How to Hip Walk in Jazz

The hip walk is similar to the jazz walk but more provocative. There are many variations of the jazz walk, but the hip walk is one of the most common, especially for women. It can be done to fast music; but is best performed to a slower paced song. Read on to learn more.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Do the Hip Walk

1. Stand in plie position. Keep your back straight, your feet turned outwards and your knees bent. This is not ballet; so you will not need to bend your knees too far or spread your legs too wide.
2. Walk around while keeping this form. Stick your behind out a little and keep your back straight, but stay loose. Stay bouncy and float around the area to simulate a sense of low gravity.
3. Add some jazz music to the mix and get a feel for the tempo. Put on some very moody jazz, if you can. Raunchy jazz would be even better, such as Cab Calloway's "Minnie the Moocher."
4. Continue the walk in plie, but this time match it to the mood and beat of the jazz. If you cannot keep form perfectly, do not worry about it, as it is only a basic guideline. Try to float freely with the music.
5. Keep your arms rounded in back. Keep them loose, so your shoulders can do most of the moving. This, of course, is not necessary to the walk, but try this position before experimenting with different arm movements.
6. Move your shoulder up and back with the rhythm. On one step, have one shoulder behind you and the other shoulder tucked in closer to your chin. On the next step, switch.
7. Sway your hips while you walk. Move your hips in a circular motion with each step. This is the main difference between a hip walk and a jazz walk.
8. Keep the floaty feeling as you do the hip walk. You may at first have trouble keeping plie, swaying your hips and making it all come out smooth. Practice a bit and consolidate all the movements into one smooth walk.

Tips & Warnings

• Give yourself plenty of space and practice this move in a mirror. Some other jazz moves are more dependent on finesse, but the hip walk is more of an aesthetic movement. You will want to glance at it from every angle.
• The hip walk, like the jazz walk, is a dance more based on mood than rhythm. Really get into the mood of a jazz song to hip walk correctly, tapping into your sensual or even raunchy side.