Renee's Magical Belly Dancing
PROFESSIONAL BELLY DANCER and TEACHER
"Bringing this ancient art to modern life"
Copyright 1996-2001 (all rights reserved)
EXTRA HELPFUL HINTS and IDEAS
Please observe copyright as this is my way of earning a living. Do
not copy the videos. If you need more copies for your friends, e-mail
me to arrange payment and delivery. All the videos are reasonably
prices. Discount for multiple volumes ordered is available.
www.bellydancing.com.au
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Volume 5
Welcome once more to explore this wonderful world of modern magical
Belly Dancing"
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Students and Teachers
For all who follow my elegant and artistic style of Belly Dance.If
you enjoy the dancing and wish to use my choreography, I give you my
permission to do so, for your own use or for professional
entertainment. However do not copy the videos to give away, sell, rent
or any other reason. The music comes from the ARC label - as listed on
the videos.
You may use the terminology of techniques in your teachings.
This video is designed for the beginner. It demonstrates in easy
to follow & easy to understand language, simple basic belly
dancing technique.
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CLASSICAL SIDE STRETCHES
Used mainly for taqsim - slow & expressive dancing or for
providing a contrast, highlight or interlude.
Resume a good & comfortable "bent knee posture" -
Lightly suck in & hold (waistline area) abdominal muscles &
tuck tail/ bottom under Tall back with a light rib lift - Feet
comfortably angled out - Relax & hold this position.
Side Stretches - Roll crosses wrist into Spanish crown - Extend the
rib lift.
Cross down - slide foot to the side with pointed toes - lean &
look over shoulder - Unfold into crescent with lower wave.
Cross up & retrieve foot to straighten body - Cross down - Slide
foot & lean - Crescent & wave.
Lean creating a beautiful body line from head to toe.Lean &
gently twist upper body only. Lean & twist.
Create emotional flutter by embellishing the lean, shoulder roll into
snake arm. Extend the lean with crescent.
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DANCING WITH YOUR HEAD
Basic movements for head - to get used to moving your head.
Learn to relax your neck & allow your head to move freely.
Gently tilt your chin to chest - Circle to side creating a lower
semicircle - allow eyes to follow.
Create an upper circle to join the lower semi circle -
change direction.
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FLUENT ARMS
Graceful & fluent arms & hands adds value, interest &
beauty to your overall dancing.
Wrist curl to temple - Hand twirl - Steeple - Peaceful hands - Lotus
- Curling into Spanish Crown - Rolling over - Curling both ways -
Steeple - Peaceful hands - Unfolding - Descending inside eights -
Framing arms into shoulder rolls - Outside eights - Descend &
arise - Elbow curl - Shoulder rolls - Ease chin to chest - Decent
& arise - Transit into snake arms leading with the elbow &
wave - Lead one arm with elbow & hand twirl - Other arm neatly
framed - Alternate circling - Brush back & slink - Twist from hips
(& slink) with arched back for good body line - Windmill with head
- Twist & extend - Inside eights - Crescent & hand twirl -
Cobra coils - Framing hips - Outside eights - Lean, hand slide with
wave & head slide - Keep it light & fun - Steeple - Hand twirl
- Serpentine - Split steeple - Spanish crown - Curling both ways -
Twirling down side of body - Keeping elbows high & out - Brush
back with a slink - Twist & slink with arched back - One temple
frame.
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UNDULATIONS
This segment is to help you become more flexible & to understand
the separate movements that make up the full body undulation. Slow
Motion
Pull or suck in your middle abdominal stomach muscles. Use the Cat
stretches to become more flexible.
#(The Cat stretches will help you loosen up if you are experiencing
stiffness. Personally the cat stretches help me to stay flexible
through bouts of arthritis - Feel & remember the rounding of your
back - Feel & remember the arched back
Arch - Round - Keep your shoulders relaxed by anchoring your hands on
thighs.
At arrows- Lift your ribs & arch - Suck in middle- Round your
back - keep shoulders still but relaxed.
Join the 3 stages to form one set of upper undulation - Transfer
these movements into even circular motions, or a rolling motion.
Breath in & complete at least 2/3 or 4 sets of undulations.
Breath out while completing a further 3 to 4 sets.
Return into the cat stretches whenever you need more flexing.
Add shoulder rolls - Crescent with high hand twirls & one
shoulder roll.
Transit into lower undulations with floating reeds - earthen feet -
Tilt hips back & pelvis forward - Lean back gently (always keep
this at a comfortable level & fitness level, never force your lean
too far.
Arise into lower undulations - Adjust foot in front - Lean forwards
from hips, with a straight back- chin up (for elegance) & float
reeds at shoulder level.
Try upper & lower undulation (with variations) & breath
correctly, slowly & evenly.
