Basic 1

FIRST THINGS FIRST: What you will be learning in this course

Learning the basics is an obvious first step for acquiring any new skill. I use certain terms for moves which may be fairly standard or maybe not. It is important to recognize the move itself and its parts, so you will recognize it no matter what it's called. In my classes, we learn the body-mechanical alphabet of pieces of moves, which when sequenced in different ways, become different moves.
There is little that I would call "wrong" but more wrong when you think you are doing "A" but are doing "B." The body does have a 'mind' of its own, but first we need to teach it a new language....that of bellydance. Then as you learn the music, your body will 'sing' by itself!
i am strongly into muscle-memory and body-awareness, so the more you practice, the quicker your body will learn so that you don't have to think about what to do --- your body will obey the music, and your mind will add the polish for a performance as you "Dance from the Heart."
ISOLATION BREAK-DOWNS:
HIPS
Hip Rock (This is also often called a pelvic tilt. With the upper torso still/isolated, the lower torso/hips swing forward to the front to your natural limitation of motion. Then swing fully and smoothly to the read. Again, with the upper torso still. The forward aspect is similar to a contraction, and the rear aspect similar to an arch, with the spine sort of 'sway-backed.' You should observe in a mirror, standing sideways, if your swing is equally to the front as it can swing to the rear. You should not be bouncing up and down on your legs, but maintain a semi-plie to keep the swing pendulum smooth.)
Hip Slide --- Legs can be about a foot and half (your feet) apart, now slide all your weight to one leg, then back to the other side. At this point your head will likely be moving with torso slide. This is okay, but be BodyAware if it is moving in space or not. Legs should be straight but not locked at the knees (This is bad for the joints). Now slide right, then left, and side to side for a few times. Observe where your weight is. At no time will you be able to lift the foot with less weight, but you should feel a distinct shifting of weight, moving with the hips. NOW, try to move just the hips, with the head still in space. This means a little stretch in the hip area, side to side. A tip: push the hip that is moving out, slightly down, i.e, do not lift it as you slide.
Hip Shift Is similar to the slide, in that the weight moves out to the left, then out to the right, side to side. BUT start with the feet about one foot apart. Also keep knees semi-plied, and shift the weight evenly and smoothly so the head is totally isolated. Note: Dancers who isolate properly can dance with a glass of water on their head, or a sword, cane, etc. (books don't work well, plus hurt if they fall on your toes... well i suppose a sword would too :-)
Hip Twist Is exactly that, twisting the left hip forward, then the right hip. As one comes forward, the other must go back. Again, there should be no head bobbing at all. It is a smooth twist, which will vary in intensity/torsion, by your own body limitations, as you may have found by now in all the moves.NOTE: This is a factor that enhances viewing of a dancer because each, even doing the same moves will look different, alas, which is also why MTV troupes/las vegas shows, etc make us look "off" as the dancers are selected for cookie-cutter effect. Bellydance is the ultimate solo performance.
Hip Lift/DropWhat goes up must come down. A hip lift as i first teach it in class, is a step out to the side, hip that hip, drop it, step back to center. Repeat. Also, several lifts can be done without returning the foot to the center. The downbeat decides if it is a lift or a drop visually. If you are lifting to the downbeat, it's a hip-lift, likewise, if dropping to the downbeat, they would be hip-drops. The body mechanics are the same, it is the accent with the downbeat that makes its distinctly a lift or drop. Later, we do the hip lift with the foot stepping forward or to the rear, on one side.
RIBS
Rib Rock
Rib Slide
Rib Twist
Rib Lift/Drop

