Hi again everyone!  I have another class handout for you from last week’s Tuesday all levels belly dance class covering the large hip circle and box step (aka v step).

LARGE HIP CIRCLE:

Basic Cue: Center, Standard posture, left arm in 1st, right arm in rest, begin w/ hip sliding slowly out to right side.

Variations:

• Turn: cue with head turn – 1/3 turns to right – lead passes around formation for timing and size of move until it returns to original position.

BOX STEP (or V-Step):

Basic Cue: Arms in Second, large step out to right front corner of “box” with large exaggerated hip bump.

Variations:

• Arms: after the initial cue, arms can be moved into an alternate arm position of the ghawazee step arms or low arm if wanted.
• Turn: cue with head turn – ¼ turn – lead passes around formation for timing, etc. until it returns to original position.

REACH FORWARD / ARCH BACK

Basic Cue: Turn to left side – feet in cat/showgirl stance, arms in 5th.  Begin move slowly (right arm to side, left arm forward starts the move).

Variations:

• Stance changes – rather than staying in cat stance the whole time, the move can be enlarged by taking the right leg forward into a lunge during the reach portion of the move and straightening it up into a tendu front during the arch back.
• The movement can be enlarged even further by beginning with the same right leg forward lunge during the reach portion and then bringing the right foot back so the left foot is in a tendu front during the arch back portion.
• For these variations just make sure you are moving slowly and purposefully through the positions so followers can see that where you are going.
• If you are following you should be able to tell quickly if the leader is staying in place, moving forward, or moving backward, and you will – from that – know what position to move to.

ARABIC / HIP TWIST

Basic Cue: body turns 45 degree angle to audience to begin exaggerated beginning Arabic step, arms shoot straight out to sides flat to audience – with palms up.

Variations:

• Arm variation:
• Arms can also be in 1st position – when in this position, the move should generally  be slightly smaller and more contained.  This is also the position that the arms MUST be in for 1/4 turns to be cued.
• Turns:
• 1/4 turns: Begin w/ arm variation in 1st position – then cue w/ head turn (most often to left  – the 1/4 turn to the right is possible, but much less natural feeling) these turns will be (as named) quarter turns – one turn to each side and end back in the starting position.
• 1/2 turns: begin w/ arm variation in 2nd position (standard arms) – then cue with BOTH a ‘yip’ during the Arabic portion of the move and the right arm folding across the body during the Hip Twist portion of the move.  There will be 2 full rotations of ½ turns (to the left) – during the 1/4 turns the arms fold in more than usual like they do for the cue – and then return to the starting position
• Traveling / Circle: This move is frequently used to move into the circle and as a traveling move around the circle.
• To cue into a circle from formation do a half turn to the RIGHT – WITHOUT cueing.  The formation should NOT follow you in the turn, rather, everyone should hold/pause/back up slightly, make eye contact, and then the leader should gesture to begin again in the circle on the next downbeat.
• When traveling, the right foot should cross over farther than usual during the Arabic portion of the move and during the hip twist portion of the move the right foot will either move just right next to the left foot (not going out as far as usual) or if you need further/faster movement, it can actually cross behind much like a grapevine.
• iWhen this step is being used for the circle it signifies that it is ok to cross the circle in pairs w/ Arabic. (while people are crossing, the circle will STOP moving until they rejoin on the opposite sides).

HORIZONTAL FIGURE 8:

Basic Cue: Center, bring arms from rest position to frame right hip, push right hip to front right corner.

Variations:

• Turn:
• Cue (when right hip reaches back right corner) by bringing right arm to head and left arm to hip, shift weight onto left foot and cross right foot over left – this is a slow half turn.
• The turn stops facing the back and continues w/ horizontal figure 8’s until the new leader (in the back) cues to turn back around.
• In Level 1 the leader in back will only continue the move and then turn back around when they are ready … as levels progress, the leader will have the option to cue other moves while the formation is facing backwards before coming back to the figure 8 and cueing to turn back around.

EGYPTIAN:

Basic Cue: Arms come into 5th position, palms facing one another.