Hands on hips & relax shoulders - Extend upper undulations to the
extreme - Transit into lower undulations only - Arch back, extend ribs
with Spanish arms for a dramatic pose.
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HEAD SLIDE
These fun Egyptian head slides will compliment many other techniques.
(They are not the Indian head slides, which are more demanding.) The
aim is to slide the side of your face true to the side, while the nose
faces straight on.
Relax your neck, head & shoulders.
With the steeple feel the side of your cheek slide towards the upper
arm.
Open into pharaonics. Feel your cheek slide towards the shoulder.
Keep nose facing straight on.
Fold into parallel hands. Feel the chin slide sideways over &
along the hands.
Single time - time - Single time.
Pull down with peaceful hands.
Shoulder accenting.
Push peaceful hands to the opposition of the head slides.
Unfold hands, turn your head a little to each side & feel the
sway of your hair in rhythm.
Cross up into steeple & continue head slides - Relax with
shoulder rolls.
# For the faster head slides - Listen to the beat & use smaller
movements.
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FLOATING REEDS
Graceful floating reeds are created through rounding the movements of
the wrists. - Round the wrists & pull down the energy. - Round the
wrist ( relax fingers) & feel as if you are being pulled up like a
puppet on a string.
Add sensual shoulder rolls - Pivot on toes to face side on - Lean
back gently - Gently dip to accent the beat (again keep it at your own
fitness level).
Pivot on toes to repeat on other side.
Arise - Tighten stomach muscles - Keep your back straight - Adjust
front foot - From the hips lean forward - Reeds at shoulder level -
Adjust feet - Transit into sensual shoulder rolls.
The Cobra Coils are 2 separate movements joined.
The Cobra crosses up & circles the head. The Coil is lead down by
the elbow into a wrist curl.
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BEAT TRANSFER
One sensual shoulder roll transferring to other shoulder - Converting
into one snake arm - Add head slide - Hand twirl.
Double time head slide - Look in the direction & transfer double
time to one hip.
Lift heel as you bounce the loop (small or tiny even hip drops) -
look & change.
The Hip Loop-Out is one loop only of the outside eights. Change with
outside eights.
Look & concentrate on the one bouncing hip (tiny even hip
drops).
Accent by lifting knee - Keep chin up for balance & elegant body
line.
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FANTASTIC SHIMMIES
continued from Vol. 4 Side Shimmies - Making them smooth &
continuos with flowing & fluent arms.
Breath steadily as if you are going for a walk, do not hold your
breath.
Earthen feet - Double time, start to relax knees, tummy & bottom
- Full time - Relax, relax & relax & in rhythm allow your
backside & inner thigh to wobble like jelly - Lift heel & find
your balance by keeping weight centered between your knees or hips -
Look towards your traveling direction - The leading foot taking tiny
even gliding steps - Look & change direction - Look & step
around with crescent arms.
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HEAR & FEEL THE MUSIC - part 3 Getting into the mood - with
Archer Pose & Classical Side Stretches.
Relax your eyes, neck & mind.
Hear the music, now feel the music.
Extend the lean - Bend from the knees into Archer Pose - crescent -
lower arm frame - other hand wave & twirls - Crossing up as you
pivot on toes to turn - Windmill - Arise into inside eights -
Serpentine twirls - Unfold into archer pose - Slide the foot back to
extend - Arise & pivot on toes to change - From chin, sweep out
with hand twirls - Arise into floating reeds - Hear & feel to
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CHOREOGRAPHY
This choreography is a guide only. Feel free to combine your own
steps &movements. Belly Dancing as a whole is not strictly
choreographed but rather mapped out, meaning that you know the basic
movement to certain passages of music & everything else is
improvised. Or it is danced free & interpreted or composed as you
hear the music. As you become more familiar with the beat & melody
you will hear what is required or the possibilities of other
technique. Yes you can strictly adhere to the choreography, if you
wish. Some students respond better to following a choreographed dance
while others do not.
During your monthly cycle you will feel & hear the music
differently. Be aware that there are good days & there are bad
days. Be kind to yourself by simply enjoying what you do, don't
worry if you can't follow it precisely. Naming most of the
movements & techniques of Belly Dancing (for the Western student)
makes the choreography easier to follow.
Keep your feet neat & comfortably angled for good balance 11
o'clock for the left foot - 1 o'clock for the right foot - 12
o'clock is acceptable - However toes that face inwards do not look
elegant & is not acceptable. Allow your head & eyes freedom of
movement. As in circling the head & looking over shoulder. Allow
your expressions to be guided by the story unfolding. This will also
bring out your personality & character.
To successfully follow this dance you must get to know the music
& its changes. "Source of Fire" by Hossam Ramzy has
emotional & romantic music. This CD is worth adding to a beginners
collection.
Most of the techniques & movements used have been shown in volume
1 to 5. If you are having difficulties please refer back to the
volumes that cover specific techniques.