Step-hip Uses the hip slide, and the hip lifts. Step to L with L foot, go up on L toe/ball of foot, with leg STRAIGHT! The lift is straight up, does not involve any knee bending, and MUST go back to it's starting place BEFORE the foot steps back under the body. When this is complete, it is a half of a step hip. Now, step out to the opposite side (R) with the R foot. Lift up onto the Ball/toe of the R foot, which pushes the R hip up (again, don't bend the knee, but don't make it rigid or hyperextended), Drop the R hip back exactly where it was, then step R foot back to the center/under the body. So, more quickly, SLIDE weight to R Hip, OUT(L-foot)-up(L-hip)-down(L-hip- back where it started before the lift action) then ---SLIDE so weight is on opposite side (L), step out with R-foot, Lift R-hip, lower R-hip, step back as you slide. Geez it's difficult to verbalize! Suppose that's why these are less instructional, and more just reminders to my students, as "notes." Lg. Hip Circle-lrg and small have same body mechanics--- combine the hip slide with a hip rock for large, and hip shifts with the rock for small circles. Large are for slower beats, as you can only go so fast without looking less than graceful. EG:Rock forward, slide to one side, rock back, slide to other side, rock forward, then repeat and work to smooth out the 4 points into a large circle. Sm. Hip Circle- used for faster tempos,Rock forward, shift to one side, rock backward, shift to other side, you now have 4 points to touch, push out to include them in a circle.

Figure 8 flat- This combines the hip twist and the hip slide. There is a forward and a backward figure eight, which will be dependent on which direction you move first. To do a forward fig *, twist the R hip to the front, now slide toward the leftin a diagonal torso, feet still facing forward. At the end of your range of motion, twist the left hip completely forward (standing still at this moment) and now your torso is facing right, so slide to the right, At the 'end, twist, slide, twist, slide, etc. To reverse, do the exact opposite. From a start position, twist the left hip to the back, slide facing torso away from the direction you are sliding, twist the R hip back and slide back to other side, etc. Forward Fig 8's, the hips curve to the front in the motion, backward fig 8's, they push to the rear. Figure 8 rolling A rolling figure 8 is a move similar to pedaling a bicycle, combinging the a lift to the front with a twist. so instead of the smooth, flat to floor twist, lift/roll it up from the back and down in the front, and as one moves forward, the other is "RELOADING" to roll up and forward. Figure 8 reverse roll - Here the hip, when twisted forward, lifts and rolls to the rear, reloading the other to lift and roll to the rear.

Snake- This is a combination of a slide and a hip lift/drop, very similar to the step-hip BUT in a different firing order. Here, the hip WITH the weight is lifted, and slides while dropping or lifting. With the step-hip, the lifted hip MUST be dropped in the exact same spot> If you start the slide before it's done dropping, or while it's dropping, you will accidentally be doing the snake! So, Slide to R, lift the weighted R hip, and while it is lifted, start sliding to the left... it must drop, when it is down the other hip (L) should be out in a "SLID" position, lift the L hip, and start sliding to the R while it is dropping, and repeat. Reverse Snake - the reverse is different only because you don't lift the SLID weighted hip, but the "INSIDE" or less-weighted hip! Start R hip in weighted SLID position but lift the L hip, push it into the slide to the L side, dropping it as it travels from center to outside/left. The lift the R hip (the new INSIDE hip) and carry it out and drop it at the end of the slid and repeat. rolling snake-undulation-camel

Diagonal Hip Lifts- We never do full forward pelvic thrusts because it has that stripperish look if done crudely, so we step on foot forward, and do a hip lift/drop. This angles the pelvis more to a diagonal when the forward hip is lifted. Double Diag. Hip Lifts - This is the same action as the above, "SINGLES" but there are 2 lifts. They are lifts, because they are timed to hit the top forward of their motion WITH the downbeat. Heel shift-shimmies-- a simpler shimmy to start with is the heel shimmy, where focus is on a fast hip shift, with knees pumping with the shift in a soft "running-in-place" type motion (With Out bobbing the head)where you pay attention to the heels sort ofstomping in a staccato to the fastest aspect of the beat that you can maintain and still be "on TIME" --- if the beat hits before or after you do, then you are off time and must adjust your body speed to match the music either by speeding up (if possible) or slowing it down. Practicing this regularly will promote the speed.

