, if a graceful dancer does drum solo, she is gracefully strong in her technique, a sexy dancer does drum solo, she looks sexy in her technique, so l would say, as long as we are doing correct technique, go ahead for your own style la, belly dancing is flexible enough to accomodate all kind of sizes, age, height, gender, races, and...... style.

Any good comment on this?

多年以前，当我开始成为一位舞蹈老师，有两位资深导师给了我劝告。她们说：训练学生要小心，不是每个学生都懂得感恩的，有些会在背后咬你一大口！当时的我年少气盛，我说：不会的，我相信只要我对人好，人家也会对我好的！

多年以后，我终于知道，我-错-了！也终于深深明白了什么叫：教识徒弟无师父！

不过，庆幸的是，在我训练过的学生里，咬我一大口的五只手指数得完，这样算来，我不算失败吧？

成立起飞以前，我在另一间学院里被一位一手训练起来的学生出卖，当时的我四面楚歌，只能以痛心疾首来形容。因为这场伤害，我在资金不足之下，毅然创立了‘起飞’，今天回首，我要感谢这位咬了我一大口的学生呵！

可是，同时，在起飞创立之始，我有一大群有情有义的好学生，帮我搬运，粉刷，招生，教课。。。。多年以来，我一直在心里默默地感恩，一直没有好好的谢他们一场，今天在这里，我要一个一个写出他们的名字，深深感恩！

Joanne, Eric, Albert, Darren, Weberlynn, Sharene, Shan Shan, Shee Chyi, Chew Guat, Sean, Phoebe, Ding Ding, Jennifer....Thank you!

创立‘起飞’两年后，我又被另一个学生咬了一口，当时那个学生还冷笑着对我说 ：是你自己笨，谁叫你训练人？人可以相信的吗？我才不会学你那么笨！

而今天，以上这两位机关算尽的学生，都已在这行消失了。。。。。

起飞四岁了，而不幸的我，再一次被狠狠地咬了一大口！这一口，几乎把我对人的信任完全咬断！

原来，当一个人为了达到自己的目的，可以部署，计划，在我懵然无知下，招兵买马，一步一步进行，而在这个过程里，‘情义’两字成了废话！我的心痛，是看着一个我所熟悉的纯朴的人忽然在我面前张牙舞爪，一个人的性格转变如此之大，是谁的错？是我是我，是我给了她一个舞台，是我激发了她的野心，是我给了她所有的机会去转变成另一个人！

在我无法入眠的日子里，自责，是我唯一的想法。。。。。如果，我从来不曾邀请她踏上这个舞台，她也许纯真如昔，我们依然可以促膝长谈，相知相惜？为何她站上了舞台后，我变成了她的竞争者？如果我们都热爱这个艺术，为什么我们不可以携手走这条路？就算学生要寻求自我发展，我们依然可以相知相惜地合作，为什么不是珍惜这场缘份，而是伤害？

如果，我是一个自私自大，从来不提拔学生，埋没学生天份的老师，被咬了，我无言以对，在完全相反的情况下被咬，我又情何以堪呢？  

可我相信，我也一定有错，做人太直对人太真是我的死穴，我不懂得掩饰我的说话与身体语言，而这些，都成了我被攻击的理由。。。。。

谢谢伤害我的人，对我来说，伤痛以后，是‘领悟’，我开始自我调整，我想，我一直是一个好老师，可是并不是一个受欢迎的人，我不懂得奉承迎合。不， 我知道我永远学不会这些，但是我开始放慢脚步，学习耐心地与人相处，学懂了去欣赏而不是批评，现在唯一仍然会听到我批评的人，只有我的家人与起飞的工作伙伴了。

讽刺的是，伤害我的学生，都是我无条件训练的，一分钱都没收过，却收了满满的教训，哈！

有时候，我觉得当老师就像当妈妈，看着孩子在自己的指导下茁壮成长，舞出自信，那真的会让我觉得很有成就感。可是，总有些孩子, 一心只想争名夺利，忘了真正的富裕其实与名利无关。我的疑惑是，有野心有志向并没有错，成功的方法有千万种，‘绝情’肯定不是好的那种吧？看着学生为了一己之欲，一步一步改变，那种无助，跟当妈妈一样。。。。。

舞蹈，在我心里是美丽的艺术，纯真无邪的它不应该被污染，然而在人性贪婪，嫉妒与野心的前提下，我常常对舞蹈感到无能为力，甚至有时起了’不跳‘的心，我许多舞蹈界里资深的好朋友，也都在被伤害下有过与我一样的感触，我们唯一能做的，是深吸一口气，站起来，跳下去。。。。。。。

近来，有许多跳了肚皮舞一段时间的朋友来起飞上课，许多都异口同声告诉我，她们想来很久了，可是一直听到太多我的坏话，让她们迟疑了很久，直到她们见了我本人，和她们所听到的完全不一样。。。。。唉，无中生有的坏话，竟出自一位资深老师，而我不是她唯一攻击的目标，所有让她觉得地位受威胁的，她都在背后尽其所能的破坏，唉，她是否病了？我没有生气，只是为她悲哀，她永远处在攻击别人争取第一的心态中，不累吗？为什么不善用时间练习，让自己真材实料？其实她的行为许多老师都知道，大家不想拆穿，是仍然尊重她在本地的资历，我们只能祈祷，有一天，她会看到自己丑陋的行为 ，如果她愿意以身作则，带领马来西亚的肚皮舞走向和谐，我想，她会得到真正的尊重与地位，为什么这么简单的道理会想不通呢？