The Choreography by Renee - "Tears Of Joy"
Create a sad posture - Foot in front - One frame & one wave -Hand
to forehead & circle head - Find your balance - Unfold - Outside
eights - Undulate Cross up to shoulder & wave - Floating
reeds-Lean back with accenting - Adjust foot - Floating reeds towards
toes - Arise
Steeple & pelvic circle - Unfold into framing arms and step
around -Turning head to leading shoulder - One hand Rejects out slowly
- One guiding hand - Close tulip - Roll over - Wave & frame - Roll
into Spanish crown - One hand twirl into crescent - Wave into
steeple
Inside eights - Pelvic circle - Serpentine into rib circle - Hand to
head, semi circle down - Emotional flutter with snaking your body.
(Cobra coils embellish) using waves, curls & twirls - Step
forward - Cobra coil embellish - Archer embellish - Step into side
stretches - Hand wave - Steeple - Cross down - Wave
Pelvic circle - crescent arms - add emotional flutter, step around
with shoulder rolls & rib circle
High hand twirls crossed - Lean back - Sweep out with a body circle
& leading shoulder - Step into archer - Pause - Hand wave - Change
mood - elbow curl over face- Shoulder accent
Step - Side ribs - Hip lift & drop - Curl high - Side hips -
Frame - Temple curl - Side hips -Shoulder rolls - Outside eights -
floating reeds - Leading hand (casting out) with hip drop - circle to
chest - Lift & drop (brush out) into cobra coil variation or
embellish.
Outside eights - Steeple - Pelvic circle - Step with lower
undulations & elbow curl - Pharaonic - Steeple - Lotus - Alternate
elbow curls- Crossing up & inside eights - Wave- Hip drops with
temple buff - Steeple - Inside eights - Lotus - Steeple- Leading hand
with outside eights - Salute & frame - Tilt back- 3 Tilts together
- emotional accent on 4th tilt - Undulate with hand curl.
Hip drops & steeple (Keep all the steps light with neat feet)-
Peaceful hands - Lotus - Curls together & alternate- Steeple -
Inside eights - Descend through your knees - Lotus - Steeple - Inside
rights -Descend - Lotus - Arise into traveling hip lift with temple
& wave - Steeple
Pelvic circle - Unfold - Curl together - Add body circle - Step
around - Elbow curl to high cross - Steeple - Inside eights - Lotus -
Parallel hands - Head slide - Place foot behind - Lotus - Place foot
in front - Lift & drop with foot release - Step backwards with
temple frame- Step forward with inside eights- Step backwards with
lift drops
Step forwards - Steeple - Inside eights - Lower undulate - Crescent
& cross overs - Extend to the extreme - Full body undulation -
Wave - Curl - Frame- Step to face side on - Hand twirl- Steeple -
Inside eights - Lotus- Leading hand - Outside eights- Steeple - Drops
- Steeple
Pelvic circle - Drops & twin hand/ finger accenting- Steeple
& inside eights - peaceful - Bounces or even hip drops - lotus-
Pharaonic & drops - Alternating elbow curls- Crossing at the
wrists & unfolding -With some head movements.
Pharaonics- Ending - Temple with inside eights & toe circles-
Hand twirl - Steeple - Frame - Shimmies - Pelvic circle- Emotional
accenting into pose.
Thoughts Behind The Action
To tell a story you must have planned thoughts & notions. In your
head or on paper write out a story line of what you think the music is
saying. Remember all music is open for your personal interpretation.
Let your imagination run free. Gesture & express appropriate
emotions from your thoughts.
Allow full movements of your head & eyes.
Beginning Pose - I am troubled & sad.
I can not bear the sorrow that dampens my soul.
My heart is heavy with painful memories. Sorrow & loneliness
I've known so long.
I must leave old wounds behind and start a new. Give me strength
& courage to survive.
Tears are welling in my mind. I must hold on. I must be strong
Shake off my past. Where, Oh where do I start ? I must change. A new
beginning
Push away - cast aside. Leave my past behind. Brush worries away.
Bother me no more.
I'm letting new light shine. One step at a time. See me soar.
I can feel it take hold. Happiness will not elude me.
Salute, confidence is creeping in. Troubles be gone. Determined to
succeed.
Planning a new. Burdens be gone. Feeling light & breezy
I can find my own path. Muddling through. Feeling bright &
cheeky
Happiness is rippling through my veins. Reaching for the sky.
Quietly confidence. I can work it out .Toss doubts aside
I can handle everything with ease
Joy welcome back into my life
I am so blessed
I am so proud to have become so wise
Oh, yeah, feeling good.
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contact Renee by Email or phone (02) 4325 4593
Renee's Magical Belly Dancing Gosford, NSW 2250. Australia
Happy learning
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