Variations:

• Arms:
• Arms can also be brought into 1st or 2nd position for variety.
• 1st position is the arm position you would cue 1/4 turns from.
• 2nd position will also have an alternate zilling pattern in level 2.
• Turns:
• 1/4 Turns:
• Begin w/ arm variation in 1st position – then cue w/ head turn (most often to left – the 1/4 turn to the right is possible, but much less natural to the right)
• Leader may add optional double yip – especially for cases where the leader and their cues may not be easily seen)
• These turns will be (as named) quarter turns – one turn to each side and end back in the starting position
• 1/2 Turns:
• Begin w/ standard arms (5th, palms facing one another) – cue by making standard arm movement bigger and to the side some as opposed to just forward and back, also cross right foot slightly over left all during the first beat of the Egyptian
• Leader may add optional yip – especially for cases where the leader / cues may not be easily seen
• There will be 2 full rotations of the half turns (4 half turns to the left) returning back to starting position
• Traveling:
• As with other movements, make first step larger and slightly angle body into traveling direction to cue
• Look down and back to go backwards (always lead w/ right side)
• This move can be done to get in the circle (and around the circle) and will usually signify that you will be doing moves as a group in the circle

Tonight’s post is the week 4 handout from the level 1 tribal class (part 1).

Basic Arms

Basic Cue: Center, begin with slow, big right arm (exaggerate it a bit to make sure it’s visible and distinctive as a cue to the other dancers).

Variations:

• Poses
  • Various body/leg poses and angles should be led into slowly and purposefully.
  • Each pose should be completed before moving into another.
  • In this case there is not a distinct cue for each pose, which makes moving slowly very important as it allows the others to follow effectively without those cues.
• Travel
  • Cue by leading with upper body and stepping out slowly.
  • Always start with the right leg.
• Turns
  • Cue with head turn.
  • This is a gradual turn – the lead passes around the formation for timing of the movement and the rotation, until the group returns to the starting point.
  • If turning in close quarters, watch out for each others’ arms and work on passing them around each other gracefully without collisions.  This is easier if you are going slowly.
• Levels
  • Cue to lower by briefly raising on toes just before starting to sink.
  • Cue to rise by briefly lowering just slightly farther before starting to rise.
  • Keep levels slow.

3/4 Shimmy/Shimmy Walk

Basic Cue: Arms in low hipwork position (arms down to side and wrists bent, palms to floor) to signal to watch for hipwork. Light right foot. Begin slightly exaggerated 3/4 shimmy (with march) on the right side.

Variations:

• Travel
  • Cue by lifting first (right) foot more exaggerated than otherwise – you can also add a slight lift of the arms to go along with this for more visibility.
  • Look slightly over your shoulder to go back (not a full head turn as for a turn cue).
• Arms
  • After the initial hipwork cue, the standard position is a low arm, but you can change the arms to other positions as desired.
  • When moving between arm positions, move the arms slowly and with purpose, allowing the other dancers to follow your transitions.
• Turn
  • Cue with head turn.
  • This is a gradual turn with the lead shifting as the group rotates.

Hello again everyone!  Here’s the handout from the 3rd session in the first part of the level 1 tribal format belly dance class.

Reach and Lean Combo

Basic Cue: Center, plunge left arm straight down, palm flat down, bring right arm straight up palm flat down while rising onto toes. Strive to hit the full pose with the 1, which means that the cue should be given a bit before the end of a measure.

Variations:

• Live music – This movement also cues musicians familiar in the format to switch to slow music.
• The downbeat of the first measure of the new tempo should ideally time w/ or immediately after the right arm reaching its top pose.

Hip Drop with Kick

Basic Cue: Body turns right side towards audience. Left arm in 5th position, right arm down and behind hip.

Variations:

• Hip Drop / Kick: Cue to add the kick w/ a yip. Yip again to go back to just the hip drop.
• Turning (with the hip drop / kick): Cue w/ a head turn.  This is a gradual turn – lead passes around formation for timing.

Zill Pattern:

R(1) L(2) R(3)

Placement:

The 3 of the pattern falls on the downbeat. (In other words, the emphasis of the pattern is on the 3, the last strike of the pattern.)

Full Time:

In 4/4 time played at full-time this rhythm is &-a-1 rest &-a-2 rest &-a-3 rest &-a-4 rest.

Half Time:

In 4/4 time played at half-time the rhythm is 4-&-1 rest 2-&-3 test 4-&-1 rest 2-&-3 rest.

Quarter Time:

In 4/4 time played at quarter-time the rhythm is 3-4-1 rest 3-4-1 rest 3-4-1 rest 3-4-1 rest.

Variations:

This pattern can also be played w/ the left hand dominant (LRL) or alternating (RLR LRL) – and it is not a bad idea to practice them these ways to keep both hands even in ability, but in formation they will be played right hand dominant (RLR) unless otherwise noted for both uniformity and ease of building upon the patterns in the future.

The pattern can also be played with the 1 on the downbeat (or ending on the upbeat, depending on how you look at it).  This creates a very different sound and feel.  It is something to experiment with, especially so you can easily identify the difference in sound.  In the tribal format at this level, at least, we will be only using the variation shown here for the gallop pattern.

