How to Shimmy Hips Belly Dancing

The shimmy is one of the classic moves that every belly dancer should know. Like many of the other movements, it relies on an isolation of certain muscle groups, which in this case are the knees and hips. You can combine two simple moves together to create a very nice-looking shimmy.

Difficulty: Moderate

Instructions

1. Have the right posture. When belly dancing, it's important to be conscious of your body at all times. Put your feet firmly on the ground, about a foot apart. Pull your shoulders back and tighten up your stomach and buttocks. Stick your chest out and up, and put your hand down to your sides.

2. Get the motion down. To shimmy in belly dancing, you need to take advantage of the power in your knees. Bend your knees slightly, then pump them up and down quickly. This in turn will rock your hips back and forth, creating a shimmy effect.

3. Start off slow. When you first practice the shimmy, you should do it in slow motion until you understand the movement. Pay attention to your form. Your left knee should control your left hip, and the right knee should control the right hip.

4. Speed it up. Once you get the technique down, you can pick up the pace. It should be almost seamless in movement, and your knees will pump as quickly as they can go.

Tips & Warnings

• It may take a while to build up stamina for the shimmy, so be patient. The more you practice this belly dancing move, the more proficient you'll become.