Hip Twist in Belly Dancing

Video Transcript

"The hip twist is a nice fun movement to use in your dance. You can use it either as a standing move or a traveling move. We're going to just work on the mechanics of it, right now, by starting with our feet slightly apart, maybe a little bit in line with your hips, so you have some balance. Make sure that those knees are soft so that you're not torquing the knees, even though the legs are more straight, but you want to make sure those knees are soft so that you're not going to torque those knees. Pull that bellybutton in, lift your chest, relax your shoulders, have your arms out to the side. Now bring one hip forward and then bring it back. Forward and back. Make sure you keep those shoulders still, so that all the action is in the hips. It's not what you're moving, but it's what you're not moving that makes it look so cool. So we're going to just keep bringing them, forward and forward, or forward and back. However you want to think about that. Just like your washing machine, twisting and cleaning your clothes. Keep that chest lifted. Keep that belly pulled in. You should feel some pressure in your feet, to help keep your upper body still. Make sure those knees are soft and just keep moving it, nice and level. This movement stays parallel to the floor. Don't lift the hip up. Practice this in the mirror, so you make sure you have your body positioned just right."