Hip lift-forward twist-turn- This is a forward lift/twist where the base foot (if lifting the left hip, the right foot is your base foot) such that your hips turn you forward, and turning clockwise, if using the lift hip to do the lifts, and estimating a pivot size with the base foot to turn you fast enough to complete the circle in the phrasing you are putting it into. Hip drop- backward twist-turn- The reverse works on the same body mechanic principles are the forward, but you do a drop hip (must start with it lifted) and turn to your rear, e.g.: start with left hip lifted to the front, twist and drop it to the rear with the downbeat, repeat, repeat, and the base foot, pivots to facilitate a backward/counterclockwise turn. Hip-lifts&drops in shapes"U","V", "M", etc.-- This is practice for "Hip Articulation" something the best dancers excel in. Imagin alphbet letters, usually Caps, and figure how to "write" them with one hip. Start in a lifted, twist to rear or front, and drop in center, lift to rear, drop to center, lift to front, back down to center... viola! you have written a "V" shape. Double it --- down just before 'center, up, down just after 'center' and up in the rear, then come back to the front, and you have a "W", of course you can "CHOP" as many drops as you have phsycical control to do in the time the beat allows between one and the next. It can become almost like a one-sided shimmy. Instead of a sharp drop, make it curved and you make a "U" or upside-down "U", sideways, make a "C", and so on. Not are will pop in place when performing, but it really loosens up your abilities to make minute hip shifts/ pops, snaps, etc, that bellydancers are famous for.

Karshilima step 1-2-3 step Grapevine step

Side-gallop step Old Cairo 21

Side to side turn Paddle Turn Head Slides/crescents/circles

Classic shimmy & accents Tahitian Shimmy Vibration/freeze & Egyptian thigh shimmy

