How to Hawaiian Belly Dance

The Hawaiian Belly Dance is a dance that all can recognize and associates with Hawaii. However, there is more to the dance than just shaking, and it requires a lot of practice to perfect. Do you want to get started? Read this eHow to learn more.

Instructions

Difficulty: Challenging

1. Look for a Hawaiian Belly Dance teacher. You can find them in the phone book or online.
2. Begin by playing gentle music.
3. Sway gently with the music as if you are being blown by a breeze. Do this until you feel comfortable and balanced, able to easily transfer your weight from one foot to another.
4. Learn to rotate your hips. You will be doing the equivalent of trying to touch an invisible circle with your hips. Start in a clockwise direction, then reverse it so you are rotating your hips in the other direction.
5. Incorporate hip swaying as you rotate your hips in a circle.
6. Bend your knees until you almost squat as you are swaying. Switch your balance from hip to hip as you do so.
7. Progress to hand gestures, such as "the climbing hand" which represents love. You will start with your hands over your head with your arms gently curved rather than perfectly straight. On the second count, bring your hands down to shoulder height. On the third count, bring you hands down so that your elbows are behind you and your palms, faced down, will be at the same level as your waist. On the final count, your hands will fall to your sides. As you progress to other dances, your hand movements will vary.
8. Add tummy rolls and turn so you turn in place as you sway and grind your hips.
9. Master shakes which require controlling your muscles as you shake your hips, abdomen, breasts and buttocks.