Basic #2 There are a few special things to know about Middle-Eastern DanceI call them rules of Thumb" and most are just things i have read or observed over my career and are subtleties that make bellydance look like bellydance rather than some other style of dance. They are hard rules, though, as most may have exceptions.
The bigger the move, the slower it should be, hips or arms, doesn't matter... too fast + too big makes for a frantic look.
The arms move in oppostion or frame the body when they are not the main focus.
The hands direct the viewers' eyes, and the arms frame the body to create a complete effect.
The emotion, facial expressions, etc should be congruent with the music (eg, faster and 'happy' modes are brighter, more smiles, whereas deep minor moods support empassioned or calm expressions. Grinning constantly in slow veilwork just looks out of sorts.
Hands almost always flow leading with wrist/palm and fingers last, like you were in water or using a paintbrush --- pull the bristles, don't push. The opposite is "diving" and is mostly used for expressive accents.
An accent is dramatic because it's NOT over used.
For infinite moves and personal style, vary speed/tempo and levels on the same move.
There's nothing that says you can't stop. Sometimes a dramatic pause, held like a breath, and forcefully exhaled back into the move is an exciting visual concept.
Ah, more as I think of them LOL