Belly Dancing Steps
Belly dance includes a blend of folkloric steps from various Middle Eastern and North African dance traditions. Most of belly dance choreography is focused on the movement of the hips. Learning the steps of the feet is important for the proper execution of these moves as well. You can add variety to these basic moves with arm movements, head placement, props and direction and rhythm changes. Find some Middle Eastern music you like and experiment with the moves.
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Instructions
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You can use props to add variety to basic belly dance steps. Try the Tunisian hip twist. The front-to-back hip twist is the basic folkloric step of Tunisian dance. Stand on the balls of the feet, and bring one hip bone to the front, as the other goes back. Keep the shoulders and chest still as the hips move. You can do this move with feet flat on the floor, but you can get a bigger range of motion with your hips if elevated on your toes. You can also travel more easily and with more grace. Tunisian dancers add an impressive flair to this move by balancing a pot on the head as the hips shake.
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The hagallah is a traditional wedding dance originating in Western Egypt and Eastern Libya. The hagallah rhythm is a 1-2-3 time, similar to a quick waltz. The hips swing from side to side like a pendulum with each step. The hips then do a rapid two-count shimmy at the end of each swing to the side. Step forward or in place with each swing and bend the knee slightly with each shimmy. You can travel or stay in place, move forwards or backwards, or intersperse this move among other dance steps.
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A beaded skirt or belt adds emphasis to your moves. Take a break in your dance routine from moving and stand still for the hip-drop kick. Stand with your upper body facing front, and the hips facing to the right side. Bend the left knee, pointing the left foot. Lift and drop the hip twice, slightly lifting the foot on the second hip drop. Repeat as the rhythm of the music allows, and execute on the other side.
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Tips & Warnings
Wearing the proper accessories can help accentuate your moves. You can wear a standard coin-embellished belly-dance hip scarf while doing any of these moves. The traditional attire for Tunisian dancers is a belt made of heavy yarn with two large tassels on each hip bone. The hagallah dancers wear tiered skirts made of graduated layers of fabric to make the shaking of the hips more pronounced.
Be careful with your body. If something hurts, don't do it. Belly dancing should feel natural and pleasurable, not painful. Don't attempt acrobatic moves or extreme stretching. Always use caution with props such as swords.
References
Resources
- Photo Credit belly dancing women image by Lisa Eastman from Fotolia.com Hand and Sword of Woman in Middle Eastern Dance image by NorthEnder from Fotolia.com Danse du ventre image by Pascal Péchard from Fotolia.com
