Tribal Fusion Bellydance Class 2 Notes

Hi ladies,



Here are the notes from yesterday's class...



Review first week's class movements:

• Egyptian Basic: Arms are straight up, twisting at the hip, slightly lower the same elbow as that side hip twists up.


• Basic Arabic: Technically, this movement is a shifting of your weight forward and back. Make comes from your legs, the pelvis/hips following along swaying back and forth.


• Choo Choo: Continuing from the "Hip Bump" position and traveling to the right, every time your right hip is up, your weight is on the right foot in releve. When your right hip is down, your weight is on the left foot. By transferring the weight between your feet you can shuffle your feet towards the right.


• Taxeem: It's a vertical figure 8 without any horizontal twist at all. Drop the hip down first, then push it out and draw it up using your obliques, before switching to the other side. The movement is based on the natural movement of the hips as you walk.

A more robust stretch and tone warm-up.

More tribal style belly dance movements covered:

1. Egyptian half-turn: Start with regular Basic Egyptian, the right hip is forward on count 1, right foot steps back on count 2, then left hip is forward on count 3; then turn by stepping back with the left foot on 4 and pivoting to the left, ending with the right foot ready for 1. Continue the movement facing back, then turning back to the front.

2. Arabic hip-twist: 4-count step. 1-2 is an Arabic basic; on 3-4, step on the right and twist the hips to the right and back to the left. Arms are curved out slightly front. On 1-2, add hand floreos, turning into the center. On 3-4, the arms should stay in place, framing the torso, as the hips twist.

3. Choo choo arc turn: Choo-choo to the front 2 counts, bring left arm down to meet right arm in front 2 counts. Slightly raising both wrists, then pivot around to the left, bringing both hands to the left hip as you turn to the back. Sweep arms around and overhead to complete, ending with arms in starting position.

4. Torso rotation : imagine a heart shape on the floor. Starting center with arms out, upper body leans forward and to the left, round out to the back, then to the right and rounds out leaning forward and to the right, finally pull back to center. Arms remain in classic tribal position, elbows up and pointing out. There is a gentle bend/flex in the arms as your torso moves around.

5. Snake arms or arm undulations: Arms at classic tribal position, gently push the right hand away and the head tils left, eyes looking to the right hand, left forearm slowly pulls in. Then left hand pushes away towards left side, head tils right, eyes looking to the left hand, right forearm slowly pulls in towards body. As you get comfortable, incorporate a subtle chest fig-8. In tribal fusion style, these arms are done slowly and controlled, incorporating shoulder rolls and extention of the finger tips. Try to keep the height of which your elbow moves at a minimum.

We will review these again next week and start to put some movements together to start a choreography.

Here is another video for inspiration .... although old, it is the Ultra Gypsy (San Francisco) tribal belly dance troupe back in the day. You may recognize Jill Parker and Rachel Brice.

Have a great weekend!
Lily