Beginner Bellydance Week Two
Breakdown of Basic Isolations - Week Two
Start by warming up and reviewing the material from the previous week. We will then add these two moves to our vocabulary:
- Mayas - Vertical hip figure eights are also called “mayas” or “amayas” depending on where you learn your dance vocabulary. They are done by using your hips to draw a figure 8 on the wall in front of you. Start by sliding your hip to the right, now push your hip down. Slide the move up and through the center of your pelvis so that your left hip is up and out. Push your left hip down and slide the move up and through the center so that your right hip is up and out. Try this several times taking each step slowly and being sure you hit each point. When you are comfortable, smooth it out to make an 8. Reverse the move and practice that way a few times. This is one of those moves that, while easier to do by allowing your heels to lift off the floor, I recommend practicing (at least the “down” version) with your feet flat and your knees a little more bent that normally - in other words, take a seat! If you can do this move without lifting your heels from the floor, it will help you define the move more and you will be able to add level changes later as you like.
- Snake Arms - Snake arms actually start in the shoulders and move to the fingers. It is easiest to start with one arm. Hold your arm out to the side (elbow should be relaxed) and roll your shoulder to the front, up, back and down. As you are doing this, let the movement travel down your arm towards your fingers. You should get a wave-like movement traveling from your shoulder to your elbow to your fingers. Try this several times and then repeat with the other arm.Once you are comfortable doing this movement one arm at a time, try it with both. The secret to doing both arms is to start with one and then follow with the other. When one shoulder is up, the other should be down; when one is back, the other should be front; and so on.Remember, if you keep your arms from tensing up, the movement will flow easier, so stop every once in a while and relax.