写了这么多，不是要攻击任何人，我只想对所有支持我，与我一样热爱舞蹈与和平的学生与好朋友们说声：感恩！而，与我一样，被伤害，被打击的朋友们，不要气馁，因为，你并不孤单，这条路上，还有许多人和你一样，拥有真我，爱好和平，让我们一起加油！

我对自己说，越是看得多，我会越坚持做一个让我的学生们为我骄傲的老师，虽然我不知道会不会再有咬我的人，不过风风雨雨后，我已无惧，‘树正何惧月影斜’？ 我也会永远地坚持，舞蹈的美源自内心，只有美丽的心，才能跳出动人的舞。

在没有战争的年代，好人与坏人的界限是模糊的，没有杀人放火，但是恩将仇报，把别人残踏脚下往上爬的人，可以被称为‘好人’吗？这样的人，每个行业里都有，这样的风气，应该被鼓吹吗？今天是‘屠妖节’，祈愿我们能战胜人性中的妖魔鬼怪，回归自然。

爱是恒久忍耐又有恩慈，爱是不嫉妒，不做伤害人的事。。。。。

不要做一个伤害人的人，要原谅有心或无心伤害我们的人。。。。。

There is a new class for beginner belly dancing, initially we planned to start on 21st this month, but many told us they are not able to make it in this month, hence we postpone to 4th of November, it is on every Wednesday 8:40pm.

This class will also be conducted by me personally. I am glad that all my existing students love the new routines, they found it easier to capture and more fun too, l could see they are more passionate under the new routines, l should have modified the routine much earlier huh.

The response of the latest class on Tuesday is very good, and this batch of students are fun, they response to my teaching always instead of being quiet, you know some classes are too quiet, but this new class is 'awake', l have a lot of fun teaching them. By the way, some students have given themselves pressure when they are not able to follow but others do. I did a sharing with them about this last week, l hope they are here to enjoy the class as there is no exam and for the time being, l will not ask them to perform too, it is worse if they stress themselves up. There are always fast learner and slow learner in class, it is not the matter at all, l believe as long as they like belly dancing and Conny, everyone can be a beautiful dancer. the key point is, don't give up!

Relax guys, we just need a little bit more time, no big deal.

For those who intend to belly dance, hope to see you in the new class, trust me, you will have fun!

This picture was taken right after Ian's performance, obviously the little girls like him huh, ha ha!

 With Nath and his cousins.

At first we all good good....

slowly....

going crazy, crazier, craziest.....

This year, l gave away certificates to three classes, but some of the students were absent, they have to wait till the 6th hafla to receive their certificates on stage then. Congratulations to my beloved students, Conny thanks you girls sincerely for the love and patience to me and this art.

I have also given away three professional instructor course certificates to Zero's belly dance teacher Siew Ann, Shee Loo and Apple, they received this certificate for the completion of teaching beginner to intermediate class, this certificate is valuable as it proves that they are qualified to be a teacher. Thank you for the passion and patience to teach in Zero!

I gave everyone of my students a big hug before presenting the certificate, some audience told me they like the way l treat my students, to me, l do it naturally, they have been learning the dance in Zero for at least two years, we are old friends instead of teacher and students, l personally enjoy to be their friend more than just a teacher.

I have few good friends who always help up in my events, they are the friends that l truly treasure, thank you very much to Emily, Lilian, Cindy and Ah Suan!

And thank you very much to three lovely students of mine who dressed up nicely and won the best costume, Congratulations to Hui Min, Mandy and Amanda! 

Also, thousand thanks to the professional camera men who helped us to keep the beautiful memory, look at the pictures you know how great job they have done!

Thank you so much to G3K, Ty, Tee Too, Calvin and Ken!

Besides the opening dance, another surprise to Nath was the other two performances of his dance 'Shaabi' and 'Drum solo', Nath taught us these two dances in his workshop last year. I started teaching the advance class few months ago. Know what? This is the first time in my life for my students to perform other teacher's choreography, ha ha, it was more stressful than teaching my own choreo, and my students really 'sweat' for these two performances, Shaabi is simple but the style killed them la, and there are many layering shimmies in Nath's drum solo which has killed me too, but we did improve by practising these two dances again and again.

Little girls did a full version of 'Shee Sha Shoo' this time, they performed in WBDD but we were not able to finish teaching the dance for them, so they 'bye'bye' half way of the song ha ha.

My little Ian from kids jazz class performed as little Nath, this is again another surprise for Nath. When Nath was a little boy, he was a bit fairer and chubby, but he was cheeky from young and he danced to tackle girls.....ha ha, it is just my created story la. Ian is a student that l am very proud with, he is always the one who practise the hardest in class, and he is very talented in his own choreography. Hmm....who knows? He might be another Nath in future huh!

Janice, Siew Ann, Shee Loo and Zoe did their own choreography 'Opaque' this time, they drilled their brain for the dance and have done a lot of survey to the steps. I like their choreography as it was very cheeky and lively, very close to their character, close to mine too ha!

Ice and her troupe from Alor Setar, Grace from BM and her two friends from Butterworth did a good job in the hafla too, they are all new to performance, there is room for improvement but l appreciate their courage and effort, gambateh girls!

And my dear ex student Sean and his troupe Danzity did a fantastic hip hop, bravo!