Classic serpentine arms Wrist circles-finger ripples 8 arm positions

Step-hip Uses the hip slide, and the hip lifts. Step to L with L foot, go up on L toe/ball of foot, with leg STRAIGHT! The lift is straight up, does not involve any knee bending, and MUST go back to it's starting place BEFORE the foot steps back under the body. When this is complete, it is a half of a step hip. Now, step out to the opposite side (R) with the R foot. Lift up onto the Ball/toe of the R foot, which pushes the R hip up (again, don't bend the knee, but don't make it rigid or hyperextended), Drop the R hip back exactly where it was, then step R foot back to the center/under the body. So, more quickly, SLIDE weight to R Hip, OUT(L-foot)-up(L-hip)-down(L-hip- back where it started before the lift action) then ---SLIDE so weight is on opposite side (L), step out with R-foot, Lift R-hip, lower R-hip, step back as you slide. Geez it's difficult to verbalize! Suppose that's why these are less instructional, and more just reminders to my students, as "notes."	Lg. Hip Circle-lrg and small have same body mechanics--- combine the hip slide with a hip rock for large, and hip shifts with the rock for small circles. Large are for slower beats, as you can only go so fast without looking less than graceful. EG:Rock forward, slide to one side, rock back, slide to other side, rock forward, then repeat and work to smooth out the 4 points into a large circle.	Sm. Hip Circle- used for faster tempos,Rock forward, shift to one side, rock backward, shift to other side, you now have 4 points to touch, push out to include them in a circle.
Figure 8 flat- This combines the hip twist and the hip slide. There is a forward and a backward figure eight, which will be dependent on which direction you move first. To do a forward fig *, twist the R hip to the front, now slide toward the leftin a diagonal torso, feet still facing forward. At the end of your range of motion, twist the left hip completely forward (standing still at this moment) and now your torso is facing right, so slide to the right, At the 'end, twist, slide, twist, slide, etc. To reverse, do the exact opposite. From a start position, twist the left hip to the back, slide facing torso away from the direction you are sliding, twist the R hip back and slide back to other side, etc. Forward Fig 8's, the hips curve to the front in the motion, backward fig 8's, they push to the rear.	Figure 8 rolling A rolling figure 8 is a move similar to pedaling a bicycle, combinging the a lift to the front with a twist. so instead of the smooth, flat to floor twist, lift/roll it up from the back and down in the front, and as one moves forward, the other is "RELOADING" to roll up and forward.	Figure 8 reverse roll - Here the hip, when twisted forward, lifts and rolls to the rear, reloading the other to lift and roll to the rear.
Snake- This is a combination of a slide and a hip lift/drop, very similar to the step-hip BUT in a different firing order. Here, the hip WITH the weight is lifted, and slides while dropping or lifting. With the step-hip, the lifted hip MUST be dropped in the exact same spot> If you start the slide before it's done dropping, or while it's dropping, you will accidentally be doing the snake! So, Slide to R, lift the weighted R hip, and while it is lifted, start sliding to the left... it must drop, when it is down the other hip (L) should be out in a "SLID" position, lift the L hip, and start sliding to the R while it is dropping, and repeat.	Reverse Snake - the reverse is different only because you don't lift the SLID weighted hip, but the "INSIDE" or less-weighted hip! Start R hip in weighted SLID position but lift the L hip, push it into the slide to the L side, dropping it as it travels from center to outside/left. The lift the R hip (the new INSIDE hip) and carry it out and drop it at the end of the slid and repeat.	rolling snake-undulation-camel
Diagonal Hip Lifts- We never do full forward pelvic thrusts because it has that stripperish look if done crudely, so we step on foot forward, and do a hip lift/drop. This angles the pelvis more to a diagonal when the forward hip is lifted.	Double Diag. Hip Lifts - This is the same action as the above, "SINGLES" but there are 2 lifts. They are lifts, because they are timed to hit the top forward of their motion WITH the downbeat.	Heel shift-shimmies-- a simpler shimmy to start with is the heel shimmy, where focus is on a fast hip shift, with knees pumping with the shift in a soft "running-in-place" type motion (With Out bobbing the head)where you pay attention to the heels sort ofstomping in a staccato to the fastest aspect of the beat that you can maintain and still be "on TIME" --- if the beat hits before or after you do, then you are off time and must adjust your body speed to match the music either by speeding up (if possible) or slowing it down. Practicing this regularly will promote the speed.
Hip lift-forward twist-turn- This is a forward lift/twist where the base foot (if lifting the left hip, the right foot is your base foot) such that your hips turn you forward, and turning clockwise, if using the lift hip to do the lifts, and estimating a pivot size with the base foot to turn you fast enough to complete the circle in the phrasing you are putting it into.	Hip drop- backward twist-turn- The reverse works on the same body mechanic principles are the forward, but you do a drop hip (must start with it lifted) and turn to your rear, e.g.: start with left hip lifted to the front, twist and drop it to the rear with the downbeat, repeat, repeat, and the base foot, pivots to facilitate a backward/counterclockwise turn.	Hip-lifts&drops in shapes"U","V", "M", etc.-- This is practice for "Hip Articulation" something the best dancers excel in. Imagin alphbet letters, usually Caps, and figure how to "write" them with one hip. Start in a lifted, twist to rear or front, and drop in center, lift to rear, drop to center, lift to front, back down to center... viola! you have written a "V" shape. Double it --- down just before 'center, up, down just after 'center' and up in the rear, then come back to the front, and you have a "W", of course you can "CHOP" as many drops as you have phsycical control to do in the time the beat allows between one and the next. It can become almost like a one-sided shimmy. Instead of a sharp drop, make it curved and you make a "U" or upside-down "U", sideways, make a "C", and so on. Not are will pop in place when performing, but it really loosens up your abilities to make minute hip shifts/ pops, snaps, etc, that bellydancers are famous for.
Karshilima step	1-2-3 step	Grapevine step
Side-gallop step	Old Cairo	21
Side to side turn	Paddle Turn	Head Slides/crescents/circles
Classic shimmy & accents	Tahitian Shimmy	Vibration/freeze & Egyptian thigh shimmy
Classic serpentine arms	Wrist circles-finger ripples	8 arm positions