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 VOLUME 7
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 7
For Beginners to intermediate
"Dignified Shoulder Shimmies and Egyptian Walk"

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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.


"LEAVE YOUR CARES BEHIND AND ENTER MY JOYOUS WORLD OF BELLY DANCE"

HIP WORK
Start with good dancing posture, combining varied Side Hips with Centre Steps.

SHOULDERWORK
You need to acquire flexible shoulders to be able to dance with dignified shoulders. This segment is to introduce the stick (as in Stick Dancing) to help to keep your arms from flapping about as you press the shoulder forward.
- Slow motion
- Acquiring flexible shoulders.
- Press forward and release or relax.
- Press and relax.
- Rhythmically relaxing between each "press forward" is the key for good shoulder work or well structured shoulder shimmies.
- Hold stick between thumb and index finger.

Dignified shoulder work with the stick is part of "Stick Dancing".; For beginners the stick will help to prevent flapping arms. Later as you get accustomed to good shoulder work you can eliminate the stick, or use the techniques in Stick Dancing.
- Gliding stick down.
- Glide stick up and and work through the shoulders.
- Rest stick on thighs.
- Allow your shoulders to dance.
- Lean slowly and elegantly within your capacity. Do not force the lean (Refer back to vol 5).
- Descend through knees, always keep back straight.
- Never ever lean forward.

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SHOULDER WORK
Hold a Beat. Listen to the music and hold a beat.
Add shoulder rolls - alternate shoulder roll with shoulder accenting/ press or shimmies.

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HIP WORK
Combining Single, Double Time and Full Time with 2'S
Refining posture for Side Hips.
   1. Earthen feet.
   2. Space your feet hip width or shoulder width apart.
   3. Left foot is angled or placed at 11 am and right foot is angled to 1 pm.
   4. Lightly suck in abdominal muscles which lightly tucks backside/ bottom under, tilting your pelvis lightly forward. Now try to relax but keep this posture formation.
   5. Than lightly lean backwards and feel your weight more over your heels. If you feel your toes curling up, you have leaned back too far. Adjust lean so that your toes are flat, relaxed and comfortable.
   6. Also relax knees. Left knee faces 11 am and right knee faces 1 pm in line with your feet.
   7. Press down through you heel to activate your hip to the side.
   8. Your upper body is lifted out of the waistline, tall back with a light rib lift.
   9. Shoulders and arms are relaxed.
   10. As you are getting more confidence, remember to relax your backside/ bottom/ behind and allow the cheeks (and thighs) to wobble in rhythm to varied tempos, especially double time, 2's, time and full time shimmies.

- Earthen feet.
- Press down through heel to activate side hip.
- 2's - 2 hip movements to each side.

Do not get time confused with the 2's ( can feel similar to the 2's). They each can be danced to the same beat. However 2 side hip movements to each side takes on a different attitude (or variation) of the same beat.

Counts
count is 1 2 3 & (single time) or 123&123(double time) or 123&123& (full time) with you move 3 out of 4 beats. The & is a beat that you rest on.
2's count is 1 2 & 1 2 (single time) or 12&12 (double time) or R12L12R12L12 (full time). The & in the 2's means using a beat to change sides. R-right, L-left.

Each will lead you into a shimmy walk, termed an Egyptian Walk.
However the will give the walk more bounce.
Once you get accustomed to the two variations you can mix and match as required. An Egyptian Walk can also be derived out of a vibrating shimmies (learned in volume 9).
- 2's walking.
- Double into full time shimmies,

The secret of a good side shimmies is to relax enough to let your backside wobble in rhythm. Shimmies are a wonderful movement to alleviate, reduce or banish your upper leg cellulite
- 2's
- Lift heels and travel.

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DIGNIFIED SHOULDER SHIMMIES
Extra Hints and Extra Practice
It is important for you become very flexible with your shoulders.
Practice and practice, as it takes some time to get the fines and delicacy of dignified shoulder shimmies.

Hear the Music and Feel the Rhythm
Relax your mind.
Hear it.
Feel it vibrating through your gut.
Let it rise into your heart.
Let your shoulders take off with the flow.