Maya

See last week’s handout here.

Choo Choo

Basic Cue:  Body turns right side toward audience, arms in 3^rd, head facing audience.  Make the first hip up obvious.

Variations:

• Traveling:
  • Right arm should point toward the intended direction of travel.
  • Elongate arms and flip palms over slightly to cue for travel to begin.
  • Similar cue to stop travel.
  • To go backwards bring left arm down into 2nd position to start and back up into 3rd position to stop.
• Turning:
  • Cue with head turn.
  • For right turn bring right arm into 4th position.
  • For left turn bring either right arm forward into 4th or switch both arms arms into left facing 4th (right arm up, left arm forward).
  • This is a gradual turn – the lead passes around the formation for timing.

Hi everyone! In order to make the handouts from our belly dance classes easily accessible, I’m going to be posting them on the blog shortly after they are given out in class. Today’s handout is from the first session in the Moves and Cues – Level 1 Part 1 course.

Taxim/Maya

Basic Cue: Center, start movement purposefully, slightly exaggerated to the right, with arms in basic taxim or maya position (depending on which move you are starting).

Variations:

• Arms: Basic arms raise and lower from rest through second position up to fifth position.
  • In this variation, as arms raise beyond second position, raise into releve.
  • When arms lower back to second position, go back to flat feet.
• Travel: Cue by turning body and leading with arm.
• Turn: Cue with head turn and begin rotating gradually.
  • Lead passes around formation for timing of the movement and the turn until it returns to starting position.
• Levels: Cue with a brief movement in the opposing direction.
  • Cue to lower by briefly raising on toes just before starting to descend.  Foot position should indicate general range of motion for the level.
  • Cue to raise by briefly lowering slightly farther just before starting to rise.
  • Move slowly.

Singles

(aka Single Shimmy)

Basic Cue: Center and bring arms to low hipwork position (arms down to sides and wrists bent, palms facing the floor) to signal to watch for hipwork.  Begin purposeful, steady singles with the downbeat right.

Variations:

• With march or traveling – cue by lifting first (right) foot more exaggerated than otherwise.
• Arms: After the initial cue for hipwork add arms as desired (moving through standard arm positions, floreos, etc).
  • Be sure to keep hipwork steady unless you bring the arms back to cue for a change or cue another move.
• Turn: Cue with head turn and begin rotating gradually.
  • Lead passes around formation for timing of the movement and the turn until it returns to starting position.
• Levels: Cue with a brief movement in the opposing direction.
  • Cue to lower by briefly raising on toes just before starting to descend.
  • Cue to raise by briefly lowering slightly farther just before starting to rise.
  • Move slowly.
  • Raising/lowering of the arms can be added to a level cue for additional visibility and depending on circumstances.

Doubles

(aka Double Shimmy)

Basic Cue:  Center, bring both arms to frame right hip, right foot lifts up at the knee.  There will be an exaggerated drawback before the first set of hip bumps.

Variations:

• Travel: Angle body as you step the right foot forward (such that the hip is bumping to the front right corner).
  • Angles will swap with each step as you travel.
  • Similarly, to travel backward, angle the body to the right side as the right foot starts to move back (hip will be bumping to the back right corner).
  • You may look back over the right shoulder to make it more visible that the movement will now begin to travel backward.
• Turn: Cue with head turn.
  • The turn for this movement is a four corner turn, rather than a gradual rotation.
  • Two hip bumps right and left to each corner, and then turn to the next corner.
  • Lead passes around the formation for timing of the movement and turn until the group returns to the starting position.

More on Levels

The general concept for giving a cue for a level change is to communicate which direction to go with a brief opposing movement, and to communicate how low to go with the foot position.  The leader will go up to go down (with a slight raise onto the toes and a possible arm raise) before they start to lower.  Where their feet are will give an idea of the range of the downward movement.  If the feet are still together in the basic position, the level will probably be moderate and will not go very low, because of the balance and strength required to lower to the floor in this foot position.  If the feet are in a kickstand position, the leader will probably lower further, but still not all the way to the floor.  It is a little easier to keep your balance and posture in a kickstand foot position.  If the leader’s feet are in a lunge prep position, they are likely to lower the movement all the way to the floor.  In all cases, take the foot position into consideration, but continue paying attention to the leader throughout the level change so that you can match their speed and range of motion.

When the leader is ready to come back up, they will make a slight lowering movement, and then begin to ascend to a flat footed standing position.

Happy Dancing!