How to Belly Dance

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Okay, so you can shimmy and you can shake, but you ain't seen nothin' until you've seen a skilled belly dancer strut her stuff. Here are a couple of basic belly-dancing moves to awaken your inner Shakira...

To complete this How-To you will need:

Some space—a chunk about six ft. in diameter should do it
A large mirror
Privacy—so you'll feel comfortable letting go
An outfit that bares your belly and hips
A few scarves or a shawl to drape around your hips
Belly-dancing music
Bells or coins sewn onto clothes to make a sultry jingle

Step 1: Listen

Listen to the music and make sure you can make out the beat.

Step 2: Position body

Start with your feet parallel and one foot apart. Your spine should be straight, your abdominal muscles slightly flexed, your knees unlocked, your shoulders gently pulled back, and your chin raised a bit above its normal level.

Step 3: Position arms

Bend your arms slightly at the elbow, raising them until they are at chest level. Then bend your wrists, which will raise your hands a bit.

Step 4: Position hands

Allow your hands to be loose, and lift the little fingers and forefingers.

Step 5: Shift feet

Slide your left foot about six inches forward, then lift your heel as far as you can so you're on the ball of your left foot. Over 50 percent of your weight should be on your back leg.

Step 6: Do some hip drops

Now for some hip drops. Lift your left hip slowly by contracting the abdominal muscles on your right side. Keep your head held evenly by allowing your right knee to bed a little and your left knee to straighten a little.

Step 7: Hold your hip up

Hold your lifted hip for two counts.

Step 8: Drop your hip down

For the next two counts, drop your hip sharply by letting your contracted abdominal muscles release and using your pelvic muscles to force your hip down lower than it was when you started.

Step 9: Repeat on opposite side

Now try it on your right side. Place your feet parallel again, about a foot apart, slide your right foot forward, then lift your heel so you're on the ball of your right foot.

Step 10: Do a hip drop

Now do the hip drop, this time allowing your right hip to raise and drop.

Step 11: Prepare to shimmy

Now you're going to shimmy. Start with your feet side by side, your arms out at chest level, and your hands in the same position as before.

Tip: Shimmying works best with music that has a rapid beat.

Step 12: Bend your left knee

Bend your left knee. Your right hip will lift. Straighten your left knee.

Tip: Be sure not to lock your knees at any point during the dance.

Step 13: Bend your right knee

Now bend your right knee, letting your left hip rise. Then straighten the knee again. The key to this move is to concentrate on it coming from your knees, not your hips.

Step 14: Shimmy

Slowly alternate bending your knees, allowing your opposite hips to rise, then gradually speed up until you are doing this as fast as you can. You now know how to shimmy with the best of them!

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[meganlizzy21]

waking your inner shakira? xD

[ELeeHamm]

Aww, c'mon! Why'd you have to mention Shakira?!

[suncaterpillar]

@Lucero2405 it's called a taxim first lift one hip and slide your hips in the same direction then drop that hip while raising the other hip and slide in the direction you are lifting

[greeneyedlaughter]

im gonna try so hard! just hoping to get a belly like her

[jlrivera67]

I did :)

[ITZxJACQUELYNxBITCH]

lol thumbs up if you watched this after watching shakiras music video

[peponoflouda]

/watch?v=132LnLCkdZ0

[LMmccallL57]

@Lucero2405 It's called "snake hips".

[Anonomous0C]

I'm a guy, Belly dancing just to say I can :P xD

[Lucero2405]

Ops! i thought was her back, but anyways i will like to know the last movement at 3:08

[Lucero2405]

Please can someone help me? How do you call the last movement that the lady is doing at the end of the video from her back? Thanks!