- Hear the Music and Feel the Rhythm
- Think Dignity and elegance
- For neat hands pinch thumb and index finger
- Restrain arms from flapping uncontrollably. Pretend you still hold the stick .
- Double time, make movements smaller.
- Full time, tiny even movements.
- Lower and lift chin to ease tension.

This you can turn to your advantage by making a feature of your face movements. Listen to the music and you can talk volumes with your chin, eyes and the tilt of the head. You can also learn to smile in many ways. Listen, then interpret the music to hear (or feel) how it speaks to you. Then unfold a thought, story or feeling through your mind.

- Learn to adjust and control shoulders to suit your breast movements.

Helpful Hints to Remember
   1. Always have wrists and palms facing down for proper control of your shoulders.
   2. You also need good posture, tall back with a comfortable rib lift.
   3. Look towards your shoulders instead of directly down on to your bra/ breasts.
   4. You need to feel your breasts wobble in rhythm, however you need to control them depending on their weight and size.
   5. If you have large or heavy breasts, you may like to keep the movement of your shoulders slower to accommodate the breast movements at a more slower, elegant and dignified level.
   6. Take a moment to think what I am saying and try it. Practice makes perfect. Soon you will feel in control with dignity.
   7. Keep in mind that you want your breasts to dance, guided by your dancing shoulders.
   8. Always keep it elegant and feel dignified, never become off guard and end up looking like a frump.
   9. Never ever flop/ bend forwards to show/ reveal all as this becomes "in bad taste", ugly and frumpy. Always descend through your knees with a tall back and chin up, if you wish to give the elusion of coming forward.
10. The small breasted dancer can shimmy at any speed as long as it is accomplished with elegance and dignity, with good posture and appropriate facial expression.

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HIP WORK
- Descend through knees.
- Lift heels.
- Step out with Centre Steps.
- Travel with one leading side hip.

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SHOULDERS and HIPS
- Hold Beat, accenting with shoulder and chin.
In this segment dance mainly on a higher level through raised heels.
- 2's - 2 to each side.
- Centre Steps.
- Travel, hip twist with hip scoop.
- Pivot on ball of foot.
- Pivot to cross over.
- 2's walking - using distinctive arm movement of hand / fingers positioned at temple and palm turns (turn up, turn down) as you step/ walk.
- Undulate.
- Travel - with scoop.
- Undulate.
- Relax shoulders into Rib Lifts, as in the cat movements (vol 4) suck in tummy and round shoulders.You can use or 2's to lead you into the Egyptian Walk.

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HIP WORK
- 2's.
- Lift heels.
- 2's walk.
- Ease ( or speed up) into a full time shimmy walk.

Relax your backside/ bottom/ behind and feel it wobble in rhythm. An Egyptian Walk consists of single time walks with full time shimmies.

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HIP WORK
Listen To The Beat and Rhythm.
- 2's.
- Egyptian Walk - consists of full time shimmies with a single time walk. Also remember to relax your backside/ bottom/ behind/ touch and allow it to wobble in rhythm.
- Keep a good dancing posture, tall back with Rib Lift.
Alternate 2's and Egyptian Walk.
- Hip lift walk.
- Lift one heel and hip.
- 2's walk with hip lift.

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HIP WORK
Hear The Beat and Feel The Rhythm
Extra Hints
It is important for you to let go of your inhibitions, relax and feel the rhythm. Hear it.
Feel it vibrating through your gut, let it rise into your heart and react. Take off with the flow that moves you, using the techniques that feel right. Once you feel the rhythm than most techniques will fall into place with possible variations. This segment is for you to dance and practice to or make up your own combinations. The music is clear and uninterrupted. Better still, get the CD - Hossam Ramzy

An Egyptian Walk can also be accomplished through time, consisting of shimmies on each side as you step/ walk. The is not as smooth but gives a certain bounces that goes well to certain passages/ phrases of music. A smoother full time shimmy and a bouncier shimmy can be mixed as required. Adding the hip lift, hip rotation (basic technique refer vol. 2) and outside eights (basic tech, refer vol 1 ) also give the Egyptian Walk variation that adds interest, fun in executing the dance at an artistic and refined level. Each execution can be done at a slower level, medium level or fast and furious. It simple rests on the music and your interpretation. All can be done in Earthen feet or Raised heels. A good posture is a must.

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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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