Belly Dancing Shimmy: Maya

Video Transcript

"Are you ready to add a vertical figure eight to your shimmy? Let's work on some layering. My name's Karen and this is Johanna, and we're with Hip Expressions Belly Dance Studio, in Saint Petersburg, Florida. So first we're going to start with what's known also as a Maya. It's a vertical figure eight, and you might want to check out some other clips on that to make sure you have the move nice and solid before putting two moves together. So our hip is going to come up, out, and down; up, out, and down. So, this is your vertical figure eight. Make sure that belly button stays in, make sure the chest stays lifted and nice and still, so that nothing else is moving but your hips. Now, let's get our nice strong shimmy going, and we're going to lift up, out, down; up, out, down, and then a little faster, and then try to smooth it out. Make sure those heels stay pressed into the floor. Keep it all nice and even; have those knees working for you. Watch that belly button; make sure it's staying inside, good. Practice this in a mirror, so that you can watch all the parts, and make sure they're staying in the right place, and you'll have a nice smooth vertical figure eight just like that."