How to Do a Hip Lift and Twist in Belly Dancing

Belly dancing, or Middle Eastern Dance is an Arabic-style dance gaining popularity in the United States. Not only is belly dancing intriguing and beautiful, it is a fantastic way to work the abdominal muscles and get your body into shape with a few shakes of the hips. The hip lift and twist, a beginning belly dancing move, is relatively easy to learn in just a few simple steps.

Difficulty: Moderate

Instructions

1. Begin with the basic belly dancing hip twist. Place all of your body weight on your left foot and lift the right hip. Your knee should be bent slightly as you lift with the right heel.

2. Lift the right hip and quickly release to neutral position, but resist the urge to drop your hip below neutral. Simply bring the right hip back to the beginning position and repeat on the other side.

3. Repeat this move quickly from side to side, lifting the hips, to complete the basic hip lift. It is recommended that you master the basic hip lift before you move on to the hip lift with a twist.

4. Add a twist to the hips to complete the hip lift with a twist. Lift the right hip as in a normal hip lift, but exaggerate the lift forward slightly. In the hip lift portion of this belly dancing move it will appear as if you are about to step forward, as your hip swings forward slightly. After the lift, instead of simply dropping down to neutral, twist the hip back as you begin to lift the opposite hip.

5. Lift the hips while twisting in rapid motions from side to side, to complete the belly dancing hip lift with a twist.